Benedict’s book crosses line from ‘honest dissent to dishonest propagandizing’
Northwestern’s chair of religious studies available to comment on retired Pope’s surprise rebuke of Pope’s Francis over celibacy
EVANSTON, Ill. --- Retired Pope Benedict XVI, who pledged to remain silent after he resigned in 2013, is arguing for the necessity of priestly celibacy in a new book as Pope Frances considers the possibility of relaxing the strict requirement in some countries experiencing priest shortages.
Northwestern University’s Christina Traina is available to talk to reporters about the book and its implications.
Traina is a professor and chair of religious studies in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern. She studies Christian theology and ethics with emphasis on Roman Catholic and feminist thought.
Quote from Professor Traina
“Judging from published excerpts, Pope Benedict and Robert Sarah’s book appears to cross the line from honest dissent to dishonest propagandizing. They seem to gloss over the fact that the Church not only ordained married priests in the past but still ordains them today in Eastern rite churches. And their accusations of ‘theatrical productions’ and ‘diabolical lies’ are invitations to battle, not to thoughtful dialogue.”