“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Joe, I am also fortified in the Truth that our Pope is Christ's Vicar on earth and will not fail us. And I defend him at every turn.

However, even I just emailed that story about what is on the Vatican website. This is in the Pope's own house, it's under his control. I will hope in charity that he simply does not know, but they say they contacted them to complain and it was taken down but now back up. Pope Francis is the boss, mabye he is surrounded be some dark forces that are preventing this type of information from reaching him so I will continue to believe he is a good man and our Pope who will continue to lead us, but it's quite concerning to think this type of thing is happening in the Vatican!

 

grow up Brian....he did it too! sighhhh

 

I have said this before and will repeat it again. There is so much uncertainty on what is truth about the Pope, what he said, what he meant, how did it get translated, etc. I get confused myself, but I find it extremely dangerous as Catholics to be swayed one way or another unless the Pope begins to change the dogma of the church and further feel that discussing all this until the cows come home and arguing/debating is not doing anyone any good. Unless the Pope begins to change the dogma of the church, I believe as Catholics, it is our duty to stand with Peter.

 

Wow. Did you even read what you just wrote? We're quoting Vatican Radio and you still spin this in this way? How can you expect anyone to take you seriously?

 

Many good Catholics are gravely concerned about this. Many in the Vatican are gravely concerned about this. Whether you grasp the import of it is not the point here.

 

Cut and paste from Vatican Radio:
The family, he said, is also “a small Church, a ‘domestic Church’ which, along with life, also mediates God’s tenderness and mercy.” Although our families are sometimes not what we expect them to be, are not the ‘ideal’ we picture for ourselves, nonetheless, every day within the family “miracles are performed” with the little we have. “In our own families and in the greater family to which we all belong, nothing is thrown away, nothing is useless.” Pope Francis asked for prayers for the Synod on the Family, “so that Christ can take even what might seem to us impure, scandalous, or threatening, and turn it… into a miracle.”
Notice the …
Often “…” is used to shorten a quote to make an emphasis to certain essential subjects. Other times it means etc. But very often it is used to hide something or make a sentence or paragraph mean something entirely different than what was intended.
The fact is, we don’t know who is typing up these articles on Vatican Radio, and whether they are among the dissenters that the current and previous popes have had to deal with.
My prayer is for the Pope. I leave it up to God. He has a plan.

 

was this ALL of the Vatican radio site? or in reality the German segment of Vatican radio ?
Didn't the German Bishops say they will make decisions on there own independant of Rome? and now this post on VR is Francis fault.

 

For those who might be confused with all the above, I will just quote the part of the Pope's homily which seems to have upset one or two people:

At present, families face “many difficult and significant challenges,” to which the upcoming Synod in October will provide some “concrete solutions”. In view of this, the pontiff called on the faithful to pray, “so that Christ can take even what might seem to us impure, scandalous or threatening, and turn it – by making it part of his ‘hour’ – into a miracle.

Christ can indeed take evil and turn it into good. Mary Magdalene is, for me, one of the best examples of this. A great sinner who, through the miracle of love, became one of the greatest Saints.

We can learn so much from Pope Francis' homilies but not if we take any notice of those who are constantly trying to pick on words or sentences to try to portray Francis as evil.

 

I hope so too (that he doesn't know). This is the kind of thing though that makes me scratch my head and makes it hard for me to defend Pope Francis to non-Catholic friends and family. Even ones that are Catholic are so misguided because of confusion or misinterpretation of what he says. I was so dismayed when close friends of my husband's family, who have always been Catholics, "rainbow-ed" their facebook profiles in support of gay marriage supreme court decision. When another friend called them out, they replied, that even Pope Francis said not to judge.

 

Good comment. I would not be surprised if Pope Francis sees this simply as yet another sneaky attack on his flanks by the hyenas that stalk the flock. Like a good shepherd he has dealt with these wild dogs. He cannot see every attack coming but he will never neglect his duty of care. Keep the faith.

 

Most catholics just read secular news and take the church news as fact. I have this same trouble with my relatives and they go to Mass. Stay in prayer for sure

 

This is the most misrepresented quote of them all. Google "what did the Pope really say". Don't lose faith. We have to be informed to defend our Pope well.

 

Just because people may be confused as to what it means to judge or be judged, how is this the fault of the Pope? What he said is absolutely correct but the world is so lost and so confused they don't understand what the Pope was talking to. We have two duties period as disciples of Christ: Love the Lord God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We all know this and yet few actually do this. Do you look at homosexuals with disdain and hatred for the lifestyle they lead or do you look upon them with loving eyes and sorrow for their choices in life? Further, does your disdain prevent you from praying for them? I would think we all know why we are not to judge. If you do not here is a refresher on it:

Luke 18: [7] And will not God revenge his elect who cry to him day and night: and will he have patience in their regard? [8] I say to you, that he will quickly revenge them. But yet the Son of man, when He comes, shall He find, think you, faith on earth? [9] And to some who trusted in themselves as just and despised others, he spoke also this parable: [10] two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. [11] The Pharisee standing prayed thus with himself: O God, I give thee thanks that I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, as also is this publican. [12] I fast twice in a week: I give tithes of all that I possess. [13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift up his eyes towards heaven; but struck his breast, saying: O God, be merciful to me a sinner.

Are you the pharisee or the publican? To me from my point of view when I read these constant heated debates on the Pope, I see far too many pharisees and not enough publicans. Again I go back to what I posted earlier, how can any devout Catholic be formulating opinions on who or what this Pope is when he has not changed one thing or dogma about our faith. There is far too much smoke and deception out there about and around this Pope and yet he has not changed one truth of the faith that we love. If he does, then that is a whole different thing, but even him as the Pope cannot change God's laws.

 

FTR, I don't think Pope Francis is the the anti-pope, the anti-christ, or evil. I do believe he is the Vicar of Christ and until he proves otherwise through change of doctrine or dogma, I will continue to follow him (as best as I can). I do not make my concerns of not understanding him vocal to friends and family because I do not want to lead anyone astray or give the impression that I don't follow him. I just wish he'd be more clear and direct. I would love for him to come out with a LOUD, VOCAL voice that the Catholic Church will NEVER support same-sex marriage in any country despite whatever consequences there may be (in the US- loss of tax exempt status, imprisonment, whatever). That there would be NO room for anyone, much less a self-proclaimed Catholic, to even think otherwise. I know he has expressed his stance on same-sex marriage, but we need him to inform the world in a LOUD,VOCAL manner where the Church is on this. Believe it or not, many do not know. I know, I know... I am oversimplifying.

 

Yes,

We have to put those relatives right. Mine have taken great offense when I have suggested they should not receive communion because they do not believe in the Real Presence even though I was careful in my approach.

 

There is an interesting section at the end of his homily, were the Holy Father appears to give a Prophesy...have you noticed?

Not only a Prophesy but an underlined prophesy..have any of noticed?

'Pope Francis concluded by turning back to the narrative of the wedding at Cana, and how, thanks to Mary, everyone could enjoy the “finest of wines,” especially those without hope.

“The time is coming when we will taste love daily, when our children will come to appreciate the home we share, and our elderly will be present each day in the joys of life,” the Pope said.

“The best wine is yet to come for those who today feel hopelessly lost … whisper it to the hopeless and the loveless. God always seek out the peripheries, those who have run out of wine, those who drink only of discouragement.”'

 

He has already affirmed the Faith on this matter in his homilies and will say it after October.

 

This quote really struck me to Padraig when I listened yesterday....The ref in question to the hour also spoke to me as well. meaning this is ,we the Churchs hour

Thanks for pointing the end of the homily out

 

Padraig, in todays homily he spoke of the Church is missionary and for those who are away if you just knock on Jesus heart he will come to you, even if its a whisper. He will come.
Please wait for the official text...lol

 

I am not blaming the pope for people's lack of understanding, but upon Ireland's , and then the USA's decision to make same-sex marriage the law of their lands, Pope Francis should've been front and center about the Church's stance. Maybe he was and I missed it. I don't know.

I know about the "not judging" part. I cried and was grieved over the many souls who will be lost due to this decision. God created and loves them just as much as He loves me. I pray for them as their sin will keep them from the eternal rest the Lord planned for them. My husband and I have a close friend who identifies himself as gay. My husband and I love him and we've tried to evangelize in the most loving way. He was raised Catholic and has a devotion to St. Jude. He is battling stage 4 colon cancer and his "husband" left him recently. He was in such despair. Our hearts are broken for him, but we pray for him. In fact, we've done the Novena to St. Jude for the conversion of his heart. So no, I do NOT have any disdain for people who identify themselves as homosexual. My heart hurts and prays for them.

I agree with you that Pope Francis hasn't changed anything but he has not always been clear in his transmission of messages to the world.