That really is an exquisitely elegant comment you made, but y’all are looking at the pope’s statements through a kind of predisposed-to-praise set of optics (which is fine; he’s the pope), whereas some of the rest of us are seeing the immediately observable fruits (orgiastic cheering and whooping by death culture and deviancy advocates). Considering the consequences, it is is hard to see how the church’s goals were advanced by this interview. As I said in the other thread, if confession queues swell and RCIA classes see a surge of registrations by these folks I guess the pope had it right all along.
I like the characterization FR. Z’s site offered of the Real vs. Virtual Pope Francis and remarks thereof. The virtual one is the popular one, what the world comes away with. He says “We have to make sure that, with all the media attention, with all these interviews, that the ‘virtual Francis’ is not stronger than the real Francis.” The problem is that the pope’s communication style lends it self toward creating a virtual pope radically different from the real pope and the actual ideas in his mind.
I’m actually not looking at the Pope’s statements with a predisposed to praise POV as I’m not a Catholic; but I do like what he is saying, and any deathists or other glorying in their shame type people jumping on the Pope bandwagon are likely doing so erroneously, thinking he’s saying something he’s not...
God’s unconditional love does not mean “do whatever you want, you’re fine as you are” and the Pope is not saying that. That’s clear to me. If I’m wrong, I’ll admit it.
Also, no fallen soul can experience His love if they want to remain as they are. If they’re comfortable in their dirt. There has to be some inkling of repentence, some part of the heart that wants God, that wants to change, that wants to be a new person, in order to have that opening where His love can enter in. Like a chink in the armor, a crack in the cave wall, a missing brick in the dungeon, where a bit of light shines in. Even a cry in the night - are You there???
It’s the beginning of the relationship.