The second extended conversation was with a Buddhist friend who shared her decision to become a Roman Catholic. She was staying with us for the weekend and she wanted us to know that she had completed a year long period of study, that she was now a full fledged communicant in the Catholic Church and she would be going to Mass Sunday morning. In our lengthy discussion of the motivations for this fairly momentous change in her life, it was inevitable that Pope Benedict’s recent pronouncement became a topic to be explored. Our friend and recent convert said she saw no reason to pay attention to what the Pope had to say and that she thought most people did not like him. She elaborated by describing the attempt of her parish priest to disagree with the Pope, while also backpedaling, making excuses for the Pope’s pronouncement.

Another recent convert to Roman Catholicism, Robert Novak, was highlighted in the New York Times Magazine on Sunday. When Novak was asked about the spiritual reason for his move from Judaism to the Catholic Church, his answer was short and direct. “I believe that Catholicism is the only true religion. The Holy Spirit has convinced me of that.”

These snippets of comment show a wide range of reaction to the significance of the Pope’s pronouncements.

I believe we can be certain that Pope Benedict believes in the importance of what he said. He joins a long line of Popes and Bishops who have sought through their leadership, teachings, and pronouncements to create an image of one universal church, existing under their authority, and using that authority to promulgate a single, unified system of belief and practice. From this perspective, alternative interpretations, traditions, and approaches to the Christian story best go unrecognized.

We can imagine that Robert Novak finds welcome reinforcement of the foundation stone of his conversion. Our ex-Buddhist friend is focused upon her reception into the fellowship of the Mass and the communal support of her local parish. At this stage she just doesn’t care what the Pope is saying.

And what about the Italian priest and American nun and their vehement dismay toward the Pope’s actions? I believe they are sniffing the familiar, powerful odor of idolatry. Idolatry occurs whenever and wherever human beings take their own inventions, creations, and constructions and insist they are a container for the very nature of Divinity. Protestants have continually been tempted to treat Scripture as an idol. Catholics have repeatedly been tempted to treat the institution of the Church as an idol. Idolatry is an enemy of compassion, generosity, understanding, and love toward those who are different. In this crowded global village we call earth, we just don’t need more worship of idols.