[dangus]

In the media, "conservative" means he won't pay for the taxi to the abortion clinic. From what I can tell, he's another radical-kook lefty who knows only of the corporal acts of mercy. Some rather conservative types here on FR hold out hope for him, but I have none. I am starting to believe that the Pope will allow Boston, Los Angeles, and other liberal areas be literally God-forsaken, so that they may fruitfully be compared to the more orthodox areas.

[DPalm]

[I am starting to believe that the Pope will allow Boston, Los Angeles, and other liberal areas be literally God-forsaken, so that they may fruitfully be compared to the more orthodox areas.]

It is not within His Holiness' discretion to do so. It is his duty before God to appoint only holy, orthodox, and courageous men to the episcopate. If men of bad faith and character "slip through", then it is his duty before God to remove them and replace them with men who meet the above description. And if His Holiness finds that he is getting bad recommendations, then it is his responsibility to find new advisors.

This is basic common sense, not to mention stock Catholic Tradition.

Excusing the failure of the Roman Pontiff to select good bishops and to remove bad ones, through reference to a kind of hidden scheme in which he "punishes" the Church by purposely afflicting them with false shepherds, is not only perverse, it turns Catholic moral theology and the Church's perennial Tradition on its head.

[dstoker]

That was funny. Who was it that said that the American bishops think being conservative means being to the right of Walter Mondale?