Chuck Colson
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Since 1981, Ratzinger has been the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Apart from the late John Paul II, he has more than anyone else shaped the Catholic Church?s response to the secular worldviews infecting the West.

In his homily prior to the start of the conclave that elected him pope, Ratzinger warned, ?We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as for certain and which has as its highest goal one?s own ego and one?s own desires.? Christians are to illustrate the alternative.

The new pope?s refusal to bow before the idols of our age is enough to set some people?s teeth on edge. But he does not stop there: In his new book, Ratzinger calls on Europe to return to its Christian roots. He calls Europe?s ?passionately demanded multiculturalism? a ?renunciation? of and ?fleeing? from ?what is one?s own.?

By ?one?s own? he means Christianity, and he writes that only a re-embrace of its Christian roots can assure Europe?s survival.

With these views, it is easy to see why his election ?alarmed? the elites. In the lead paragraph of its story, the New York Times signaled its displeasure by using words like watchdog, uncompromising, and ultraconservative.

That was mild in comparison to the reaction of the British newspapers. Both prior to and after his election, their headlines made sure to point out that Ratzinger had been a member of Hitler Youth. They neglected to mention that such membership was compulsory and that Ratzinger, who came from a staunchly anti-Nazi family, deserted the Wermacht shortly after being drafted.

I was asked by an interviewer if the new pope would accommodate modern fashions. My answer was, ?I hope not.? Fashions come and go; the Church speaks eternal truth.

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Chuck Colson
