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Toward that end Bergoglio is trying to reconcile Rome with a world that has changed and is probably not changing back. He couldn't do this while the German pope was alive, but with Ratzinger safely in his grave, the gloves have come off.

Only 25% of global Catholics and 10% of American Catholics are Traditionalists who believe in large families, the Latin mass and strict loyalty to doctrine. The Traditionalists have nowhere else to go, so Bergoglio doesn't waste his time with them. His pronouncements, however offensive to some, are his way of expanding his base.

No offense, but this sounds like drivel from the marketing department of a consumer products company that has seen an 80% decline in its sales over the last 40 years.

Can you name one religious denomination that has successfully “expanded its base” by watering itself down to accommodate destructive modern cultural trends? Just look at the collapse of mainline Protestant churches all over this country to see where that leads. Catering to the unbridled tastes of humanity turns your religion into nothing more than a fad … and fads don’t last very long in the context of human history.