Posted on 01/23/2015 6:35:46 AM PST by NYer
I can hardly recall a papal visit which has touched upon so many hot topics and ignited so much controversy as Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines.
You would almost think the Pope had just issued an encyclical, when actually most of what he did was talk to reporters on a plane.
The reactions have been visceral at times. For instance, what the Pope said in support of Humanae Vitae caused one feminist commentator at Crux News to declare she was “devastated“.
My first reaction to reading the Pope’s comments on free speech and Islam was to throw my hands up in the air and declare them a “mess.” I didn’t feel devastated, but I sure felt frustrated.
On top of this, the Pope roundly warned against the threats posed by gay marriage and skipped numerous opportunities to bring up climate change, against what major newspapers had predicted. You can bet lots of reporters and liberal Catholics felt frustrated, even devastated by this.
And as if this wasn’t all enough, the Pope’s comments on rabbits have prompted about every person I know to register a strong opinion. Some of the most faithful and ardent Catholics I know, who have sacrificed heroically to be open to welcoming a large family, feel devastated when the pope compared them to rabbits.
Almost everyone it seems has some reason to feel devastated.
But I think there is an upside to all of this emotion and debate.
When you’re trying to understand something complicated, the more information you have, the better. Pope Francis has just given us a great deal of information to digest — enough that I would like to propose three keys to understanding Francis — three keys to help everyone avoid feeling devastated:
1. If you are expecting Pope Francis to change church teaching, you will be devastated. Liberal Catholics and the mainstream media have set themselves up for huge disappointment.
2. St. John Paul II spoke as a Polish philosopher. Pope Benedict speaks as a German theologian. Both popes made frequent use of analogies. Pope Francis prefers to speak in idioms, like Spaniards do. If you expect Pope Francis to speak as the previous two popes did, you will be devastated.
3. When Francis speaks to the mainstream media, like it or not, he is choosing to speak to non-Catholics. Faithful, practicing Catholics are not his primary audience. If you are expecting Pope Francis to be speaking to you as a practicing Catholic when he addresses the media, you will be devastated.
The first key explains a lot of the whiplash we see in media reports about Pope Francis when he upholds church teaching and they act shocked. Liberals are so good at believing their own spin that many convince themselves it is reality, setting themselves up for a rude surprise.
The second key explains a lot of frustration Catholics feel when they read what Pope Francis said, for instance, about free speech, Islam and punching someone who insults your mother. Many of us are expecting an analogy which illuminates instead of an idiom which appears at first to confuse things further. Moral theologians and bloggers cringe while someone sitting in the pew catches on quickly to the simple points Pope Francis is making about respect and offense.
The third key explains some of the times when the pope appears tone deaf or offends the sensibilities of the faithful, for instance, his comment about rabbits. Without ignoring the real pain this comment has caused some, the Pope’s words make more sense when you take into account that he is trying to disabuse the secular world of its unfair stereotype about how Catholics view procreation. Remember that when the Pope addressed the Italian Association of Large Families, he heaped praise on them! Again, like it or not, Pope Francis adopts a different tone when he is talking to the media. The wisdom or efficacy of this approach is up for debate, but the key distinction is still illuminating whether you agree with it or not.
Now obviously these three keys are not a magic code to unlock the pope’s meaning. Nor am I recommending we use them to explain away what the Pope says. We always have to take the Pope seriously. And sometimes, we can disagree with the Pope’s choice of words or expression. But taking what the Pope says seriously includes educating ourselves about his particular manner of speaking — and that is where I believe these three keys are helpful.
Finally, before we ever take issue with something he says we had better be sure we’ve read what he said (NOT the media report!), tried to understand the context and make sure the translation is accurate and reliable.
And, in the midst of all this heat and noise, let’s never forget the powerful work of the Holy Spirit that is ongoing in and through the ministry of the successor of Peter.
You know, little things like the largest Mass in history.
And powerful moments like these:
Pope consoles typhoon survivors
Ping!
BIG TIME!
1) Remind yourself that the Pope was probably mistranslated
2) Remind yourself the Pope isn't supposed to be infallible
3) Remind yourself that the Sedevacantists are taking new members
Remember that the bishop of Rome has no more insight or power than any one else on earth comes the judgment
???
pope has to KNOW how he is being portrayed-
He has to know whether he is being quoted wrong or
out of context- because some of the outrageous and
possibly ANTI Christian mumblings he has said-
(or quoted incorrectly for the MSM ?)
Global warming?
Homos?
redistribute wealth?
open borders?
ISLAM !! ?
If he is being quoted incorrectly- than he should JUST shut up- and READ from a prepared statement.
The rabbits comment is a clear indication that he buys into the climate change stuff. Too many humans are DESTROYING THE PLANET!
Like Thomas Malthus his solution appears to be outlawing sex.
The lack of faith in an Almighty Creator to not populate the planet with more people than He is willing to sustain is striking.
This long article can be translated thusly :
“This Pope sticks his foot in his mouth more often than Joe Biden “
The number 1 thing to remember is that the Pope is a Jesuit. A better understanding of Ignatian Spirituality will lead to a better understanding of who the Pope is.
Comments like this are why this should have been a caucus thread.
Maybe people should stop reading headlines and soundbites and actually read his entire remarks.
But in this world where everyone feels the need to be little Bill O'Reilly's and battle to see who can be the most pithy, I doubt that will happen. I myself have fallen into this trap, but I am trying to wait and see what he actually said.
How many people take what he says and read it and pray over it and try to understand it? I would say not very many. When read in context, I have found nothing to be anti-Christian in his remarks.
Open borders? Is he only a Pope for The United States? Pope's don't generally see borders, they see people, people who need help.
It is true some people have more then they need, I don't see him forcing people to turn over their cash, ie redistribution. I have never known a priest who has not admonished us to look in our hearts and see if we really need to have 3 big screen TV's and 4 cars.
From what I have seen so far and I am anxious to read his encyclical on the climate. What I see him saying is that we should not waste our resources. There have been times that people in a quest for wealth have abused our planet. What would we have left if ethical people did not demand that we replant forests? What would happen if every piece of earth was to be paved? What would happen if we did not find a way to take care of our garbage? I find that we as Americans seem to take everything personally. We have a relatively clean and safe environment. What about countries like India, China, Nigeria?
Finally homosexuals. Years have been spent trying to ignore their existence. I don't pretend to know how to deal with them. But they are demanding to be recognized, so what shall we do with them. Shall we glue their anuses shut and throw them off buildings like Islam? I don't think that is the right answer. I also don't think allowing them to "marry" is the right answer, but shouting at them is not going to show them their error. I know there is a penchant for violence on this forum. I cringe at people reporting with glee how they beat their kids. What we don't hear is how that turned out. Where there is always a need for discipline as is the case for children and sinners, that which is done out of love and understanding is more effective. So how do you do that? By ignoring them or by trying to at very least open a discussion with them in hopes they will reorder their lives?
No.
He looks a little like Abe Vigoda - who, in case you were wondering, is alive.
**The rabbits comment is a clear indication that he buys into the climate change stuff. Too many humans are DESTROYING THE PLANET!**
This was all reversed in his Wednesday audience.
The extent to which people will delude themselves is amazing.
Questions to ponder, Is a lie (said or unsaid) to yourself a sin when you believe it?
I believe so.
That's the position of the Orthodox Catholic Church. They've survived a thousand years of leftist attacks and takeover attempts.
Mr. Peters already touched on it, but it can never be said too many times: 4. Take the time to make sure he actually said what you think he said.
5. He’s not attuned to all the nuances of US conservative political language, shouldn’t be expected to be, and it’s not his job anyway.
Good observations.
Too late...just like Obama, his political advisers told him to mitigate that comment..."from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks"
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