How to Sell a Better Pope

Tips for the holy handlers

By Lisa Miller | NEWSWEEK
Published May 14, 2009
From the magazine issue dated May 25, 2009

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  • Posted By: NotSoBigMac @ 05/27/2009 12:54:51 PM

    For what it's worth, I want to say, that Josef Ratzinger was an affable man, indeed. And John Paul II was so popular partly because he made Cardinal Ratzinger tell the bad news for him - hence, "God's Rottweiler".

    Benedict is just trying to be human. One of these days, people will start appreciating human beings again.

    And no, I'm not Catholic.

  • Posted By: BOFORCE @ 05/27/2009 2:20:14 AM

    They are all satanists..........LUCIFERIANS.

  • Posted By: misskaren @ 05/17/2009 10:34:37 PM

    I think he needs better handlers than he's got now and he needs to listen to them. He came into the job following a rock star and with his own rep as a vinegar-pussed knuckle-dragging traditionalist -- a reincarnation of Torquemada. Given all those problems, he had a bad start made worse. He needs to be exquisitely sensitive. He's not a professor addressing a class. He's a pope addressing a world and only part of it thinks he's their leader. He needs to reach out and do it now.

  • Posted By: NICOLET NELSON @ 05/17/2009 3:23:02 PM

    I just wondering if any Rabbi would pray in Catholic way or any other religious way according to express respect to other nation?

  • Posted By: mmfrog @ 05/15/2009 5:09:53 AM

    "Madam " should never have been pope,too much baggage from his past which should have disqualified him from the start .It is not good enough to be an intellectual pope,Sad!

    • Posted By: bjsassy @ 05/15/2009 3:47:51 PM

      It is sad that the Pope is just not "cool" enough for the media. If he would only get a publicist, jazz up his wardrobe, and rescind all of those unpopular church laws, he might get more face time on television.

      • Posted By: mmfrog @ 05/15/2009 8:19:22 PM

        but his wardrobe is totally PRADA...
        it is not an image problem
        He is the problem,he just is not a warm person
        he hasn't got the human touch of last pope.

        • Posted By: bjsassy @ 05/16/2009 1:28:23 PM

          He is following in the footsteps of one of the most charismatic pope in history. Give him a break. He doesn't have the star quality of Pope John Paul. He is a scholarly and holy man.

  • Posted By: joelpalmer @ 05/15/2009 10:35:40 PM

    BJ It isn't that he was a Hitler Youth (he was) it is the the HRCC chose him out of several hundred cardinals as their leader. They had a chopice and it was pretty much in your face at that point. The church is NOT interested in reform or anything that wpould relax their iron grip on the faithful. They are even back to selling indulgences

    The church is a joke to any thinking sentient person; of course we don't declare churches illegal; that's called hyperbole and you need to chill a bit.

    • Posted By: bjsassy @ 05/16/2009 12:11:22 PM

      Joel, your hostility is showing. Was't it you that declared that the Catholic Church should be disbanded and membership should be illegal? It appears that you are very uptight about the Church.

      Can you give me a specific example about the Church selling indulgences? As an unthinking, insentient Catholic, I have not been able to find any evidence of indulgences being sold. The Church has re-introduced "Plenary Indulgences". These indulgences are not sold, but what do I know? Perhaps you can enlighten me.

  • Posted By: conexus69 @ 05/16/2009 6:51:44 AM

    I welcome the foils and fumbles. More fodder. Maybe someday people will realize they can be human without the dictates of some ivory tower spouting untruths. As with a lot of modern day corporations, this one will eventually go the way of chapter 11.

  • Posted By: joelpalmer @ 05/15/2009 10:37:09 PM

    Here's another thought; if we didn't brainwash children ointo the "jesus loves me" school of thought; how many, as a dults would buy this "gospel"? Not many that's for sure

  • Posted By: bitterblogger @ 05/15/2009 4:08:29 PM

    There are inherent contradictions in his image. On the one hand, he's supposedly "infallible", a fable of arrogance; on the other, he's "old" and therefore supposed to be given a break. In another vein, his "open-mindedness" as a professor (presuming this is verifiable) isn't congruent with Church doctrine; it's in fact diametrically opposed. You need a coherent, consistent message, and that's not possible given these differences.

  • Posted By: bjsassy @ 05/15/2009 3:40:35 PM

    Fact: When the Pope, then Joseph Ratzinger, was 14 years-old he was required by law to register in the Hitler Youth Group. He refused to attend the meetings. His father hated the Nazis and all it stood for.

    Obviously, you hate the Catholic Church. Your statement that the Church should be disbanded and membership should be illegal is quite amusing. You must not be an American citizen because you do not believe in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In our country we do enjoy freedom of speech (at least so far) and you can bluster all you want.

  • Posted By: joelpalmer @ 05/15/2009 3:19:33 PM

    There is so much wrong with the HRCC that it is difficult to find a place to start. let's begin with the Pope. Papal Infallability? Bunk. Did they HAVE to pick a guy who was a Hitler Youth? Celibacy? Bunk and invented to enrich the church at the expense of its laity. Dogma? nonsense. Birth control? even bigger nonsense. Interference in affairs of others? big time. The HRCC is a 13th century anachronism that has somehow marketed its way thus far through fear and ignorance. A thoughtful examination of this institution would call for its immediate disbanding and for making membership illegal.

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