As church official in charge of the Office of the Holy Inquisition the German cardinal Ratzinger was infamous for his reactionary theology and really mean deeds on behalf of traditionalist Catholicism. He alienated and excommunicated brilliant progressive thinkers and became the pitbull of orthodox roman religion.
When hand picked by john Paul the Second to be his successor, the new Pope began his reign with a moderation that surprised his many liberal critics.
That moderation at least in light of this weeks' decision appears to be over. In one week we have seen Benedict XVI restroe the deniers of the Second Vatican Council to union, welcome among them a Holocaust denier and now the elevation to bishop a controversial figure in the Austrian church who claims that God sent Hurricane Katrina to punish the sexually permissive and the the Thai Tsunami was retribution for European vacationers. The same priest just elevated to the bishopprick also condemned Harry Potter as a tool of Satan.
Those close to the Pope suggest that Jerry Falwell and Pat robertson are next in line for red hats!
