[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

Rather than condemning the world, he would prefer to praise the example of merciful Christ.

Well said. This has challenged me, because I'm a doctrine guy, like St. Thomas. Surprise! ;-)

[Tax-chick]

Great post, Servant of the Cross!

I’m a “doctrine” person, too, but we’re in a world now where the clearest, most logically consistent, most obviously factual statement can be dismissed with, “Well, that’s true for you, but to me ...”.

Archbishop Bergoglio, as was, said that the Church today is less like the shepherd leaving the 99 in the fold to seek the one lost, and more like a shepherd staying in the fold with one while the 99 are lost. Being right, in itself, is not winning souls. Jesus didn’t rely on just being right. He went out after sinners, and we have to, as well.

[Servant of the Cross]

This has challenged me, because I'm a doctrine guy, like St. Thomas.

Thank you. Me too. I needed to reflect and pray and not react in a worldly knee-jerk way to the initial articles on the now famous interview.

Some other terrific analysis and restoring of context over the remarks that have been greatly exaggerated:

Pope Francis Focuses on the Bigger Picture With New Interview

Pope Francis Has Unsettled Me

Pope Warns Church Focusing Too Much on Gays, Abortion [Francis Sets Out Vision of More Welcoming Church, Less Preoccupied With Doctrine]