White Smoke

It would appear that the Vatican has decided that the reactionary times demand a reactionary pope.

As dean of the College of Cardinals, Ratzinger called the cardinals to Rome for the conclave that elected him the 265th pope. Ratzinger, who turned 78 on Saturday, he has been head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith since 1981. In that position, he maintained strict discipline on church doctrine, including disciplining church officials who differed on church policy.

He has been the driving force behind the Vatican's crackdowns on liberation theology, religious pluralism, challenges to traditional moral teachings on issues such as homosexuality, and dissent on such issues as women's ordination.

Welcome to the new Dark Age.