Well at least the conservatives won one election...

...turned on my computer to be greeted by the news that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - aka Pope Benedict XVI - has been elected. This event is unlikely to change the outcome of our somewhat more democratic election over here. Whilst Benedict will no doubt use the papacy to pump out a steady stream of right-wing propaganda, Archbishop Murphy O'Connor was already doing a good job on this front even under the old regime. But it's hard to avoid the conclusion that the steadfast refusal of the Catholic Church to make concessions to the realities of the 20th century, let alone the 21st, won't do much to stem the downward spiral in church attendance figures - at least in the developed world. Of course, I could be wrong about that, and Britain could be in line for a US style snarling-at-the- mouth "revenge of the pious" scenario, with the secular Left pulverised by the pulpits. If you're reading this and you see the signs of that before anyone else, let me know and we can take to the streets - as Han Solo once said, "Bring 'em on! I'd prefer a straight fight to all this sneakin' around..."