Give Benedict a chance

Many more liberal Catholics keep ripping apart the College of Cardinals' selection of Joseph Ratzinger as the replacement as pope for the recently departed John Paul II. To them, I say this: Give Pope Benedict XVI a chance.

I don't know any more or less about him than anyone else does. But I do know the faith teaches us to give people a chance before we judge them.

Yes, he was a part of the Hitler Youth movement in Germany as a child. Like all German children at the time, he didn't have much of a choice. The financial implications for a child's parents were unbearable.

Yes, he was the "enforcer" as the head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. Less than 100 years ago, that organization was called the Sacred Congregation of the Universal Inquisition, one with a dark past.

It was his job, his role to staunchly defend the Catholic faith. That's what that office does, rely on him to conservatively examine church teachings and offer opinions on issues of the day. That doesn't necessarily mean that's how he thinks the church should run, or that he'd turn a deaf ear to God if asked to change anything. It merely means that's what he used to do.

It saddens me to see a universally loved and appreciated figure such as Pope John Paul II, only to have his replacement lambasted by critics already. If he does something that offends you, then it's your right to nit-pick. Thus far, he seems to be doing and saying all the right things, from his promise to keep open relations with the Jewish church to his meek and humble approach to being the 265th pope.

Give him a chance. Judge not, lest ye be judged.