Pope Francis decries critics of church as 'friends of the devil'

The Guardian ^ | Wed 20 Feb 2019 | Angela Giuffrida

[Leaning Right]

Pope Francis has said that those who constantly criticise the Catholic church are “friends of the devil”. Speaking to pilgrims from southern Italy, the pontiff said that defects of the church needed to be denounced so they could be corrected, but that those who condemned “without love” were linked to the devil.

“One cannot live a whole life accusing, accusing, accusing, the church,” he said. People who did, he said, were “the friends, cousins and relatives of the devil”.

His remarks come as dozens of victims of clerical sexual abuse gathered in Rome ahead of an unprecedented Vatican summit on the issue.

[Leaning Right]

I was listening to my local news this morning, and they were interviewing an abuse survivor. He was appalled that the Pope would link criticism the Church to the devil.

Of course the Pope says such a link only applies to those who constantly criticize. But when does criticism become "constant"? I guess that only Francis is allowed to determine that. In the meantime, everyone just shut up.

Benedict, please come back before this guy does even more damage.

[madison10]

Sounds like someone I know when people disagree with him. He preaches sermons against them and say they are like certain demons.

[Steely Tom]

Grateful Dead: Friend of the Devil.

[blackdog]

I thought those were the climate change deniers? Tough to keep up with most kooks these days. Even their contradictions are full of situational contradictions. We live in the least principled time mankind has ever experienced.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Seems pretty obvious who is the devil’s friend........

The ImPopester and his minions.

[lee martell]

Well now, Your Holiness, let’s not be too hasty labeling people with that “Friends of the Devil” stamp.
Some of the current decisions by the Catholic Church do warrant greater scrutiny. Some appear to discourage, even punish those who stick to the original Rule Book.

[Jeff Chandler]

Maybe he just needs some high quality H2O.

[Maudeen]

This pope is a loser. . . all those guilty of sexual deviancy need to be criminally charged. That goes for all denominations.

[Pilgrim's Progress]

When the Papa says such things about Bible-believers, I'd say that we are doing the Lord's work the Lord's way. Paul told us to wear the "shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked" (Ephesians 6:16).

[Leaning Right]

> I thought those were the climate change deniers? <

Interesting point. And that’s how the Left operates these days. If you dare to challenge them, you are not just wrong. You are a “hater”. Unless of course you are challenging the Pope. Then you are a “friend of the devil”.

I miss the old days when leftists just called their enemies “capitalist dogs”.

[blackdog]

https://goo.gl/images/DetCvr

[Jmouse007]

Says Satan’servant, the COMMUNIST, HERITIC. Tagline

[JudgemAll]

Wow. Waiting for libs crying nonjudgmentalism...

[blackdog]

https://goo.gl/images/RXQB7N

[Jeremiah2911]

I decry Francis as 'friend of the devil'

[JudgemAll]

Obama wanted to abolish free speech too. “DO NOT CRITICIZE!’ nianiania

[dangus]

Pope Francis is everything any Catholic-hater ever thought of, wrapped into one person.

[Romulus]

This isn’t about criticizing the Church; it’s about criticizing individual sinners who have failed in their service to the Church, who appeal to their clerical character in order to hide behind the Church.

THAT is a pretty good example of clericalism.

[Caipirabob]

Papal buggerers gotta bugger...

[JudgemAll]

Obama wanted to abolish free speech too. “DO NOT CRITICIZE!’ nianiania