The Pope's Disconnect

The LA Times has been chronicling Benedict's visit to Brazil. Having been to Brazil and having family down there, I expected that his message of abstinence and chastity would fall on deaf ears. Brazil is Catholic like America is Judeo-Christian. There is a thin veneer, but people pretty much as they please.

Thus, the moral values message is a difficult one here.

It will be interesting to see how this continues. Benedict lacks John Paul's charisma, so while his message is similar he doesn't get the same reaction. Again, as with the issue of Liberation Theology, Benedict doesn't have a finger on the pulse of Latin America. It will be interesting to see if the next Pope doesn't come from Latin America and what that would mean.