The former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger now known as Pope Benedict XVI, and once called ‘God’s Rottweiler,’ has always been a hardliner for conservative doctrine. The once powerful and influential Dean of the College of Cardinals has always made a clear stance against what he calls the move towards the dictatorship of relativism. He has made it apparent that he is against non-definitive actions, as well as the rule of ego and desire. Therefore, a fence-sitter he is not.
He was once head of the Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith whose mission is to "to promote and safeguard the doctrine on the faith and morals throughout the Catholic world." Originally called the Sacred Congregation of the Universal Inquisition, his office’s duty was to defend the Church from heresy.
He once sent a letter of advice to U.S. bishops about denying communion to politicians who support abortion rights. He stopped a nun from ministering to gays and lesbians in the United States.
It was also as head of CDF that Ratzinger disciplined church dissidents and upheld church policy against attempts by liberals for reforms. These include the priest sex-abuse scandals that have cost the church millions in settlements in the United States and elsewhere
The Los Angeles Archdiocese owns the largest church settlement of sexual abuse lawsuits of all time, paying a total of $660 million to more than 500 alleged victims. The Boston Archdiocese paid $157 million to 983 claimants in several different settlement agreements. The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon paid $129 million to 315 claimants. The Diocese of Orange, California paid $100 million to 90 claimants. The Diocese of Covington, Kentucky settled with 350 claimants for $85 million.
He did enter the eye of the storm with his US trip, on precisely a mission to deal with sexual abuse perpetrated by the clergy. The hardliner in him will not pass up the chance. The man who was once dubbed as “The Inquisitor” will not sit on the fence.
But then, again, his current position is largely political in what is said to be the world’s wealthiest organization.
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