PHOTO: AP
Hooray! My first article for The Atlantic: "An African Pope Won't Change the Vatican's Views on Condoms and AIDS."
Much of the successor buzz—and the bookie's odds, if you place any value on handicapping the cardinals at the papal conclave—has focused on Africa. Two men in particular: Ghana's Cardinal Peter Turkson and Nigeria's Cardinal Francis Arinze. Turkson, who was appointed by Benedict in 2009 to lead the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, has reportedly emerged as one of the leading choices. The National Catholic Reporter does a fairly good job explaining the frenetic media narrative when it profiled Turkson last week: "Nothing's sexier from a media point of view than the idea of a 'black pope.' The notion of what's traditionally seen as the planet's ultimate First World institution being led by a black man from the southern hemisphere has an undeniable magic." ...
Even if the next pontiff were chosen from Ghana or Nigeria it's extremely unlikely that he would be a progressive, of course. The arch-conservative German-born Benedict has appointed a majority of the cardinals who will elect his successor sometime in March at the papal conclave. It is also highly likely that even an African pope would continue Benedict XVI's and the Vatican City's refusal to encourage condom use in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This policy has had serious, long-lasting consequences across the global south—especially Africa.
Read the article HERE.
So excited to have become a contributor to this iconic publication. Look for more from me on politics, religion and sexuality at The Atlantic and TheAtlantic.com in the months ahead.
The Atlantic?! I'm mf'ing impressed. You're in the deluxe apartment in the sky of literary authors and writers lolz.
Fwiw, I'm sure many people who write tv news could never write for magazines, let alone The Atlantic. Bravo.
Posted by: Alonzo | 26 February 2013 at 15:42
You go!
Posted by: Dale | 26 February 2013 at 16:23
Very nice!
Posted by: DT | 26 February 2013 at 16:50
Congrats!!! I love the Atlantic. Way to go!!!
Posted by: butchie | 26 February 2013 at 20:24
Bravo!!!! You are carrying on. The Atlantic is brilliant and only publishes the best -- Andrew Sullivan (a mess but a damned good writer), Ta-Nehisi Coates, Steve Clemons, Barbara Ehrenreich, so many others. Congratulations!
Posted by: WSB | 26 February 2013 at 20:58
Very impressive! Props!
Posted by: Eugene | 26 February 2013 at 21:27
Kudos. This is brilliant. As others have previously noted the Atlantic is considered a publication for thought leaders and heavy hitters. Writing on the same pages Ta-Nehisi Coates. You're a star, baby!
Posted by: Henry TW | 26 February 2013 at 21:50
Love it!
Posted by: Baltimore Femme | 27 February 2013 at 08:10
Yes congratulations. I am very happy for you. You continue to do important things for us and make the world a better place to live. However I have gay friends in Ghana and in Nigeria and they are both very homophobic countries which cause a great deal of suffering and privation for our gay brothers in those two countries. If either of these cardinals becomes pope nothing will change and they will further the homophobic positions of the former pope. The same pope who recently gave a humanitarian award to a high female government official in uganda who advocates bigotry and discrimination against gays in uganda.
Posted by: Jerry | 27 February 2013 at 08:42
Congratulations, Rod!
Posted by: Chitown kev | 27 February 2013 at 12:51
You better werrkkkk! Congratulations!
Posted by: West Side | 27 February 2013 at 13:07
"A non-European pope would signal a dramatic new face for the Church—but window dressing, at best. The Catholic Church's policies on sexuality, condoms, and HIV/AIDS—especially in the developing world—will remain firmly in place."
GO IN ROD MCCULLOM! GO IN AND LET HAVE, CHILD!
Posted by: Tavares | 27 February 2013 at 15:15
"Rod McCullom has produced and written for ABC News, NBC, Ebony, the Los Angeles Times, and The Advocate."
They left out a station or two and a few magazines but that's a good start. Congratulations my king!
Posted by: QR | 27 February 2013 at 17:15
This is great news. I love The Atlantic and am a subscriber.
Posted by: Vincent | 27 February 2013 at 18:43
Damn Rod, The Atlantic! Congratulations this is fantastic news....So VERY happy for you.
Posted by: reggieh | 27 February 2013 at 18:48
Dayumn! The Atlantic! Congratulations Rod. This is off the chain. So brilliant.
You are just THAT mf'er, right? LOL ABC, NBC, The Advocate, Out, Ebony, The Atlantic ... Media super star.
Posted by: Chris Cruz | 27 February 2013 at 20:54