Posted on 10/08/2014 10:06:18 AM PDT by Brian Kopp DPM
Wed Oct 8, 2014 - 10:59 am EST
ROME – In an interview released on the opening of the Synod on the Family, Pope Francis distanced himself from “very conservative” bishops, adding however that he enjoys "debating" them as long as they are "intellectually well-formed."
In an interview with the pope, published October 5, reporter Joaquín Morales Solá at Argentina’s La Nacion newspaper asked if he was “worried” about the recent book by five cardinals opposing Kasper’s proposal, titled Remaining in the Truth of Christ: Marriage and Communion in the Catholic Church. Morales Solá said to the pope that the book is “critical of your positions.”
Francis “doesn’t answer” the question directly, according to Morales Solá, but says, “Everyone has something to contribute. I even enjoy debating with the very conservative, but intellectually well-formed bishops.”
(See excerpts below of the La Nacion interview, translated by LifeSiteNews.)
At Wednesday’s press briefing, LifeSiteNews asked Vatican officials for a clarification on the pope’s remarks apparently separating himself from the “very conservative” outlook on the faith of prelates like Cardinal Raymond Burke, a co-author of the book, and Cardinal George Pell, who wrote the foreword to another book criticizing Kasper’s proposal and who has warned it would result in a sociological disaster.
Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, replied, “I have no knowledge of this interview; I know absolutely nothing about it. We didn’t publish it, therefore I have nothing to clarify, because, it is hardly known to me.” Father Thomas Rosica, English-language spokesman for the Synod, repeated that prior to LifeSiteNews’ question, the Vatican’s press office had no knowledge of the interview or its contents.
In the interview the pope said that in addition to problem of divorced Catholics, which has been the prominent discussion, he is equally concerned with “the new habits of today’s youth.”
“Young people who are not getting married at all. It is a culture feature of our times,” he said. “So many young people prefer to live together without marrying. What should the Church do? Expel them from its breast? Or, instead, approach them, embrace them and try to bring them the word of God? I'm with the latter position.”
"The world has changed and the Church cannot lock itself into alleged interpretations of dogma,” he continued. “We have to approach social conflicts, new and old, and try to give a hand of comfort, not to stigmatize and not to just impugn.”
Vatican press spokesmen Father Federico Lombardi and Father Thomas Rosica at a press conference Wednesday. John-Henry Westen / LifeSiteNews
Morales Solá’s interview with the pope was interspersed with his own commentary on Pope Francis’ papacy. According to the reporter, Pope Francis has “changed the agenda of the Church” and “very quickly radically changed [its] focus.” The pope’s new agenda, he said, has at times “pitted conservatives against reformers.”
“Cardinals and bishops know that behind the friendly and warm smile is the iron will of the old Jesuit. The power of the Vatican bureaucracy is not discussed in his presence,” he wrote.
The Extraordinary Synod of Bishops, which runs from October 5-19, became a flashpoint of controversy in the months leading up to it as self-styled “reformers” agitated for change in Church practice, and in some cases, outright revision of doctrine. Critics of these “reformers” have met the challenge with vigorous defenses of Catholic teaching on marriage and family.
On Tuesday, the Holy See Press Office told reporters that some Synod participants proposed moving away from strong language in moral discourse, such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s description of homosexual behaviour as “intrinsically disordered,” or the common description of cohabitation as “living in sin.”
LifeSiteNews' Editor-in-Chief John-Henry Westen is in Rome for the Extraordinary Synod on the Family. For more LifeSiteNews coverage, visit our feature page.
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Excerpts from Pope Francis’ interview with La Nacion, published October 5
Translated by LifeSiteNews
What does the Pope expect of synod which is currently opening? It should be noted at the outset, that the Synod is a gathering of bishops from around the world that has an advisory character and that its main purpose is to advise the pope on a given topic.
There are now in Rome about 200 cardinals and bishops from around the world who will be addressing the issue of the family. "Do not expect any final positions next week," says the Pope, ironically. "This will be a long synod, which will probably last a year. I am only giving it the initial push," he adds.
Are you worried about the book co-authored by five cardinals, one of whom is very prominent, which is critical of your positions? He doesn’t answer. “Everyone has something to contribute. I even enjoy debating with the very conservative, but intellectually well formed bishops,” he says.
The pope has let go of the reins of the synod. "I was the rapporteur of the 2001 synod and there was a cardinal who told us what should be discussed and what should not. That will not happen now. I even gave the bishops my power to elect committee chairmen. They will elect them, just like they will elect the secretaries and rapporteurs."
“Of course - he stresses - that's the synodal practice that I like. All should speak their mind freely. Freedom is always very important. Another thing is the government of the Church. That is in my hands, after I receive the necessary advice,” he emphasizes. Francis is a good pope, but not a pope that will be governed by others. This is very clear in his style of political and religious management.
This style is also seen in its relationship with Argentinian Church. He gave them full freedom to fix their positions on public issues. However, he unequivocally reserves his right to the appointment of bishops. The Conference of Bishops and the Nunciature often send the lists of candidates for the appointment of new bishops. Then the Pope must choose one of these candidates. Francis has already returned some of these lists because he did not like any of the candidates.
What conclusions would he like to draw from the synod?
“The family is such an important issues, so costly for society and for the Church," he says, adding, "There has been much emphasis on the issue of divorced people, and this is an aspect that undoubtedly will be debated. But, for me, an equally important problem is the new current, the new habits of today’s youth. Young people who are not getting married at all. It is a culture feature of our times. So many young people prefer to live together without marrying. What should the Church do? Expel them from its breast? Or, instead, approach them, embrace them and try to bring them the word of God? I'm with the latter position," he says.
"The world has changed and the Church cannot lock itself into alleged interpretations of dogma. We have to approach social conflicts, new and old, and try to give a hand of comfort, not to stigmatize and not to just impugn," he says.
This is interviewer Morales Solá’s own interspersed commentary. Here's what he quoted Pope Francis saying ...
“Everyone has something to contribute. I even enjoy debating with the very conservative, but intellectually well-formed bishops.”
I believe this statement says that the Pope believes conservative bishops are intellectually well-formed and that they have something to contribute.
September 25, 2014 by Admin
Filed under Vatican
VATICAN–According to reports today, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is seeking the chair of his pontificate months after his resignation. The news has sent shock waves around the world.
Vatican spokesman Fr. Vitateli Devitiamani told EOTT that, “He came for a dinner as scheduled and then proceeded to return to his old living quarters. That wouldn’t be a problem, since His Holiness Pope Francis chose to live elsewhere, the room is open. However, once we asked him where he was going, he simply said, ‘I’m back,’ then proceeded to put his sunglasses on even though we were inside.”
Sources say that the next morning, he walked down the hall asking for his valet and his red Prada shoes, and was overheard asking an adviser to “get Burke on the line.”
This comes 19 months after his official resignation from the Holy See. EOTT had the chance to sit down with the Pope Emeritus to discuss the ordeal.
“You have to understand that, months ago, I received a call from Word of Fire Catholic Ministries. It was Fr. Steve Grunow on the phone along with his colleague Jared Zimmerer. They’re both serious about the care of the body and the mind, and offered to help me regain some strength in both. I gratefully accepted. So, after months of training, I’ve lost weight, regained my muscle mass and strength of mind. I’ve never felt better. And to tell you the truth, I never actually filed the paperwork to officially exit my office,” Benedict said just outside the Bernini Columns where he proceeded to flick a lit cigarette into a full barrel of gasoline and walk away as the barrel exploded.
At press time, Benedict still hasn’t looked back at the massive explosion.
I don’t think anybody enjoys talking with a doctrinaire person, regardless of what side they take.
What’s the point of discussion if the other side isn’t willing to give you a fair hearing.
Dittos. :-(
"Conservative" if only in comparison to the majority, and certainly not "conservative" by the definition of "conservative" that is held by Free Republic.
satire
Good satire.
I think you’re right. and I find it really scary and disheartening. We need to pray for bishops and cardinals. We need to pray for the faithful persevering under their leadership. We need to teach each other and our children the truths of the faith.
I think I am becoming a fundamentalist Catholic. What choice do I have? My BS meter keeps going off. Scripture and Tradition with a capital T keep providing more inspiring leadership than certain leaders, who keep soft-pedaling them.
That reminds me of the condescending nature of the creature that occupies our country's White House.
I wish Pope Benedict would just whack him upside his head.
Who are you going to believe, him or your lying eyes?
“Cardinals and bishops know that behind the friendly and warm smile is the iron will of the old Jesuit”
The “Iron Will” of old liberal.
When I listened to JP2, it was like I was listening to a great Saint. When I listened to Benedict16, it was like I was listening to a great theologian. When I listen to Francis it is like I am listening to John McCain.
LOL!
The self-destruction of The Church continues unabated. Very dangerous sign for a West facing an onslaught of Islam.
A grossly unfair comparison, but to whom?
And why expect otherwise? What socialists are not at least “Liberal”?
That right there is enough to tell me he cares NOTHING for God or the Scriptures.
Some Christians are worshiping at the altar of the new pope but you are right, he either doesn’t know the scriptures or doesn’t care. Then they finish their spiel with and WWJD like Jesus condoned homosexuality. Then they call those who show them the scriptures - haters.
I am not surprised by the strong liberal leanings of the Pope. Francis defined himself as soon as he took power and closed ranks with the “liberation theology” leaders, a Marxist movement infiltrated in the Church since the 1960’s and proscribed by His Holiness John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Then Pope Francis began the ostracism of the Catholic conservatives who preferred the traditional Tridentine Mass used by centuries by loyal Catholics, and started persecuting those religious orders and seminaries that faithfully followed the Magisterium of the Church.
Nobody really knows whether this pope supports civil unions for homosexuals. ...
... and what's become of that 8 cardinal panel Francis appointed?
6/11/2013 – Pope admits there is a ‘gay lobby’ at the highest levels of the Vatican
Pope Francis has acknowledged the existence of a 'gay lobby' inside the Vatican's secretive administration for the 1st time. Speaking during an audience with Latin American Catholics, the Argentine Pontiff said that there was a 'current of corruption' in the Roman Curia - the central governing body of the Catholic Church. He also admitted the existence of a long-rumoured 'gay lobby' in the Curia, and hinted that he might take action over the issue.
Speaking in his native Spanish last Thursday, the 76-year-old told the CLAR (the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious Men and Women): “In the Curia, there are truly some saints, but there is also a current of corruption. There is talk of a 'gay lobby' and it's true, it exists,” he said, in a report on Chilean website Reflexion y Liberacion. “We will have to see what we can do.”
The Argentine pope has made reforming the Roman Curia — the heavily criticised and intrigue-filled administration of the Catholic Church — a keystone of his papacy, but said it would be 'difficult'. “I cannot carry out the reforms myself,” he said, explaining that he was 'very disorganised.' For that reason, the task will be handled by a commission of 8 cardinals from around the world whom Pope Francis appointed in April to help him govern the Catholic Church. They are set to meet for the 1st time in October. When the previous Pope, Benedict XVI, announced his decision to retire, many suspected the work of the rumoured gay lobby at the heart of the Curia.
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