Metaphor

Majikthise, as usual, is spot-on:

[W]e should judge Ratz on what he's done lately. Like hating gays and apologizing for pedophiles. Ratz' Nazi past is a perfect metaphor for his lifelong authoritarianism. Fascism will be the core brand idea of Ratz' pontificate. He's made that much clear already. (Yes, there will be people who will be appalled that I'm using the word "fascist" in connection with their Holy Father. But seriously, Ratz made a career out of enforcing orthodoxy and compliance at any cost, denying the full humanity of gays and women, subordinating social justice to culture war, and meddling in democracies including America's.)

I'd go even farther. Under John Paul II, the Catholic Church had been inching towards a declaration of war against liberalism in the most broadly understood meaning of the term; Ratzinger is the man to make that declaration official. We liberals---again, broadest possible meaning---aren't in a position to create a state of war, but we had better be damned ready when it is forced upon us.