Posted on 10/07/2015 12:33:29 PM PDT by Academiadotorg
Editor’s note: A shorter version of this article first appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. This post can also be read at Vision and Values’ website.
Pope Francis has returned to Rome after a historic trip to the United States. It was a fascinating endeavor. There have been many papal visits to America in my lifetime—in fact, nearly all have been in my lifetime, the first occurring in 1965, the year before I was born. None of these, however, were so heavily marked by political-ideological battle lines among liberals and conservatives. Really, those lines have been drawn boldly on the left, with liberals eagerly claiming this pope as one of them, and many conservatives granting that concession.
Yet, neither side, in truth, watches this pope carefully enough. If they did, both sides would be surprised, shocked, and one side—liberals—would be horrified.
I’m referring specifically to this pope’s remarkably staunch criticisms of the things he sees as threatening the family: What he calls the “throwaway culture” of abortion, the “ideological colonization” and “deforming” of marriage, the “Satanic” adoption of children by homosexual couples, and the “demonic” cult of gender theory.
Yes, those blistering descriptions all belong to Pope Francis.
I could detail any of these here at length and shock liberal sensibilities and claims that this “leftist pope” is one of them. After all, I’ve yet to meet a liberal who thinks that same-sex marriage is the work of “the Father of Lies.”
But I’d like to expend a few words on this pope’s ongoing war against gender theory specifically, and namely its attempted introduction in Francis’ home diocese of Rome and throughout Italy. This has greatly upset Francis, the extent to which we Americans (Francis’ critics and admirers alike) are completely unaware. Now that he is back in Rome, Francis’ battle against gender theory will recommence with zeal.
Of course, gender theory, gender ideology, gender studies, even entire gender programs, have been all the rage in American academia for decades. Pope Francis, for one, despises the very concept. He has argued constantly, consistently, that men and women are not only vitally different, but that these differences—ordained by nature and God—constitute an essential complementarity that husbands and wives bring to marriage and family relationships and responsibilities. Under Francis’ direction last year, the Vatican held an international-ecumenical conference solely on this complementarity. In a world and culture that argues—and, in fact, teaches—that men and women and husbands and wives and dads and moms are interchangeable, if not inconsequential, Francis insists just the opposite. To say he is adamant is an understatement.
“Gender ideology is demonic!” Pope Francis insists. He says that it militates against “the order of creation.” He sees it as so toxic, so destructive, that he has compared gender ideology to “the educational policies of Hitler.”
In Italy, Francis has become the spiritual inspiration for a nationwide movement to banish gender theory. This culminated in a huge demonstration in Rome this summer. As one article reported, “Hundreds of thousands of people from all over Italy responded to Pope Francis’ repeated warnings about gender ideology, by taking part in an enormous demonstration in the square of St. John Lateran in Rome on Saturday. The ‘Family Day’ was aimed at defending the traditional family and stopping the spread of gender ideology in schools.”
Some estimates were higher, as organizers hoped to draw a million marchers. “It’s fantastic,” said one attendee, a father of six from northern Italy. “Finally, people have gathered to fight this terrible ideology.” One organizer celebrated from the stage, “The Holy Father is with us,” as indeed he was.
The speaker held forth under a giant banner that read in Italian: “Difendiamo i nostri figli. STOP GENDER nelle scuole.” Translation: “Defend our children. STOP GENDER in the schools.”
We must understand that Pope Francis views gender theory as not just some feminist thing he doesn’t like. He sees it as a direct threat to family and marriage. And as he said to the joint session of Congress during his recent visit, “I cannot hide my concern for the family, which is threatened, perhaps as never before, from within and without. Fundamental relationships are being called into question, as is the very basis of marriage and the family.” He told President Obama and the crowd that greeted him at the White House that he had come to the country specifically “to celebrate and support the institutions of marriage and the family at this critical moment in the history of our civilization.”
Well, to this pope, gender theory is a major threat to the institutions of marriage and family at this critical moment. In this, and still more, liberals might want to pause a bit before transforming Pope Francis into their poster boy.
Dr. Kengor is a professor of political science and the Executive Director of The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. He is a New York Times bestselling author of multiple books, his articles have appeared in various publications, and he has frequently contributed to MSNBC, C-SPAN, NPR, the BBC, PCN-TV, EWTN, and Fox News Channel.
Not sure what that means.
Anyway, if this is the reality, then I think the Pope needs to be more forceful in his communication so that he is understood loud and clear. Right now he seems to be none of what is described in this article.
yet in the end he is a socialist and a climate alarmist. He wants the US to take in throngs of Middle Eastern people without due diligence while he takes in one. He is busy appeasing radical Islam while Christians are slaughterd
yet in the end he is a socialist and a climate alarmist. He wants the US to take in throngs of Middle Eastern people without due diligence while he takes in one. He is busy appeasing radical Islam while Christians are slaughterd
Doesn’t it sort of depend on the media coverage?
What, you haven't seen these in the mainstream media, either?
Ever wonder why?
LINKS:
New Pope Francis called homosexual ‘marriage’ a ‘machination of the Father of Lies’
Pope Francis: Gender Theory Is a Threat to Society
Pope: Marriage between man and woman is threatened by gender ideology
Pope Francis: “Children have a ‘Right’ to a Mother and Father”
Pope Francis: marriage inscribed in creation (Man/Woman)
A Letter to Pope Francis (Pope defends man-woman marriage)
Pope Rejects ‘So-Called Gender Theory’
Pope Francis Defends Human Nature Against Gender Radicals
Pope's Shocking Hitler Youth Comparison (Pope blasts gender theory)
Vatican says 'no' to transsexual godparents amid Spain controversy
The Family As God ills it, 0ne man and one woman, is being deformed Pope Francis Against Gay Marriage, Gay Adoption
Pope Francis supports Slovak effort to ban gay ‘marriage’, adoption
"Pope Bemoans Gay Lobby" (LINK)
Gay Advocacy Groups Rush to Demonize Poe Francis
Pope Francis Tells Couples To Wait Until Marriage To Have Sex
Pope strongly defends Catholic teaching against contraception
Pope Francis clear on denying Communion to those who facilitate in abortion
The Closed Door of Pope Francis (Speaks against abortion, divorce, and homosexuality)
Pope Francis and the family, the next step (pro-Traditional Family)
Pope Francis is starting to look a lot like Sarah Palin (Guardian UK dumps Francis)
Pope Francis 'refuses' gay French ambassador
Kasper is Not the 'Pope's Theologian,' Says Leading African Cardinal
Cardinal Burke Denies Rift With Pope, Warns of ‘Gay Agenda’ for Synod
Pope Rejected Gay French Diplomat as Ambassador to Holy See
Pope Francis condemns gender theory a third time: ‘The family is under attack’
Pope Francis defends church’s opposition to artificial contraception
Pope Francis: ‘The Choice To Not Have Children Is Selfish’
Pope declares couples who don’t want kids ‘selfish,’ says they are part of a ‘greedy generation’
Pope Francis on abortion: ‘Never, never does killing a person resolve a problem’
Bringing children into the world is never a ‘mistake’: Pope Francis
Don’t be afraid to have more children: Pope Francis
Pope Francis Defends Human Nature Against Gender Radicals
Pope's Shocking Hitler Youth Comparison (Pope blasts gender theory)
Pope to Catholic couples: you can’t get married if you’re not open to children
Pope Francis praises Humanae Vitae, warns of attacks on family
Well no doubt about that, but even some of the Catholic sites seem to be misinterpreting what he stands for.
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