The Pope is not targeting conservatives. He is merely asking us to elevate our game, so to speak - to work harder to bring Christ to all, especially those who don't know Christ. So stop being so defensive. Put on Christ. Be Christ to your fellow man.
From “Francis’ Book of Insults”:
“Old maid!”
“Specialist of the Logos!”
“Rosary counter!”
“Functionary!”
“Self-absorbed, Promethean neo-Pelagian!”
“Restorationist!”
“Ideological Christians!”
“Pelagian!”
“Mr and Mrs Whiner!”
“Triumphalist!”
“Rigid Christians!”
“Modern gnostics!”
“Liquid Christian!”
“Superficial Christians!”
“Slaves of superficiality!”
“Museum mummy!”
“Renaissance prince!”
“Airport Bishop!”
“Leprous courtier!”
“Idealogue!”
“Long-faced, mournful funeral Christian!”
“Gnostic!”
“Careerist Bishop!”
“Sourpuss!”
“Authoritarian!”
“Elitist!”
“Querulous and disillusioned pessimist!”
“Sad Christian!”
“Pickled pepper-faced Christian!”
“Children! Afraid to dance! To cry! Afraid of everything!”
“Asker for certainty in all things!”
“Christians allergic to preaching!”
“Closed, sad, trapped Christian who is not a free Christian!”
“Pagan Christian!”
“Little monster!”
“Defeated Christian!”
“Creed-reciting, parrot Christian!”
“Watered-down faith, weak-hoped Christian!”
“Inquisitorial beater!”
“Seminarians who grit their teeth and wait to finish,
follow rules and smile [who] reveal the hypocrisy of clericalism - one of the worst evils!”
“Abstract ideologue!”
“Fundamentalist!”
“Smarmy, idolator priest!”
“Worshiper of the god Narcissus!”
“Vain, butterfly-priest!”
“Priest-wheeler dealer!”
“Priest-tycoon!”
“Religious who have a heart as sour as vinegar!”
“Promoter of the poison of immanence!”
“Those closed in the formality of a prayer that is cold, stingy [who]
might end up as Michal, in the sterility of her formality.”
“Older people nostalgic for structures and customs which are no longer life-giving in today’s world!”
“Young people addicted to fashion!”
“Pastry-Shop Christians!”
“Luscious cakes, sweet dainties. Delectable, but not real Christians!”
“Existential tourist!”
Anesthetised Christian!
“Christian hypocrites only interested in their formalities!”
“They disguise themselves, they disguise themselves as good people: they make themselves up like little holy cards, looking up at heaven as they pray, making sure they are seen—they believe they are more righteous than others, they despise others!”
‘Mah,’ they say, “I’m very Catholic, because my uncle was a great benefactor, my family is this, I’m that… I’ve learned... I know this bishop, this Cardinal, this priest... I am this or that...’ They think they are better than others. This is hypocrisy!”
“Sloth-diseased, acedic Christians!”
“I think of many Christians, of many Catholics: yes, they are Catholics, but without enthusiasm, even embittered!”
“They are people without light – real downers!”
“And how many Christians are like this?” he asked, “selfish, out for themselves.”
“Christians who do not leave space for the grace of God – and the Christian life, the life of these people, consists in having all the paperwork, all the certificates, in order!”
“There is a tendency toward Pharisaical behavior in all practicing Christians, even the devout.”
So true. The world uses all the foibles of our zeal against us, as if a perfect witness would win them. Jesus WAS perfect and yet the multitudes hardened their hearts against him. We just have to go for it and be misunderstood!
Thank-you and God Bless.
Christ's love was to die, literally, on a Cross.