Protestant heretic here. I'm big on Ratzinger for this reason: the bridge between the Reformed faith and the Roman Catholic faith is not going to be built anytime soon. They are very different systems. That doesn't mean that we can't cooperate on the social front, however.
The Catholic Church we in the Reformed Community is one that isn't going to go squishy on life, homosexuality, the culture generally, freedom of education, etc. If the RCC goes squisy on its own doctrine, it will certainly go squisy on these fronts, as well, and that does not help our cultural crusade one bit.
So, ironically, the best RCC from my perspective is one that is doctrinally pure from their perspective. I would also suggest that the best foundation for true ecumenical dialogue (if some insist that there must be that) is when we link arms in confronting the culture of death.
In that regard, I think I have a friend in Cardinal Ratzinger, er, the Pope.
(Plus it's delightful to see the media wet its pants)
And by the way....deficient is a far cry from "heretic." V II formally admitted that we Protestants can be saved....I guess I am grateful, whatever. It doesn't affect me one way or the other. But when discussing these matters precision of language is important and Prots are not deemed heretics by the RCC.
I do hope that Ratzinger will have the stones to deem SOME heretics, though....starting with liberation theologians!
Hear, hear!
Protestant here and former Catholic, too. I also believe we can and should cooperate on social fronts against moral relativism.