Say what you want about Fox News, but they called this one. They said that mainstream media would use the new Pope's youth in Hitler's Nazi Germany to attack him as well as the issue of condom use and ignore his popularity with European Jewish leaders and 20 year service and close friendship with Pope John Paul II. It was also pointed out how opponents would politicize the papalcy(sp?) with terms like conservative and so forth without regard to the fact that it's a religious position where traditionalist is a better description than conservative.

Benedict is going to have a helluva time. He's following the most popular Pope ever. He's instantly targeted by those who want to criticize the Catholic church. People don't take into account his many years of service working closely with JP II. At best he's an interim Pope to put some bumper room between Pope John and whoever is to lead the church into the next big era. I kinda feel sorry for the guy.

whomod said: I generally don't like it when people decide to play by the rules against people who don't play by the rules.
It tends to put you immediately at a disadvantage and IMO is a sign of true weakness.
This is true both in politics and on the internet."

Our Friendly Neighborhood Ray-man said: "no, the doctor's right. besides, he has seniority."