Benedict once committed to reason, tolerance, consistency, columnist says

Suzanne Fields: The new Pope, a good egg, Benedict

Benedict's "belief was based on reason as well as faith. Fascism and Communism were "un-reasonable" and deprived men and women of freedom. Catholicism, by contrast, offered freedom from within the Judeo-Christian tradition that has been tested for thousands of years. It offers tolerance for supporting the use of reason as it is bequeathed through historical faith. It offers tolerance for the march of human progress to make the world a better place for those enslaved by dictators and who are less fortunate in their daily lives."

But his notion of reason when it comes to gender roles - or at least the notion he espoused as CDF Prelate - makes me sad.