Cue "Imperial March"?

[Listen while you read]

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has been elected pope, and will hereafter be known as Pope Benedict XVI.

There's a lot that concerns me about the new 78-year-old pontiff. Remember the whole 'no communion for pro-choice politicians' thing? You know, which cropped up kinda sorta right before the 2004 Presidential election?

That was his idea.

Yeah.

More 'good news for hardliners' from that declaration:

Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.

Well, isn't that...conveeeenient?

Oh, and he used to head the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith--more familiar to you probably by its former name: The Inquisition.

I'm just glad I'm not a Catholic. Man, where's Father Guido Sarducci when you need him?

[addendum, 6:32 PM]

Two thoughts come to mind after a little reflection:

1. Give the guy a chance. He could surprise everyone. Not likely, but it's best to keep an open mind.
   
   
2. He's...old. So he probably won't be Pope very long. An interim Pope. To follow John Paul II with a reformer--in other words, with someone who would have worked against many of the things John Paul II held dearest--would have been something of a slap in the face to the memory of that well-loved man, and to his many supporters. I don't think Ratzinger/Benedict XVI is going to be nearly so well-loved, and following him with a progressive/reformist pontiff will likely be much more palatable.

Perhaps instead of the Imperial March, an intermezzo would be more appropriate....