Reactions to Pope Benedict's Speech to U.S. Bishops

American Papist ^ | April 17, 2008 | Thomas Peters

[NYer]

In a phrase: it's turning heads.

I've posted the full text here for you to read yourself. John Allen summarizes here.

Pope Benedict also held a Q&A session with the bishops, which CNA has posted here.

As far as reactions go, Tim Drake starts us off with some comments from lay people and bishops.

Russell Shaw at OSV, meanwhile, calls the speech "A bit of a bombshell" and says "If the bishops were looking for an agenda, they have one now." Alehandro Bermudez, the editor of CNA blogging for the New York Times, takes Pope Benedict to mean "Catholics Should Be…Catholics."

Goodness, if that's what the pope had to say to the U.S. Bishops today - I wonder what he'll have to say to the U.S. Catholic Educators today when he addresses them. Stay tuned, I'll have the latest.

[NYer]

Pope Benedict XVI addresses the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at a vesper service at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington April 16, 2008. Cardinal Francis George (R) and Cardinal Tarcisio Berton Vatican Secretary of State(L) look on. REUTERS/Matthew Barrick/Pool (UNITED STATES)

Raymond Arroyo commented last night that up until two weeks ago, the bishops were planning a closed meeting with the Pope. The Vatican insisted that cameras be brought in so that ALL Catholics could hear what the Holy Father had said, not what the bishops said the Holy Father had said.

[NYer]

I wonder what he'll have to say to the U.S. Catholic Educators today when he addresses them.

MEETING WITH EDUCATORS AT CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
LIVE (90:00)
Thu Apr 17 4:30 PM
Encore April 17, 9PM; April 18, 5AM

[Convert from ECUSA]

"The Vatican insisted that cameras be brought in so that ALL Catholics could hear what the Holy Father had said, not what the bishops said the Holy Father had said."

Excellent! We can hear the Holy Father himself and not filtered through the "interpreters." Great work, Vatican!

[Convert from ECUSA]

"I wonder what he'll have to say to the U.S. Catholic Educators today when he addresses them."

I hope he comes down on them like white on rice!

[Biggirl]

Got to catch that one!

[chris_bdba]

As it should be. I’m so tired of those who pretend to be Catholic hogging the spotlight. You can not support things like abortion and still call yourself a Catholic. That makes you a former Catholic.

[G Larry]

“I wonder what he’ll have to say to the U.S. Catholic Educators today when he addresses them.”

Improved formulation:

I wonder what he’ll have to say to the secular educators at U.S. Catholic universities.

[Appleby]

Thanks for the heads up — I will catch this on the encore. What a blessing EWTN is!

[nanetteclaret]

**The Vatican insisted that cameras be brought in so that ALL Catholics could hear what the Holy Father had said, not what the bishops said the Holy Father had said.***

Our Holy Father knows he has some recalcitrant children in the family. He’s very astute!

[PAR35]

“Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.”