Pope Softening Tone, Not Stance, O’Malley Says

The Boston Globe ^ | 2/9/14 | John L. Allen Jr

[marshmallow]

But Francis’ stress on mercy and simplicity having huge impact, he believes

Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley says he shares in the sense of wonder at how swiftly Pope Francis has captured the world’s attention and softened, with his sometimes startling words and personal gestures, the image of the Roman Catholic Church.

But he cautions that those with high expectations that the shift in tone presages major changes in church teachings on contraception, abortion, homosexuality, and other flashpoint issues are likely to be disappointed.

“I don’t see the pope as changing doctrine,’’ O’Malley said in an interview with the Globe, though he said the pontiff’s focus on compassion and mercy over doctrinal purity has reverberated powerfully throughout the church.

The Roman Catholic archbishop of Boston and the closest American adviser to the popular new pontiff, O’Malley said says it would also be unrealistic to expect the church to consider allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the sacraments, even though Francis himself once appeared to signal openness to the idea.

“The church needs to be faithful to the Gospel and to Christ’s teaching,” O’Malley said. “Sometimes that’s very difficult. We have to follow what Christ wants, and trust that what he asks of us is the best thing.”

[paladinan]

Y’know... I appreciate any correction in the press, re: Catholicism, but... he “doesn’t SEE the Pope as changing doctrine”? Good grief... how wishy-washy does he want to sound, anyway? What’s so terrifically hard about saying, “It’s absolutely and categorically IMPOSSIBLE for the Pope to change Catholic doctrine, and the Holy Spirit would strike him dead if that were the only thing which would stop him from trying”? His statement sounds as if he’s trying to make a prediction which could theoretically go either way; I’d understand that sort of mistake from a non-Catholic (or ill-catechised Catholic), but from a Cardinal?

Sheesh. What next? “Well... I don’t see them inventing dry water, though the research in that area has been interesting!”

[onedoug]

Seems to me that in his redistribution of wealth schemes he’s playing fast and loose with the Tenth Commandment.

[Salvation]

**But he cautions that those with high expectations that the shift in tone presages major changes in church teachings on contraception, abortion, homosexuality, and other flashpoint issues are likely to be disappointed.**

From John Allen of the former Fishwrap?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Exactly, paladian. You nailed it.

[Mrs. Don-o]

The same.

[Bigg Red]

Yeah, that weasel wording struck me, as well. He may as well have just said, “I don’t see the current pope changing doctrine, but maybe the next one will.”

[Salvation]

That’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure what newspaper hired him. LOL! Will enjoy watching.

[Jeff Chandler]

New Tone™. Where have I heard that before?

[BlatherNaut]

His statement sounds as if he’s trying to make a prediction which could theoretically go either way; I’d understand that sort of mistake from a non-Catholic (or ill-catechised Catholic), but from a Cardinal?

------------------

No surprise, considering his track record.

An example of the type of "Amchurch" advisor he surrounds himself with: Fr. Bryan Hehir.

"Is God a Marxist? Top American Catholics and the far left" A top aide to a left-wing American Catholic Cardinal, reportedly in the running for the job of pope, taught a course called “Matthew, Marx, Luke, and John” at a pro-Marxist think tank in Washington, D.C. The course included a discussion of “the future of the Christian alliance with Marxism” and the “theology of the oppressed.”

The aide, Fr. J. Bryan Hehir, is described in the book, Religious Leaders and Faith-based Politics: Ten Profiles, as “one of the most important and influential voices in U.S. Catholicism.” A professor at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Hehir spent 20 years working for the Catholic Bishops and crafting policy positions on a wide range of domestic and foreign policy matters.

http://www.worldtribune.com/2013/03/12/is-god-a-marxist-top-american-catholics-and-the-far-left/