Posted on 12/27/2014 8:04:19 PM PST by AncientAirs
The Francis Filtration began in earnest during the impromptu press conference on the papal plane while the Pope was en route home from World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro. That was the presser that produced the single-most quoted line of the pontificate thus far: “Who am I to judge?”
But as retired Cardinal Francis George of Chicago pointed out in a pre-retirement interview with John Allen, that sound bite “has been very misused … because he was talking about someone who has already asked for mercy and been given absolution. … That’s entirely different than talking [about] someone who demands acceptance rather than asking for forgiveness.” (For the record, the entire quote, which is almost never cited, was: “Who am I to judge them if they’re seeking the Lord in good faith?”)
Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/pope-francis-filtered/#ixzz3NA65LoiH
(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...
Weigel is a good writer. It would be good to find the entire article somewhere so that it can all be posted.
When I read what Pope Francis says on Free Republic, it is totally different from what he says on, EWTN. Interesting. You can’t trust the media. I go to the Vatican or EWTN. If he really had said the things reported on FR, EWTN would panic.
George Weigel has been skilled for years at spackling over the flaws of hierarchs.
Every modern Pope’s words have been twisted on occasion, but Francis is responsible for making so many statements that CAN be “twisted” so easily. (Accepting for the moment that premise that his words have been “twisted.”)
He condemned being “obsessed” with abortion and contraception to a press that is eager for any sign that the Church doesn’t support the pro-life movement.
Of course, European and American bishops DON’T support the pro-life movement. Especially Francis’s favorite bishops: Wuerl, Dolan, O’Malley, and Cupich.
“Who am I to judge them if they’re seeking the Lord in good faith?”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Perhaps his comment ought to have been, “Who am I to judge them if they’ve publicly repented and are by all appearances seeking to amend their ways and to recompense those whom they have harmed?”
Have in fact these public figures whose actions were “a stumbling block to these little ones” and who “would be better off if a millstone were tied around their neck and they were cast into the sea than that they should cause one of these little ones to stumble”, have these public figures publicly repented of their crimes as they ought to have? And, have they by all appearances done everything they can to recompense those whom they have harmed?
After all, Paul stated that “Let not many of you be teachers, for you shall incur a greater judgment.”
“...if they’re seeking the Lord in good faith?” can be easily interpreted as “just kind of trying a little harder”, which doesn’t compare with Jesus’ manly command “be ye holy...”
Vague speech just doesn’t do for a Pontiff. Clear speech helps insure that one is not placing a stumblig block in front of the little ones.
I recall a “Catholic” (pro-abortion, of course) state legislator who said he was voting for gay marriage BECAUSE Pope Francis had said “Who am I to judge.”
After the “can’t be obsessed about abortion” remark, a therapist wrote about a patient who dropped him—He was too “conservative.”—saying, “I’m a Nancy Pelosi, Pope Francis kind of Catholic.”
His behavior during the synod was in no way reassuring. Every time he put his finger on the scale—which was daily—it was on the Kasper side.
No arguments for filtering can retract the fact that Pope Francis demoted Cardinal Burke.
I will note you have been quite honest in your comments here on FR on the wolves in sheep clothing.
Agreed. Considering he is a priest, I am sure much of what he has said has been said with much difficulty.
The Evil One is no abstraction to this pontiff, nor does he think of “Satanic” as a rhetorical intensifier to underscore one’s disapproval of, say, Hitler.
Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/pope-francis-filtered/#ixzz3NCwqq5KK
Is everything crazy he says and does just the media’s fault? I think not. I think his inner kook talks out loud sometimes.
He [the Catholic pope] added Christian “fundamentalists” to that list of evil. I was shocked when he did that. He did not define what a “fundamentalist” is but I think it’s any Christian group he disagrees with.Unacceptable from a Christian viewpoint, and I agree with your last sentence.
Non "Catholic" Christians are a lower class of followers, described condescendingly by Catholicism as "separated brethren."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.