[BOB] ABERNETHY: But this condom thing, that was not an accident. I mean, all questions for the pope on his plane must be submitted in advance, in writing. So he knew what he was going to be asked?

Mr. [KEVIN] ECKSTROM: Exactly. I mean, they knew exactly what they were getting into on this one. And it always makes you wonder if they were actually trying to make some news out of this. You know, the pope’s trip to Africa was news before he even landed in Cameroon.

ABERNETHY: It was, as you said, very successful. He encouraged the Catholics in Africa?

Mr. ECKSTROM: Right. I mean, this is a growing, thriving part of the church that the pope sort of wanted to see and almost needs to see. He’s been decrying this dictatorship of relativism in Europe in sort of an anemic church. And you go to Africa and they can’t fit enough people into the churches. They can’t ordain enough pastors for all the people. It’s a rapidly growing part of the church, and I think there’s a bit of an energy boost for both sides there.

Read it all.

Filed under: * International News & Commentary • Africa • * Religion News & Commentary • Other Churches • Roman Catholic • Pope Benedict XVI

1. Monksgate wrote: I’m inclined to agree that the condoms statement was well planned.  Benedict XVI might not have expected quite the media storm that was unleashed, but he expected, I’m guessing, to shake things up. He’s a teacher through and through, which means that he wants to provoke his hearers to do think and to do their own research.  He speaks to intelligent, reflective adults.  The chattering classes (which include most journalists and bishops of mediocre intellectual ability) want nothing to do with thought or research at all.  They want slick, sanitized statements that pass by unnoticed.  Benedict XVI has no intention of reading from their script.  And I, for one, am grateful. Too, it’s curious isn’t it that after the media pundits claimed Benedict XVI needed to do more research about Williamson and about AIDS prevention in Africa, one finds that those same pundits are themselve woefully ignorant about excommunication, papal infallibility, effective AIDS prevention in Africa, etc., etc.  Where does one turn for reliable information these days? March 29, 10:29 am | [comment link]

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