” . . . I am with you even unto the consummation of the world.”
I can’t help thinking that if we made it through Medicis and Borgias AND Vatican II, we can weather anything, even if we don’t have apologists like Bill Buckley defending Mater et Magistra. Ebb Tide, I certainly share your apprehensiveness about the ostensible pronouncements of Francis, but what he says is, more often than not, not what’s reported. The request to “love” and “incude” gay persons doesn’t translate to condoning their self-identified activity or their right to marry. Hate-the-sin-love-the-sinner seems never to have been covered in journalism schools.
So far as divorced Catholics are concerned, the Church could do a much better job of explaining what divorce and remarriage is and is not (e.g., it’s not excommunication!) and how to return to the sacraments (make a good confession, live as brother-sister, e.g.). And perhaps Francis will address all of this.
And, contrary again to what we’re hearing from the various media, annulment is not the acceptable name for “Catholic divorce.” And the annulment process does need attention and streamlining.
Semper fi . . .
We made it through Vatican II?? You must be joking. We are still experiencing the after-effects of Vatican II. What we are seeing now is just going further down the same Modernist slippery slope.