Wright, Lori

English

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Media Relations Administrative Offices
2-11-2013
Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation
and Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI
Lori Wright
UNH Media Relations
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/news
This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more
information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Wright, Lori, "Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation and Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI" (2013). UNH Today. 4155.
https://scholars.unh.edu/news/4155
Michele Dillon, a scholar of Catholicism and 
professor of sociology at the University of 
New Hampshire.
February 11, 2013 
Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation and Legacy of Pope Benedict 
XVI
Michele Dillon, a scholar of Catholicism and professor of 
sociology at the University of New Hampshire, is 
available to discuss the resignation and legacy of Pope 
Benedict XVI.
Dillon can discuss Benedict’s legacy, how he was 
thought of by the laity, Benedict’s decision to resign, 
and key issues facing the Roman Catholic Church and 
the next pope. The last time a sitting pope resigned was 
Pope Gregory XII in 1415.   
“This is highly unexpected news, although given Pope 
Benedict’s age and his deteriorating health, it strikes me 
as a very moral, courageous, selfless, and responsible 
act on his part. The church and Catholics around the 
world are going through a lot of changes and challenges, 
and its leader really needs to be in the whole of his 
health. Pope John Paul II was admired by many for his 
tenaciousness in the face of illness, but given the 
extensive leadership duties of the pope and the mental 
and physical energy necessary, it makes a great deal of 
sense for Pope Benedict to resign,” Dillon says.
Other than for his resignation, Pope Benedict will be remembered primarily for his intellectualism 
and his concern for the integrity of Catholic moral teaching, according to Dillon.
“As head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger for 24 years 
prior to being elected pope, Pope Benedict was responsible for articulating and enforcing official 
church teaching on highly contested issues, including homosexuality and women’s ordination. As 
pope, he emphasized time and again the threat against the church and faith in general posed by the 
forces of secularism, especially in Europe where he witnessed historically Catholic countries 
embracing legislation extending on divorce, abortion, and gay rights. But he also spoke out against 
economic inequality and emphasized the responsibility of highly developed countries toward 
disadvantaged economies and societies,” she says. 
“Pope Benedict also will be remembered for his embroilment in the sex abuse crisis that is still 
roiling the church in several countries, and for what some observers will assess as a hesitant 
Media Relations
Page 1 of 2UNH News: Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation and Legacy of Pope Bene...
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response on his part as pope in publicly acknowledging and appreciating its depth though he 
eventually conceded that it was ‘the sin within the church,’ ” Dillon says. 
Although Pope Benedict is not a charismatic person in the same cloth of Pope John Paul II, according 
to Dillon, he has traveled to several countries, including the United States, UK, and South America, 
and received a very warm welcome. 
“His reception from the young people who attended the various World Youth Days over which he 
presided was also remarkably enthusiastic. The popularity of the pope, however, is not sufficient to 
change Catholic behavior. American Catholics today, just as during John Paul II’s tenure, continue to 
value Catholicism while they disagree with many of the strictures imposed by official church 
teaching, such as contraception, divorce, and same­sex behavior,” she says.
Dillon has written extensively on Catholicism in the United States and elsewhere, and has been 
especially interested in the institutional and cultural processes that enable Catholics who selectively 
disagree with aspects of Catholic teaching to remain loyal to Catholicism. She also has examined the 
political engagement of the Catholic Church, and of other churches and activist organizations, in 
public moral debates in different western countries. She is the author of “Catholic Identity: Balancing 
Reason, Faith, and Power,” “In the Course of a Lifetime: Tracing Religious Belief, Practice, and 
Change,” and the forthcoming book “American Catholics in Transition.”
The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world­class public research university with 
the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space­grant university, UNH is the 
state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,200 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students.
PHOTO
Michele Dillon, a scholar of Catholicism and professor of sociology at the University of New 
Hampshire.
http://www.unh.edu/news/img/liberalarts/micheledillon.jpg.
­30­
Media Contact: Lori Wright | 603­862­0574 | UNH Media Relations 
Secondary Contact: Michele Dillon | 781­915­7360 | UNH Department of Sociology 
UNH Experts available for comment: 
• Michele Dillon
Copyright © 2018, The University of New Hampshire  •  Durham, NH 03824  •  UNH main directory: (603) 862­1234. 
Media Relations is a unit of Communications & Public Affairs which is a division of University Advancement. 
ADA Acknowledgement | Contact the Webmaster | UNH Today | UNH Social Media Index
Page 2 of 2UNH News: Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation and Legacy of Pope Bene...
2/7/2018http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/releases/2013/feb/lw11pope.cfm.html


Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation and Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices2-11-2013Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignationand Legacy of Pope Benedict XVILori WrightUNH Media RelationsFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationWright, Lori, "Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation and Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI" (2013). UNH Today. 4155.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/4155Michele Dillon, a scholar of Catholicism and professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire.February 11, 2013 Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation and Legacy of Pope Benedict XVIMichele Dillon, a scholar of Catholicism and professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire, is available to discuss the resignation and legacy of Pope Benedict XVI.Dillon can discuss Benedict’s legacy, how he was thought of by the laity, Benedict’s decision to resign, and key issues facing the Roman Catholic Church and the next pope. The last time a sitting pope resigned was Pope Gregory XII in 1415.   “This is highly unexpected news, although given Pope Benedict’s age and his deteriorating health, it strikes me as a very moral, courageous, selfless, and responsible act on his part. The church and Catholics around the world are going through a lot of changes and challenges, and its leader really needs to be in the whole of his health. Pope John Paul II was admired by many for his tenaciousness in the face of illness, but given the extensive leadership duties of the pope and the mental and physical energy necessary, it makes a great deal of sense for Pope Benedict to resign,” Dillon says.Other than for his resignation, Pope Benedict will be remembered primarily for his intellectualism and his concern for the integrity of Catholic moral teaching, according to Dillon.“As head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger for 24 years prior to being elected pope, Pope Benedict was responsible for articulating and enforcing official church teaching on highly contested issues, including homosexuality and women’s ordination. As pope, he emphasized time and again the threat against the church and faith in general posed by the forces of secularism, especially in Europe where he witnessed historically Catholic countries embracing legislation extending on divorce, abortion, and gay rights. But he also spoke out against economic inequality and emphasized the responsibility of highly developed countries toward disadvantaged economies and societies,” she says. “Pope Benedict also will be remembered for his embroilment in the sex abuse crisis that is still roiling the church in several countries, and for what some observers will assess as a hesitant Media RelationsPage 1 of 2UNH News: Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation and Legacy of Pope Bene...2/7/2018http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/releases/2013/feb/lw11pope.cfm.htmlresponse on his part as pope in publicly acknowledging and appreciating its depth though he eventually conceded that it was ‘the sin within the church,’ ” Dillon says. Although Pope Benedict is not a charismatic person in the same cloth of Pope John Paul II, according to Dillon, he has traveled to several countries, including the United States, UK, and South America, and received a very warm welcome. “His reception from the young people who attended the various World Youth Days over which he presided was also remarkably enthusiastic. The popularity of the pope, however, is not sufficient to change Catholic behavior. American Catholics today, just as during John Paul II’s tenure, continue to value Catholicism while they disagree with many of the strictures imposed by official church teaching, such as contraception, divorce, and same­sex behavior,” she says.Dillon has written extensively on Catholicism in the United States and elsewhere, and has been especially interested in the institutional and cultural processes that enable Catholics who selectively disagree with aspects of Catholic teaching to remain loyal to Catholicism. She also has examined the political engagement of the Catholic Church, and of other churches and activist organizations, in public moral debates in different western countries. She is the author of “Catholic Identity: Balancing Reason, Faith, and Power,” “In the Course of a Lifetime: Tracing Religious Belief, Practice, and Change,” and the forthcoming book “American Catholics in Transition.”The University of New Hampshire, founded in 1866, is a world­class public research university with the feel of a New England liberal arts college. A land, sea, and space­grant university, UNH is the state's flagship public institution, enrolling 12,200 undergraduate and 2,300 graduate students.PHOTOMichele Dillon, a scholar of Catholicism and professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire.http://www.unh.edu/news/img/liberalarts/micheledillon.jpg.­30­Media Contact: Lori Wright | 603­862­0574 | UNH Media Relations Secondary Contact: Michele Dillon | 781­915­7360 | UNH Department of Sociology UNH Experts available for comment: • Michele DillonCopyright © 2018, The University of New Hampshire  •  Durham, NH 03824  •  UNH main directory: (603) 862­1234. Media Relations is a unit of Communications & Public Affairs which is a division of University Advancement. ADA Acknowledgement | Contact the Webmaster | UNH Today | UNH Social Media IndexPage 2 of 2UNH News: Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation and Legacy of Pope Bene...2/7/2018http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/releases/2013/feb/lw11pope.cfm.html

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Catholic Scholar Available to Discuss Resignation and Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI

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