Rush Limbaugh: Cardinals Reject Pleas from the Left

RushLimbaugh.com ^ | 4/19/05 | Rush Limbaugh

[wagglebee]

RUSH: We have microphones in the Vatican. Let's JIP it.

CARDINAL / TRANSLATOR: My dearest brothers and sisters. (cheers) My dearest brothers and sisters. (cheers) My dearest brothers and sisters.

RUSH: He's speaking in a bunch of different languages, for those of you in Rio Linda. There's nothing wrong here.

CARDINAL: I announce to you a great joy. (cheers) We have a pope! (cheers) The most eminent and most reverent Lord Joseph (chimes) of the holy Roman Catholic church, Cardinal Ratzinger! (roars)

RUSH: So there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. From Germany, the new pope is Joseph Ratzinger. He was tight, he was very close -- theologically, ideologically -- with Pope John Paul II. This is going to send the left into conniption fits. I want you to listen last night, PMSNBC on Hardball with Chris Matthews, former John Kerry senior advisor and very consistent presidential campaign loser, Bob Shrum was the guest, and Matthews says (the Democrats are out campaigning for a liberal pope), "You heard Joseph Ratzinger, the dean of the College of the College of Cardinals today give his sermon, tough conservative sermon, wasn't it?"

SHRUM: It was. The speech this morning which denounced the modern world, liberalism, individualism, contrasted very sharply with, for me, with the speech with which Pope John the XXIII (gasp) opened the Second Vatican Council where he said, "We must beware of the voices of doom and gloom, that all we see evil in the modern world and in change we must encounter the modern world. We must open up to it. We must make the faith relevant for people." So it was a campaign speech for a very cons -- in my view, very conservative candidacy which I assume Cardinal Ratzinger believes absolutely. RUSH: Yes, he does, and this is not going to sit well. All last night on this program they were upset. They couldn't believe the church is not going to "modernize"! They can't believe the church is not going to become "relevant to the faithful." They can't believe that they're not going to get away from all of this stuff, this archaic stuff from the past and not become "modern," and yet, ladies and gentlemen, exactly what the left told you the church needed to do, the church did the exact opposite. Exactly what the American media has been suggesting, has been hoping, has been praying -- uh, they don't pray -- asking the Catholic Church to do, demanding that the Catholic do the Catholic church has done just the opposite. The church, in their view, has not modernized. The church in their view has not become more relevant to the faithful. The church has not accepted liberal ideas. What you're seeing today if you could look at this through a pair of liberal eyes, they see a competing chief justice of a supreme court that is more powerful than theirs that has just been named pope, and there's nothing they can do to filibuster it.

RUSH: (Wang Chung Bump) Cardinal Ratzinger has chosen the name Pope Benedict the XVI. Pope Benedict XVI. Check his age. He's 78 years old. I'm just going to predict to you the media is going to say, "This is a holding pattern for the church. The church chose somebody who won't be around for that long, certainly as long as John Paul II so," and they'll say, "The decision came rather quickly, too, as though the church wanted to maintain its profile, but we all know they really wanted to pick a pope from Nigeria. They really wanted to pick a pope from Latin America. They reeeeally wanted to pick a pope from wherever." So, he'll be hailed as a stopgap here, and the talk will continue. "I think this indicates the church actually does want to modernize. The church actually does want to liberalize, but they don't want to go about it gradually. They couldn't just go from John Paul II to the new modern liberal pope that we all knew was coming. So Ratzinger is there, Pope Benedict the XVI, as a holding partner, so to speak." So the talk will continue about what the church must do, since the church has not done what the left in this country and the world has demanded; since the church has not done what the media has asked and suggested, the church will continue to be disparaged and criticized. Here's Conrad in Queens. Conrad, welcome to the program. Great to have you on the EIB Network.

CALLER: Hello, Rush. It's a pleasure, sir.

RUSH: Hello. Thank you, sir.

CALLER: Rush I know you believe in substance over symbolism but I can't help but remark over the importance of the fact that they announced the election of a new pope right as your show came on the air, and you announced to your audience the fact that we didn't have a new pope. Do you have any sense of a --

RUSH: The timing is coincidental, maybe so pointed as to be beyond coincidence is what you're saying?

CALLER: I don't believe in random chance, Rush, when it comes to important events in our life. I believe in causal relationship.

RUSH: Mmm.

CALLER: You believe in life; the church believes in life. You believe in freedom; the church believes in freedom.

RUSH: Interesting. I hadn't considered this, sir, but I'll certainly throw it into the hopper and consider it. That's a very interesting point of view. I'm very much, of course, accustomed to President Bush ending press conferences in time for this program to begin, that, we have a deal. But I have not spoken to anybody at the Vatican about this, and if this happened as you suggest...? Well, I'll let others speculate on this, ladies and gentlemen, and not throw my own two cents in. I appreciate the call, Conrad.

So the left no doubt depressed as they can be with the selection of the new pope. There will be no new surprises discovered from the Bible, no discovery in the Bible of the right or duty to have an abortion. The new pope is obviously trouble for the enlightened.

[gogipper]

I'm not so sure Benedict XVII sees the left as the enemy. I think he is more concerned about leading the Catholic church. As a Christian I believe that I am a footsoldier for God, we are in a spiritual war against evil.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Think about the evil that both John Paul II and Benedict personally witnessed. The evils of socialism (both Nazi's and communistic). And what is the core of these pathologies? The denial of human nature and his spirituality. Take politics out of it and think about the movement's goal....To the extent that the left embodies the continued thrust of domination not freedom - materialism not spirituality - and death not life it is evil and God's enemy. Let's you and I know the enemy, soldier!

[LibertarianInExile]

"If the Republicans were in charge of picking a new Pope, the Cardinals would be taking a three week vacation to thin it over and then coming back to the Sistine Chapel to continue their selection process."

And they'd probably not be able to pick a Catholic, because the CINOs would threaten to filibuster unless the principles of Scottish law were followed.

[Lindykim]

snip..Rush- a thrice divorced, drug addicted entertainer speaks for American Catholics


Observation: Whenever someone wishes to destroy the character of someone else, it's a fact of life that the accuser never smears his victim with the charge of being virtuous. No, the attacker must charge his intended victim with the same lack of character as he himself possesses. The smear-campaigner is saying in effect is: "See, he's (my victim) no different from me!" When As a consequence, as you indict Rush, you indict yourself.

[garbanzo]

I'm not Christian and don't understand why the liberal Catholics don't simply become Protestants if they hate this guy so much.

Same here - my guess has been that they are more or less atheists who enjoyed the worship services. Otherwise I can't understand how someone who purports to believe in an eternal unchanging God can logically believe that the Church needs to "modernize". The very concept of "modernity" would mean nothing to such an entity, absolutely nothing.

[An American Patriot]

"He gets paid based on the attention he gets for himself by broadcasting on the airwaves, and without that attention he is just a man, who speaks only for himself."

True. You could say that about anyone, I guess, including the President--without his office, he is just like the rest of us, simply offering his opinion.

However, some people's opinions weigh more than others, based upon their experience, knowledge of subject matter, "credibility," etc., as as far as the Libs/Dems go, I cannot think of anyone who is more astute and accurate in delineating "their" methods, means and modes.

I've been listening to Rush for about 16 years and though I often disagree with some of the positions he articulates; often consider him just a little self-centered and over the top, I nevertheless, cannot think of anyone who has done more to advance the conservative cause in the past 25 years.

And no, I don't consider him speaking for me; no one does that, other than myself.

Moreover, I certainly am not a "sycophant," nor a "mind-numbed robot," (nor are the majority of his listeners, I believe) as the left is inclined to characterize those who listen to his program.

However while I might have misspoke, I thought I clarified that in stating that he was probably "defending" us conservatives, as opposed to us Catholics.

I don't know Rush personally, therefore, I cannot speak as to his character or morals. Nevertheless, as I know many upright and moral people who are not Catholic--and know as many Catholics who I'd as soon not associate with--I don't believe his not being a Catholic, or having had some personal "setbacks," disqualifies him from offering his opinion.

As far as perhaps, my being a "better man, conservative, and American than most.........including rush," I thank you for the compliment, but it is certainly, misplaced.

While I try to be all of the above, I fear I am but a weak, sinner, (like most) and simply continue to ask for His forgiveness, and try to do better--which is not always easy and my success ratio, (or better yet, my tendency to lapse)leaves much to be desired.

Peace, my friend and God Bless!

[wagglebee]

You are right. The enemy is Satan and his agents.

[raccoonradio]

Shrum--wasn't he the one who said to Kerry on election night, "Can I be the first one to call you 'Mr. President'" ...LOL. Loser!!

Well, the papal announcement did come right at the start of Rush's show--good timing. But I can remember one bit of news that broke just AFTER Rush's show ended--when it was revealed the Jocelyn Elders was out of Surgeon General after suggesting that "masturbation was perhaps something that could be talk". On WRKO in Boston, Howie Carr was just getting on the air and he pounced on it--lots of funny jokes, etc.

But the consensus was that the Clinton administration announced the Elders news ON A FRIDAY AT 3 PM _just so_
it would be too late for Rush to deal with it! Think so?

[raccoonradio]

oops "masturbation was something that could be TAUGHT." My fast-typing fingers strike again LOL

[joesnuffy]

damn straight! ;)

[Chu Gary]

"A driftless former drunk ..."


Where do you come off making such a harsh statement? Buying the propaganda from the Left, are you? So Bush partied a bit as a kid, most of us did. If you refer to GWB as a "driftless former drunk," how do you describe Klintoon or U.S. Grant, or Jammah Cahtah?

[JFC]

This should be entertaining. The hissing and snarling from the snakes on the left has just begun.


What is it with these low belly libs.... I had "The View" on for about 10 minutes today. The LIBS on there.. all 4 were dogging the Pope. That Joy Bayher is one angry witch. I flipped the channel

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Wacko liberals are aware that the Catholic vote tilted to the right against John Kerry and kept his policies out of the White House. They are also aware that this Pope intends to remain 100% pro-life (as if that were ever in question). They can't understand why their power does not extend to controlling Catholic matters and they go nuts over the fact they can't control the church.

In the final analysis, liberals just DO NOT understand spiritual and moral matters. The territory remains a great mystery to them. They neglect it in their own lives and view it through the distorted lens of their secular humanist political ideology. Deep down liberals know that they too will die, so religion, Christian matters, and issues relating to the afterlife still tug at their conscience (what little they have left). Their sadness, desolation, despair, and unhappiness at not getting a wacky liberal pope promising a hedonistic value-free utopia is related to their overall spiritual and moral dysfunction.

Why they would take their own fantasies of a liberal hippy free-love Pope seriously does make one wonder about their mental state. They are projecting their own deranged liberal fantasies into areas of reality where they don't belong and are unlikely EVER to be realized. Liberal fantasies about progressive liberal popes are pretty bizarre as far as secular humanist phenomena go.

[redgolum]

I expect the anti Christian and anti Catholic screeds to really increase now. JPII was the nice guy that even the liberals could like, while not agreeing with him. He just had that personality.

Benedict? Well, he is Bavarian, and they aren't really known for trying to cater to the press. They are more known for being blunt and honest. Should be an interesting first few months.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Liberal obsessions with the pope are bordering on serious mental illness (obsessive-compulsive disorder). The Pope (or any other mere mortal man, bishop, priest, or whatever) does not have the "authority" to change all the teachings that liberals seem to think should be changed. The Pope simply cannot say that butt sex, abortion, and murdering embryos for stem-cell parts for Frankenstein medical experiments are OK. Liberals do not understand how the church works or what Christianity is.

And believe me, they spend MUCH MORE time worrying about these kinds of things than normal conservative Catholics ( who know what the moral teachings are and accept and embrace them ).

[utahagen]

Actually, any sinner with a troubled past who appreciates the need for a church to be orthodox is the appropriate person to defend the Catholic Church. We are all sinners, which is why need an institution that upholds objectives beliefs.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Liberals generally are NOT people who make Jesus Christ or spiritual matters the center of their lives. Other than their anxieties that conservative trends in the Vatican might help keep liberal trends out of the White House, their obsession with the papal election is strange and bizarre. Abnormal psychology territory.

I can truly say I have never spent ANY amount of time worrying about who the Archbishop of Canterbury is, who the leading personalities of the Southern Baptist Church are, who the movers and shakers in Unitarianism are, or whoever the head Rabbis in Israel are.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Help us out here, WHAT is it that liberals would like to do which they can't already do which a pope saying it was OK to do would make it better, easier, or more enjoyable for them?

Is it primarily getting a Pope to say that A, B, and C immoral things are now OK which is their focus?

It seems like what they don't like is someone with religious authority saying that certain things are wrong. But are not differences of opinion the essence of "multiculturalism"? Why is it wrong in liberal theory for there to be people who are Catholic who think and believe something different from liberal ideology? How does that square with the "tolerance" and "diversity" rhetoric? Seems like they want "conformity" and a totalitarian liberal dictatorship enslaved to secular humanism. Sort of like something out of a futuristic science fiction film where everything old or traditional is prohibited.

[Aquinasfan]

It seems like what they don't like is someone with religious authority saying that certain things are wrong. But are not differences of opinion the essence of "multiculturalism"?

Don't get all logical on us. Logic is patriarchal.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

I'll tell you, whatever the gloat factor here, it's sad to see people getting so emotionally upset in the twisted absurd ideological maze their mind is lost in. What a mess of liberal nonsense.

"Guess what, folks, liberals DO NOT control the Catholic Church. Deal with it!"

[Soul Seeker]

::sigh::

Try reading the post and all my remarks IN CONTEXT and you might be able to discern I am not a Bush hater.

MY POINT was that God can take anyone and turn their life around in miraculous ways, especially in ways we wouldn't predict. Ex. Jeb Bush was expected to be the one destined to the W.H. Not someone that seemed to lack purpose and too fond of alcohol. Yet it is G.W.B. that resides in that Oval Office for two terms changing the world. This is testament to the power of Christ in his life.

God has done this throughout history. Moses, Paul, etc..

I admire and respect G.W. more than most on this board, and have the scars from defending this man against unjust accussations. You are picking a fight with the wrong person, though I understand it well intentioned.