First Blood: New Pope Executes first Heretic

The lines have been drawn. Actually they have been there for quite awhile, since pope Benedict XVI was known as cardinal Ratzinger. A smart man know that's when the person you are feuding with, becomes "the boss", the "Capo De Tutti Capi", you better decide on a new profession. And even though no actual blood was shed: the blade was none-the-less just as sharp and just as swift as the guillotine fell on father Thomas Reese.

Reese was editor in chief of America magazine for seven years, improving it tremendously and increasing circulation, but he had problems with ratzinger several times over the years, specifically on articles concerning Christ as the unique savior; same-sex marriage; stem-cell research; reception of Communion by Catholic politicians who support abortion, homosexual priests, clerical celibacy, inclusive language in the liturgy and the appropriateness of some Vatican actions and documents.
"With Cardinal Ratzinger elected pope, I think (Father Reese) thought it would be very difficult to continue his line of openness, without creating more problems. He had been at America magazine seven years and he improved it tremendously, so I think he understood it was time to go," the Jesuit spokesman said.
Over a year ago the Vatican threatened to censure father Reese unless changes were made. He agreed to an internal review of his articles before they went to press. But even that wasn't enough to appease the Vatican, which expected, no, demanded blind obedience, as they do all their followers, of ANY edict coming from the Vatican even if that doctrine DIDN'T fall under their "Infallibility" concept, (which in itself is another story) his sin? Well he presented BOTH sides of a story, fatal in Catholicism. Father Reese appears to be a smart, honest, dedicated, sincere, religious man. His nemesis Ratzinger aka: pope Benedict xvi appears to be a smart, dedicated, religious man. You do the analysis and the math on what important traits may be missing from one of the men. I've done mine and it seems as if things in Rome haven't changed much over the millennia: Emperor, Dictator or Pope, names and titles may have changed but it still stinks.