[stm]

Here's a major surprise....."Homosexual Advocacy Group Criticizes New Pope"

"Religious leaders like Ratzinger cannot dictate to us what our family values must be, particularly when their idea of family values excludes all GLBT people and loved ones," said PFLAG's Executive Director Jody Huckaby, a homosexual former Catholic, in a statement."

On the contrary, HE CAN DICTATE WHAT FAMILY VALUES ARE, since they are spelled out explicitly in many places in the Bible. I believe the 5th Commandments states "Thou shalt honor thy Mother and Father" Nowhere does it state "Thou shalt honor thy Mother and Mother" or "Thou shalt honor thy Father and Father."

This is precisely what Pope Benedict refers to as "Moral Relativism". The "homosexual former Catholic" says it all.

I will admit to knowing essentially nothing about Cardinal Ratzinger, apart from the fact that he was Pope John Paul's close friend and personal assistant and was initally very concerned when a European (and from Germany especially since it has become a very secular country) was selected to be the next Pope. I breathed a hugh sigh of relief when I learned that he was at least, if not more, conservative than Pope John Paul II.

[backhoe]

I breathed a hugh sigh of relief when I learned that he was at least, if not more, conservative than Pope John Paul II.

Same here- he sounds like a good man who has firm beliefs and isn't afraid to take an unpopular position, and stick with it.