The New Road

Really Jack, I have to call you on this one - you can't hold this against him. All youths in germany were forced to be members of the Hitler Youth. It even said so in the article you linked too - "membership was compulsory... membership was obligatory." I'm sure there is more for you to not like about this pope like that he is a stanch conservative, but I'm sure all German's of his age group would have some connection to the Nazi Party.

I'm nervous about his stance on homosexuality as well as his views on other religions, specifically Hinduism and Buddhism. Although, yesterday he vowed to unify all religions . . . or was that all Christian religions. It's going to be interesting to watch.

I don't think there will be any change in their teaching on gays, women in the priesthood or involving lay people in the Church.

What I would like to see is some real action to take responsibility for the rape and molestation of children at the hands of Catholic priests. This to me is one of the most heinous of all crimes since it robs the victim of their self-esteem, there faith in their religion and the people they trust. It's horrible. Absolutely horrible. Despicable. Sinful. We don't talk about it enough. What the Catholic priests did to those kids, and then to cover it up and try and lay the blame on them is inexcusable.