Orville W. TaylorOH RATZINGER! Of course I am disappointed that he was elected not only because my predictions went woefully wrong but because he does not have any known black ancestors. Then again, he is German. Isn't it interesting that the last pope was Polish and the Germans had invaded and mistreated his family during World War II? Yet, the new pope was very close to John Paul II. Like him he shares the fundamentalist Catholic stand supporting celibacy of priests and was regarded as John Paul's 'right hand'. In any event, he is 78 years old. Thus, the celibacy issue really should not normally affect him. Why did he choose the name Benedict XVI?
Intriguing name! It means 'blessed'. St. Benedict, who died April 17, 1783, is the Catholic patron saint of the homeless, mentally ill, pilgrims, religious outcasts and unmarried men. I am at least two of those and have another reason why I could consider him my patron saint too. However, I don't like the sound of 'Benedict'.
HISTORY
A force-drafted member of Hitler's Nazi Youth Movement in the 1930s, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was the whitest candidate. He deserted the German army in 1945 and was imprisoned by the Allies. Although I doubt that he shares Hitler's notions about the Germans being a superior Aryan race and Africans being closest to apes, I cannot help being a bit scared. For information, all humans are classified as apes and share 99 per cent of our DNA with chimpanzees, who are closer to us than to gorillas. Animals that are farther apart such as donkeys and zebras have successfully mated. However, whatever the obeahman says, don't try it because chimps are three times stronger than Arnold Schwarzenegger and could break your back in ecstasy.
Certainly, the new pope would shudder at this
discussion since he is flat out against unmarried sex and thus, the distribution of condoms. Yet, like dance-hall artistes and Rastafarians, he opposes abortion and vehemently attacks homosexuality as sinful. So, gay priests should not expect his 'backing.' He is also noted for being ultra conservative in standing against the ordination of female priests. In 1988, he rejected the idea of female equality in the Bible (actually the Bible is indeed sexist!) Will he be considered to be a misogynist (hater of women) by feminists and homosexuals? His hard-line reputation earned him the nicknames of 'God's Rottweiler' and 'Panzer' [Cardinal] after the Nazi armoured vehicle.
A MATTER OF COLOUR
Nonetheless, does the selection of a pope of any particular race or colour mean anything? A green pope would have suited Bruce, orange would please the Government but the NDM can only wait until they are blue. Seriously though, a pope is a pope and the Catholic Church is a
conservative institution with well-defined catechistic principles. Therefore, even if it were the 'blacky tutus' Francis Arinze, it might not have made much difference.
Reacting to my commentary on Sunday April 10, 2005, the Black Press of America (BPA) noted that having a black pope is insufficient, since "Most of the African bishops are trained and appointed by Europeans". Singling out Arinze, BPA notes that he ignored many of the injustices in Africa and declared that he is no more a spokesman for blacks than is Colin Powell or Condoleeza Rice. Given that much of black America labels these two "Oreo cookies" or "roasted breadfruits", it declares if "we are going to get a white pope, I would prefer that he looks white, so that no one is confused." Nuff said!
Still, pope or not, Catholicism has more black people than Italians or Germans and if one factors in the mostly black-blooded Latin-Americans, the majority of Catholics are black. We therefore needed more 'pluck for our buck.' However, I doubt that the very restrictive Catholic Church is the best avenue for pursuing the under-attended
interests of black people and in
particular Jamaican blacks.
Secular 'blacktivists' and scholars need to create our own intellectual space and correct the unfortunate negative stereotypes perpetuated about us in metropolitan countries. It cannot be left up to ancient ecclesiastical empires since much of the interpretation and translation of the Bible incorrectly suggests that we were not in it.
In a world controlled by the non-Caribbean mass media it is not astonishing though offensive, that a Florida judge excluded a Jamaican juror because she came from a country known as a drug-producing nation. Yet, a Colombian was kept among the panellists. Well, I hope they read this because Jamaicans were the most successful immigrant group from the Americas into South Florida as measured in the 1990s. One of my studies conducted using American census data is published in IDEAZ Volume 1, Number 2. Compared to Cubans, Colombians, (Santo) Dominicans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Puerto Ricans we had the highest
educational levels, percentages of home ownership, average incomes and occupational statuses. So, 'we nuh booguyagga'. We are more than model citizens in Florida, we are the standard.
THE BEST
Jamaica has consistently given of its best to the U.S.A. A black Jamaican, Samuel Francis, fought in the American War of Independence in 1776. At least 20 per cent of the black population that built the Carolinas came from here. Now they know! Thank us for Sheryl Lee Ralph, Delroy Lindo, Colin Powell, Sanya Richards, Shaggy, and countless others. Lee Boyd Malvo and the posses are 'brawta'.
To conclude, I mourn the more than 500 homicide victims, Karl Abrahams and Peter Cargill. Abrahams was one of the founding fathers of a unique Jamaican art. Of Cargill, one enduring memory is the very Jamaican expression he used on the field after a hard tackle in the Croatia match. I could not hear it but smiling, I read his lips well.
Requeiscat in Pace (R.I.P.), Habemus Papam! (We have a Pope!)
Dr. Orville Taylor is
lecturer in the Department
of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
