Mary Rose, you echo my thoughts precisely. I also asked when reading this "are we to live by the rules or not"? This is very troubling
My two cents: Don't let your hearts be troubled or afraid (I am borrowing that from JPII ). Pope Francis is out there looking for the lost sheep. We on this forum probably tend to fall more in "the 99" that get left behind while he is out there searching for the lost one. He is not changing doctrine. He is not changing our faith. He is going after the lost sheep. He needs our love, prayers and support- NOT our criticism. So I implore you, pray for him. Pray without ceasing. And don't fall into the trap of criticizing him based on secular reports/spin regarding his actions.
Was it not Jesus who said, "the truth will set you free"? I always felt JPII and Benedict were compassionate Holy Fathers, yet they knew that compassion, truth and justice can not be separated for they all come from God's mercy. Francis' method of love without distinguishing the fuller truth of the mystery may bring a few into the door, but it will anchor down many others who will now be content in their sinful passions and put it into the face of those who practice the spiritual works of mercy (admonish the sinners and instruct the ignorant).
I suppose that if I stopped at the secular media's spin on Pope Francis' words, I would be inclined to agree with you. But when you get past the toxic gloss that the press puts on the Pope's words, I think that the picture that emerges is of a man dedicated to the truth who is out there doing the job of a true Pastor. Let's not put our energies into criticizing Pope Francis- which is EXACTLY what our enemy wants. Let's give the Holy Spirit the benefit of the doubt for putting Pope Francis in charge and take it upon ourselves to pray for him. Pope Francis needs our prayers, not our criticism.
I suppose what Pope Francis is really getting at is that the door to a mans soul is through his heart and not his brain!
Thank you so much for your thoughts and insights. I have been and remain troubled by some of the comments and actions taken these past few weeks on this board.
I'm not so sure anyone is intentionally criticizing the Pope as much as it is concern. I think we all know well enough that we need to pray for Pope Francis,..God is in charge and His Will is being carried out.
I was away at a Carmelite Hermitage at the weekend and I am now totally OK and at peace about this. Mark Malletts latest posting really helps me to understand where the Pope is coming from. Its disconcerting for all of us who are engaged in the cultural wars of Life Vs death and I did feel for a while as if the rug was being pulled from under me. Now I believe that Pope Francis is calling us to come out from our comfort zone. We have become an army that is standing on one side in a 'holy huddle'. Its time to start gorilla warfare and infiltrate the enemy lines where the soldiers for the most part are being oppressed, are seriously wounded, are in despair and whisper the truth into their ears that they can be free and that they are truly loved and are Gods unique and precious children. Step out in faith. It sounds like an ingenious plan to me. Mary
I have had to struggle with this as well ,Mary. ..and have also come to terms with things for now. I write, 'for now' because it may well be that this will be an ongoing struggle. Ongoing rather than quick fix.However with Our Lady at our side and constant prayer I am sure Pope Francis and the rest of us will come out in one piece on the other side. Perhaps I am wrong about this but I suspect this will be regarded as the most amazing Pontificate in history. I also suspect because the Church is being asked to do a , 'Reset' these events will be marked by great miraculous events. Stay tuned.
Dr. Roberth Moynihan's take on these statements by the Pope is (as always) very enlightening. I encourage everyone to take a look: http://themoynihanletters.com/from-the-desk-of/letter-89-afterthoughts
There is an 'elephant in the room' on the forum we have gone quiet on this topic while the traditional Catholic blogosphere is now reacting very strongly and loudly to the highly positive secular media's reaction to the Pope's recent interview and they are very unhappy. Some, especially priest bloggers, like Father Ray Blakehttp://marymagdalen.blogspot.co.uk/ - have been very slow to say anything that might be interpreted as criticism of the Pope but have now decided to be open about their concerns. My old friend Mundabor (he's NOT me by the way) who is just this side of SSPX and thought that Pope Benedict was a raving modernist is now almost chewing the carpet (probably is by now). The word that all these people and many activists against abortion appear to object to most strongly in the interview is 'obsession' when getting most priests and bishops to express a public opinion about e.g. abortion has been like pulling teeth. The hierarchy appears to have been obsessed about NOT mentioning abortion and now renegade Catholics and anti-Catholics all over the place are congratulating the Pope on 'getting it' and indicating a willingness to change the Church's 'stance' on matters of sexual morality. Archbishop Chaput from the USA has said, "I heard from a mother of four children – one adopted, another disabled from birth -- who’d spent years counseling pregnant girls and opening prolife clinics. She wanted to know why the Pope seemed to dismiss her sacrifices. A priest said the Pope “has implicitly accused brother priests who are serious about moral issues of being small minded,” and that “[if you’re a priest,] being morally serious is now likely to get you publicly cast as a problem.” Another priest wrote that “the problem is that [the Holy Father] makes all of the wrong people happy, people who will never believe in the Gospel and who will continue to persecute the Church.”
25 Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. 27 The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. 30 But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ 31 He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. 32 But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’” Luke 15:25-32
Perhaps those that are concerned should reade teh words of Fr. Frank Pavone, the head of Priests for Life.. http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/...cting-me-about-his-interview-5076750128119808
The Prodigal Son REPENTED of his sins. Those like Nancy Pelosi and Jane Fonda now praising the Pope have NOT repented, they have taken his words as go and sin some more as have many others. This is the difference.
Changes to our church. All here accept Vatican 2. It took me a while to justify it. All here accept Pope John 23 as blessed. I know holy priests who used to be in physical pain when they said Blessed John 23 (strictly out of obedience). St Padre Pio's hand-picked protoge proclaimed Pope Paul 6 as a homosexual and actively fought against his canonization. More changes were made under Pope John Paul 2 than any other pope , rosary which was given by the Blessed Mother was even tampered with as I still can't pray the Luminous Mysteries. How about his friendship and praise for now disgraced Fr Macial Marcel, and what about Polish archbishop Julius Paetz and all JP2's TERRIBLE episcopal appointments! How about no pope since 1913 consecrating Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary before or after Vatican 2. It is a lot easier for me loving this pope than all those previously mentioned, so far.
