[AbeKrieger]

I was thinking Ratzinger, but after reading some bios, I think it will be Claudio Hummes from Brazil. He's of European ancestry and represents a place where Catholicism is growing by leaps and bounds. Everyone's happy.

Well, except American a la carte Catholics who are looking for a liberalization or a nod to the secular world. NOT going to happen.

[starfish923]

I was thinking Ratzinger, but after reading some bios, I think it will be Claudio Hummes from Brazil. He's of European ancestry and represents a place where Catholicism is growing by leaps and bounds. Everyone's happy.
Well, except American a la carte Catholics who are looking for a liberalization or a nod to the secular world. NOT going to happen.

All good points.

[metalmanx2j]

"Well, except American a la carte Catholics who are looking for a liberalization or a nod to the secular world. NOT going to happen."

I am ashamed by many of my American Catholic brethren. Many are so egocentric and think they are the only Catholics in the world. First off, I think the Catholics in America are some of the laziest most undevout people on the planet!!

Second, they seem to think that the Pope creates doctrine out of thin air! In fact, he merely interprets the Bible, the WORD OF GOD!!! He has no say so in how doctrine is supposed to be. It is God's to make or break, and I doubt God will break any of it.

Stupid lazy people. Don't even know how their own Church works...it IS NOT a democracy so GET OVER IT, MORONS!

[RFT1]

Actually the church has not done that well at all in Brazil in recent years, while Protestants, mostly Pentacostals and evangecals have grown dramatically in the last 20 years. Cardinal Hummes is considered to be a liberal.

[CWW]

Hummes is relatively liberal, and will not get the nod.

[dangus]

One problem: Hummes is a communist.