Pope Francis: Catholic Church must focus beyond "small-minded rules"

CBS ^ | 19 Sep 13 | CBS staff writer

[SkyPilot]

VATICAN CITY Pope Francis has warned that the Catholic Church's moral structure might "fall like a house of cards" if it doesn't balance its divisive rules about abortion, gays and contraception with the greater need to make it a merciful, more welcoming place for all.

Six months into his papacy, Francis set out his vision for the church and his priorities as pope in a lengthy and remarkably blunt interview with La Civilta Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit magazine. It was published simultaneously Thursday in Jesuit journals in 16 countries, including America magazine in the U.S.

John Allen, a senior correspondent with the National Catholic Reporter, told CBS Radio News the pope is not changing church policy but makes it clear that he wants a less judgmental church.

"I think he is conscious that he's at a sort of make-or-break moment where the kind of pope he wants to be - if he wants to affect real change - he's got to be explicit about it," Allen said.

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In the 12,000-word article, Francis expands on his ground-breaking comments over the summer about gays and acknowledges some of his own faults. He sheds light on his favorite composers, artists, authors and films (Mozart, Caravaggio, Dostoevsky and Fellini's "La Strada") and says he prays even while at the dentist's office.

But his vision of what the church should be stands out, primarily because it contrasts so sharply with many of the priorities of his immediate predecessors, John Paul II and Benedict XVI. They were both intellectuals for whom doctrine was paramount, an orientation that guided the selection of a generation of bishops and cardinals around the globe.

[left that other site]

Although I am not Catholic, I have long admired the Catholic Church’s steadfast opposition to Abortion in the face of great opposition, long before Evangelicals picked up the mantle.

Now, that Science and technology are actually affirming the Catholic position with 3D ultrasound and fetal monitoring, it would seem that the new pontiff is calling this heroic stand “small-minded rules”.

If this is true and not a media ruse, it is VERY disturbing.

Pope Francis is, of course, entitled to his opinion, but there is a large group of people who consider his statements to be infallible. What can they do when the statements conflict with centuries of Catholic teaching?

Not to mention their own conscience in the matter.

[cotton]

Remember: Do not trust CBS/NBC/ABC/CNN to give an honest report on anything Christian

AMEN! I've seen the secular media misrepresent the reports from all manner of religious groups.

[FreeReign]

Direct quotes.

I don't think he gave the interview in English.

[ConorMacNessa]

The entire interview is available online in English on America Magazine

A long read. Here's the portion being quoted in the MSM with some context:

"I mention to Pope Francis that there are Christians who live in situations that are irregular for the church or in complex situations that represent open wounds. I mention the divorced and remarried, same-sex couples and other difficult situations. What kind of pastoral work can we do in these cases? What kinds of tools can we use?

“We need to proclaim the Gospel on every street corner,” the pope says, “preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing, even with our preaching, every kind of disease and wound. In Buenos Aires I used to receive letters from homosexual persons who are ‘socially wounded’ because they tell me that they feel like the church has always condemned them. But the church does not want to do this. During the return flight from Rio de Janeiro I said that if a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge. By saying this, I said what the catechism says. Religion has the right to express its opinion in the service of the people, but God in creation has set us free: it is not possible to interfere spiritually in the life of a person.

A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’ We must always consider the person. “A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‘Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?’ We must always consider the person. Here we enter into the mystery of the human being. In life, God accompanies persons, and we must accompany them, starting from their situation. It is necessary to accompany them with mercy. When that happens, the Holy Spirit inspires the priest to say the right thing.

“This is also the great benefit of confession as a sacrament: evaluating case by case and discerning what is the best thing to do for a person who seeks God and grace. The confessional is not a torture chamber, but the place in which the Lord’s mercy motivates us to do better. I also consider the situation of a woman with a failed marriage in her past and who also had an abortion. Then this woman remarries, and she is now happy and has five children. That abortion in her past weighs heavily on her conscience and she sincerely regrets it. She would like to move forward in her Christian life. What is the confessor to do?

“We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible. I have not spoken much about these things, and I was reprimanded for that. But when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context. The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.

The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently. “The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently. Proclamation in a missionary style focuses on the essentials, on the necessary things: this is also what fascinates and attracts more, what makes the heart burn, as it did for the disciples at Emmaus. We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel. The proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, profound, radiant. It is from this proposition that the moral consequences then flow."



"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[cradle of freedom]

I don’t know if you remember the old Phil Donahue show, it seems the only scripture that he could quote was “judge not lest ye be judged”. That was the whole Bible for him.

[Le Chien Rouge]

Am I the only Roman Catholic who can see a MAJOR civil war within the Church??

There are some outstanding traditionalists/conservatives within the Church however the lefties have become very influential.

Perhaps the REAL 3rd secret of Fatima was the Roman Catholic Church being ripped apart by internal strife.

[Third Person]

TheVatican’s gotta generate some more revenue.

[rbmillerjr]

“I don’t think he gave the interview in English.”

Neither was Scripture.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

--- but there is a large group of people who consider his statements to be infallible. ---

The pope teaches infallibly regarding faith and morals when he invokes his charism of infalibility. This has only happened a handful of times, at most, in the past 150 years.

Papal Infallibility

[Jeff Chandler]

“We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible. I have not spoken much about these things, and I was reprimanded for that. But when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context. The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.

Except for the occasional outlier, the bishops have been virtually silent on these issues. They are seldom a topic of discussion or homily, and Catholic businesses will now be forced to support them, and now we are being told to shut up about these subjects.

Wow.

[GreyFriar]

You are most welcomed.

[plain talk]

“He’s already told atheists to live according to their conscience and they’ll be just fine.”

That was the spin the media put on it. He didn’t really say it that way. The problem is this Pope makes vague statements that can be interpreted many different ways. To your point though I would not rule out anything. Does anyone really know how liberal (or not) this Pope is? It’s a guessing game.

[mj1234]

thank you for the insight-

I do not trust ANY of the media to correctly
address what he is trying to say- -

The pope must take a stand on the ultimate truth
of the scriptures and commandments!

God looks for ALL sinners to come to Him-!
AND we ARE ALL sinners-!

I wish he would say this loudly!- Pope Benedict
Did! - was he forced out?- did God tell him to leave?
over 600 years ago a pope was forced out because of
a schism (multiple popes)— but this came as a surprise
to all (insiders will not say)-

MAN, oh man, if I could write and “end Time Trilogy”
!!! between O’bummer, the New pope, the ascendency
of EviL! what a story I could make up!

[SumProVita]

++But that might make some unhappy, so the new Pope won’t tell them the truth. He thinks the Gospel is “Sin on, Brother!”++

_____________________________

He thinks no such thing. He doesn’t preach it either.

++Modern man is rushing to a hell they don’t believe exists, while worshiping the God of Nike: “Just do it!” And the Pope is content to say, “Yes, do it!”++

The Pope says NO such thing.

Sigh....

Good grief! (Face palm...)

[SumProVita]

I did.

[left that other site]

While that may be true, the public perception is that most Catholics believe the pope is “Infallible”.

If it is only in cases of faith and morals when invoking a special charism for that particular pronouncement, that is fine.

However, that is a very narrow definition and a fine distinction of which the average person is not aware. Most people, upon questioning, will not know about the special charism that has only been invoked a few times in the past 150 years, and are more likely to believe that the pope is infallible in matters of faith and morals without having to make a special invocation.

I did, after all, use the term “consider”. That means that, whatever the official stance is on this subject, the public perception is different. Abortion is definitely a matter of “Faith and Morals”, so whatever the pope says on the matter is going to affect Catholics, whether he invokes a charism or not.

[Mr Rogers]

Your analysis may be more accurate than mine. However, this Pope scares me. I’m Baptist, but anyone who proclaims Jesus as Lord is under attack. In America, we’re seeing people taken to court for their religious beliefs, and military members threatened. We are under attack, and he is acting like our attackers are just in need of a little guidance.

Modern man rejects the concept of sin. In a college class I was in last night, 2/3 of the class voted to legalize prostitution on the basis that people have the right to do what makes them happy, and orgasms make people happy!

We need Ronald Reagan as Pope, not Barry Obama...

[YukonGreen]

He is approving sin. Shame on him.

[Mr Rogers]

Will he tell a homosexual he is a sinner? Or does he reply, “Golly, I sin too, and I’m the Pope!”

He is excusing sin, not confronting it. Think about John the Baptist...

[rbmillerjr]

When the Bishops did speak it was purposefully ambiguous to allow Catholics to vote for those who advocate for abortion.

I detect a strain of minimalist Christianity in this Pope.

In a Culture of Death in a Secular society...who is left to defend the defenseless if not the Catholic Church.

He is clearly moving away from JPII and Benedict...who were forceful in their challenges to Catholics, Christians and the World.