WISCONSIN
Channel 3000
Author: William R. Wineke, Special to Channel 3000
Published On: Feb 25 2013
Pope Benedict XV1 enters his final week as the world’s only absolute monarch this week and the 100 or so Roman Catholic cardinals who share in the church’s leadership are preparing to choose his successor.
In doing so, they will find – I expect – both tactical and strategic challenges.
As in any organization, the tactical decisions those cardinals make will make the news and the strategic decisions will make the difference.
The tactical decision is relatively easy: The cardinals will choose a new pope. In theory, they could choose almost anyone; in practice, they will choose someone from among their small number. And they will choose someone who pretty closely reflects Benedict’s philosophy. They will do so because he had a hand in elevating them to their present positions of honor.
The strategic decisions are far more difficult. The cardinals will take the first steps toward determining whether the underlying theological concepts of the church still make sense.
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