God's Rotweiler -- Insult or Compliment?
By now, everyone has heard Benedict XVI called "God's Rotweiler" ... or worse. But the phrase "God's Rotweiler" could be taken as a compliment as well as an insult depending on your point of view.If you are viewing the issue from the liberal, anti-Catholic side, then "God's Rotweiler" is surely an insult. You would view the Pope (and orthodox Catholicism in general) as stuffy, unyielding and ready to begin a new Inquisition as the price to preserve such outdated and illogical notions as the male only, celibate priesthood for instance. You have probably been waiting for twenty or twenty-five years for "a real pope" to ascend to the See of Peter. No doubt a pope who would have the courage to not only revamp the priesthood in a radical direction but who would also loosen or abolish the restrictions against abortion on demand and contraception use. "Yes," you might say, "that Rotweiler is holding back the Catholic Church from becoming truly enlightened, just as his predecessors did."
On the flip side of the argument, that is if you happen to be conservative (or as I prefer, orthodox), you could look at the term "God's Rotweiler" and realize that this could be construed as a compliment even if it may be a back-handed one. I see "God's Rotweiler" as somewhat of a comforting term. If I am in danger of bodily harm, or in this case, spiritual harm due to creeping liberal modernism, would I want to have "God's Dachshund" between me and that imminent danger or would I want "God's Rotweiler" (grrr....) there to defend me? Rather than perceiving Benedict XVI to be just another in a long line of outdated old men determined to prevent humanity from reaching it's happiness potential, I perceive him to be another shepherd who will actively defend the Catholic Faith from any and all heretical aggressors. Oh, but in a charitable way of course.
So you can see that "Rotweiler" can be used by both sides. From one side as a slur, from the other as a term of endearment. Personally I am hopeful that our new Pope will be more forceful in enforcing the rules and regulations of the Church. John Paul the Great's pontificate was, I think, a time of mercy. It was a period of over 25 years of education in the true meaning of Vatican II. It was a time set aside to perhaps allow certain errors to burn themselves out, to allow time for those who would, to come back to the faithful fold. I wonder if now will be the time for everyone who in the past has called themselves "Catholic" to make the Great Decision: to be catholic or Roman Catholic.
If indeed this is what is to come in the years ahead, then the pope that is needed is exactly what the Holy Spirit has provided us with. We have a pope who is most likely the greatest theologian of our time. One who has fought in the trenches of the Congregation of the Faith for many years. A man who, time and again, has proven that he is not willing to give in to the big lies of our time. Someone who will preach the Gospel in and out of season. A Pope who will continue his work with tenacity befitting..."God's Rotweiler".
Labels: Catholic, Catholicism
posted by Norm Johnson @ 11:52 AM
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