Necessary Roughness

A little Two Kingdoms action in the Roman church:

Newsmax reports that Pope Benedict XVI criticized a Romanist radio network on Thursday. The radio station was ridiculing Jews for demanding compensation for property confiscated in WWII, among other things.

Saying that the church should stay out of politics, the Pope declared in an address at St. John’s Cathedral in Warsaw: “The priest is not asked to be an expert in economics, construction or politics. He is expected to be an expert in the spiritual life.”

His remarks echoed those of Pope John Paul II, who warned his native country in 1993 to avoid entangling the church in partisan politics — advice that was taken to heart by previous governments.

Cardinal Mahoney, take heed.