Pope says it's 'terrible' today's children are taught they can choose their gender

Don’t look to Francis for guidance. Like a blind squirrel, he’s bound to find an acorn now and then.

Modernists are really good at this broken clock phenomena. Say just enough Catholic things to make others think they’re not Modernist. Pius X warned us about this. Too bad there are still folks falling for it.

He didn't just meet a member of the flock. He invited her to bring along her betrothed bride to be; thus recognizing the validity of homosexual "unions". He did the same with a homosexual former student of his and his "husband".

You are mistaken if you think I am so diligent that I have “covered” an entire three years in my list! It is just a sampling, although one which is adequate for purposes of illustration.

Let me add that -— as far as I can calculate -— Pope Francis has spoken out more against Gender Ideology then any other pope. And certainly more than any non-Catholic religious leader.

If you think he should focus on this, to use your phrase, as a “daily topic of allocution,” you have set a standard for which even Jesus Christ would not qualify.

A non-sequitur for sure.

This does not recognize the “validity” of homosexual unions, any more than addressing a letter to “Mr. and Mrs.” such-and-such, a civilly-married couple, recognizes the validity of civil marriage, or receiving divorced/remarried heads of states and their new spouses, at diplomatic functions, recognizes the “validity” of civil divorce.

Let me add that -— as far as I can calculate -— Pope Francis has spoken out more against Gender Ideology then any other pope. And certainly more than any non-Catholic religious leader.

You might be right on that. It should be noted, however, that one would not expect Pius XII, Leo XIII or even John Paul II to have said much, if anything on this subject since "gender ideology" was hardly a defining political and cultural issue in previous pontificates, was it? We had not yet plumbed the depths to which we've currently sunk. The idea that we can simply choose our own sex and the bathroom of our choice has appeared out of nowhere and gone mainstream in the last 5-10 years. It's one of the defining examples of 21st century depravity.

Yes, Francis says sensible things sometimes, and we really want to believe he's the real deal, don't we? So we clutch on to anything he says, however rare, which seems to echo Catholic tradition. We want him to be a good Pope and to wake up and find that all the heterodoxy and demagoguery was just a bad dream. Here's where we differ, though. Looking at his papacy in its entirety, I cannot banish the feeling that his occasional moments of lucidity are devoid of sincerity, conviction and enthusiasm. They're rare, atypical and often in contradiction to his previous words and actions.

He says these things because....well......that's what Popes are supposed to do. In doing so, he believes he's buying himself time and space to further his real agenda, an example of which was shown to us this week with the convening of the commission on "deaconesses". He's building his credit score among the skeptics and critics so that he can move a little more freely in the areas which truly interest him.

It's good that you haven't yet reached my level of cynicism. You still take Francis at his word, whereas I see Jesuit deviancy and an agenda. I hope for the Church's sake you are correct. I see ulterior motives in everything he says and does.

And although he may have said things against gay marriage and gender ideology, there is still a question as to what he truly believes about civil unions:

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/bergoglio-didnt-suggest-endorsing-homosexual-civil-unions-in-2010-says-conf

No, lee, despite some of the things Francis has said, he has been excellent and consistent on the condemnation of gender theory. Either a lot of the leftists don’t know or are ignoring his comments on gender theory, because they couldn’t be much more blunt against the choose your bathroom ideology.

I’m stuck. Anybody help?

Go to the bathroom. Drop trou. Check between your legs. It's either danglers or a clam. There's your answer.

I detect an attitude of “He’s gotta be wrong. Even when he’s right, he’s wrong.”

This does not constitute just judgment.

Francis’ ended by telling the Polish bishops he wanted them to reflect on this: ‘We must think about what Pope Benedict said — “It’s the epoch of sin against God the Creator”.’

Well he did identify it as a sin, but it is past reflecting time and marching orders should have been given.............

Wesurely do need marching orders. Please offer us some.

Why so defensive? not an anti catholic statement.I would have said the same thing about any spiritual leader.

And yes, it is it his duty to give marching orders, not my duty.

You have misconstrued me. I meant that without irony,literally.

I detect an attitude of “He’s gotta be wrong. Even when he’s right, he’s wrong.”

And that would be an "unjust" paraphrase of my argument. With regard to "gender ideology" he is right as mentioned up thread. I think we've agreed on that. We differ on the direction from which he's coming.

You see, I don't believe it's possible to compartmentalize one's attitude to the faith, to truth, to tradition, to the Church. IOW, I don't see how one can be a heretic (or something close to it) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and a lover of Catholic truth, culture and tradition on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On any given day, taken in isolation, one might be swayed by Francis' words, arguments and appeals, depending on various factors and circumstances. However, over a prolonged period of time, in this case years, patterns emerge, trends become visible and it's possible to gain an insight into the essential character of a man. The jigsaw puzzle begins to take shape and one can see when a piece is clearly in the wrong place and doesn't fit. This is not "unjust judgment".

In the case of the current pontificate, the overall balance of Francis' words and actions has been to scorn the culture wars, and often to scorn those (especially Catholics) who are involved in them in the most derisive and uncharitable language. I don't believe that's a distorted or exaggerated picture of Francis' tenure to date. Yet occasionally, he changes the script. As here.

So what gives? Is this his alter ego speaking? Is it a change of heart? Or is he painting a much bigger picture which requires a few brush strokes with a color which he doesn't particularly care for but which will blend into the background once the painting is completed?