Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pope Francis and mental illness
La Salette Journey ^ | April 15, 2014 | Paul Melanson

Posted on 04/15/2015 6:49:23 AM PDT by cleghornboy

Pope Francis has admitted that he has "some nerve problems" which require treatment as well as various neuroses. See here. A neuroses is defined as, "A relatively mild mental illness that is not caused by organic disease, involving symptoms of stress such as depression, anxiety, obsessive behavior and hypochondria."

Now, I would never make light of another person's mental illness or disorder. There but for the grace of God go I as Saint Philip Neri once said. I have been through exhaustive psychological exams and screenings both for the United States Air Force (to obtain a security clearance above top secret) and for a religious community which determined that I was "too devoted to Magisterial teaching" (whatever that means). In both cases, I was given a clean bill of psychological health and determined to be free of any and all pathologies, neuroses etc.

But I find it alarming that a self-admitted neurotic with "nerve problems" would request religious communities to refuse orthodox candidates on the grounds that such people are mentally ill and " might not be suited for religious life."

(Excerpt) Read more at lasalettejourney.blogspot.com ...


TOPICS: Local News; Miscellaneous; Religion; Society
KEYWORDS: disorder; illness; mental; popefrancis

1 posted on 04/15/2015 6:49:23 AM PDT by cleghornboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: cleghornboy

I think JPII had some “issues”, too. He would self-flagellate, IIRC. We have to pray a lot for our Popes and bishops. They are beset by satan’s threats to their holiness.


2 posted on 04/15/2015 6:58:28 AM PDT by married21 ( As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: married21

That’s Saint John Paul

You say JPII had ‘some issues too’? If you remember correctly?

How dare you?

You go find some documentation on that and then read his biography well researched by weigel. Then read some of his writings, including tgeology of the body. Then see how he helped Reagan and thatcher

Take your idle destructive gossip elsewhere Or keep it to yourself


3 posted on 04/15/2015 7:40:09 AM PDT by stanne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: married21; stanne

Self flagellation used to be a common penitential practice. It’s not a sign of mental illness.


4 posted on 04/15/2015 7:41:51 AM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: cleghornboy

If the Pope had some degree of chronic anxiety that would not be at all surprising. The position he holds carries tremendous responsibility. Whatever he chooses to do or not to do can quickly effect people throughout the earth.


5 posted on 04/15/2015 7:54:40 AM PDT by lee martell (The sa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: livius

Go away


6 posted on 04/15/2015 9:04:09 AM PDT by stanne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: cleghornboy

As a non-Catholic, I think the pope is merely a man, elevated by other men.

I realize his followers think otherwise, and I have no quarrel with them over this.

Could it be those that elevated him have buyers’ remorse and are now using religious-politics to smear him, to get him to quit?


7 posted on 04/15/2015 9:23:13 AM PDT by truth_seeker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: stanne

Huh? Why? That’s the truth.

Many very holy people, including officially canonized ones, had whips among their possessions when they died. They also used to tie a cilica, something that looked like barbed wire, around their thighs.

But they weren’t mentally ill. Maybe you need to learn a little more about the Catholic Faith and its pre-Vatican II history.


8 posted on 04/15/2015 1:24:20 PM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: truth_seeker

Catholics also think the Pope is just a man, chosen to be the successor to St. Peter. That means he has to defend the Lord, defend the Church, and be “the Rock.” The Holy Spirit inspires the electors, but that doesn’t mean that the Evil One can’t get in there and dissuade them or twist it.

The people who elevated Francis were the remnants of Vatican II, and they did so through a very bizarre set of maneuvers. The first round of voting (which actually went to a conservative Italian) was thrown off by the fact that an extra ballot appeared in the final count, making it illegal. When they did the second round, Bergoglio won (just barely).

No Catholic thinks the Pope is God or even close. If a Pope fails to do defend orthodoxy and do his duty - which is that of Peter, being the Rock - then it is very possible that he will be no longer considered to be Pope. Hang onto your hats, people.

The only good thing, and the only place I can see the Holy Spirit working, is that Catholics have had to take a serious look at doctrine and reaffirm their allegiance to the Faith.


9 posted on 04/15/2015 1:31:51 PM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: stanne

I’m sorry. I really like and respect JPII. I just was saying he was only human. Yet he was a great leader of our Church anyway, and even became a saint. (I guess I was taking it for granted that everyone knew that and did not dispute it.)

I didn’t mean to sound like a mean gossip about him, but I guess that’s how it sounded.


10 posted on 04/15/2015 2:47:50 PM PDT by married21 ( As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: married21

whatever


11 posted on 04/15/2015 4:08:35 PM PDT by stanne
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: cleghornboy

Please see your freepmails.


12 posted on 04/21/2015 10:30:42 AM PDT by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57, returning after lurking since 2000)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson