December 17, 2012         John W         John W's previous articles 

Obedient Benedict?

As an English teacher I notice that  "obedient" and "benedict" have seven out of eight letters in common:  b d e e i n t

I also notice that Benedict says one thing about being obedient,
but does another

In a recent talk Benedict stressed the need to be obedient to the magisterium of the Church

But in recent years Benedict himself has not been obedient to the same magisterium. He has led the condemnation of the magisterium as expressed in Vatican II

"Condemnation" is not my term. It was the word used by Pope Paul VI:

(The 1962 Mass is a) symbol of the condemnation of the council.
I will not accept, under any circumstances, the condemnation of the council through a symbol.
Should this exception to the liturgy of Vatican II have its way, the entire council would be shaken. And, as a consequence, the apostolic authority of the council would be shaken   (quoted in this article)

Through his leadership of the "reform of the reform", through his ignoring of Vatican II's call for collegiality and subsidiarity, and especially by his promoting of the Catechism as the way to interpret Vatican II,
Benedict has condemned Vatican II

Which means he has condemned the magisterium

Which means he is not obedient to the magisterium

"Benedict" is not "obedient", in more ways than one

Maybe someone with professional theological expertise could take up this point please?