I don't know which bothers me more. The newly romanticized non-Catholics falling over themselves to defend the new Pope or the equally un-Catholic busybodies bent on tearing him apart.

Seems there is no shortage of opinion when it comes to the newly appointed Benedict XVI.

The former cardinal and close confidant to the much-loved John Paul II has been called medieval, ultra-conservative, backwards and all sorts of other nasty names.

By others, the first German pope in 1,000 years has been labelled a great defender of classic Catholicism, a strict theologian and a champion of tradition.

There is probably some truth to both characterizations -- if it mattered.

You see, praise and pre-judgement from non-Catholics is as worthless as fresh underwear at a nudist colony.

Granted, all free people are entitled to their thoughts, the only voices that really matter when it comes to the future of the Catholic church belong to, well, Catholics.

So, after the smoke has cleared and the mysticism of the conclave has grown old on non-Catholics, it is up to the 1.1 billion of us who choose to be a part of this family to help plot its future.

And, like any family, we don't agree on all things.

Many Catholics, myself included, will concede there are some troubling issues facing the church.

Whether allowing priests to marry would help address the lingering sex scandals and put an end to the tasteless altarboy jokes.

Whether we should allow women to become priests and whether we should stop calling homosexuality a disease or a perversion.

Whether loosening our stance on contraception will help curb AIDS in Africa, where 2.3 million have died in the sub-Sahara region in the last three years alone and 12 million children have been left orphaned.

Whether abortion may be an option under some circumstances.

And whether we need to soften our traditions in order to remain relevant in the lives of parishioners in the 21st Century.

There are many Catholics who believe these are issues that should prompt further discussion and, in some cases, change.

There are many Catholics who believe things are just fine the way they are.

Whatever the stance, these are matters to be addressed by those of us who choose to be part of this family.

The advice or urging of pedestrian pundits will have no bearing on any future decisions the church may make -- as it shouldn't.

Because Catholics, ultimately, are the ones who will bear the consequences of the church's direction.

So, to all the non-Catholic defenders of the new Pope, you are more than welcome to sign up for baptism class and join the family.

With less than one-third of baptized North Americans attending mass regularly, there's plenty of room on the other side of the pretty stained-glass windows.

And to all the Pope's detractors, there's an old saying in the humble 'hood from which I come: Only family can call family ugly.

So, put a cork in it.

The only voices that matter when commenting on the church are those coming from the altar and the pews.