Posted on 12/02/2014 7:32:31 PM PST by ebb tide
I find it striking how often Pope Francis engages in pejoratives against people who really tick him off. The list of people who Pope Francis clearly does not like includes “fundamentalists”, the rich, conservatives, capitalists, self-absorbed promethean neopelagians, etc. One could be forgiven for thinking that for decades Pope Francis has been carefully putting groups he does not like in a “them” category as opposed to the “us” category he belongs to, and that his papacy is payback time against the thems. A striking example of this occurred recently:
The Argentine pope, who has been trying to foster cooperation with moderate Islam in order to work for peace and protect Christians in the Middle East, said it was wrong for anyone to react to terrorism by being “enraged” against Islam.
“You just can’t say that, just as you can’t say that all Christians are fundamentalists. We have our share of them (fundamentalists). All religions have these little groups,” he said.
Now in this throwaway line Pope Francis manages to compare people who massacre people in job lots, Islamic jihadists, with Christians he labels “fundamentalists”. I assume that the Pope is using the term in a non-technical sense, and isn’t referring to the Protestant groups that arose out of the Niagara Bible Conferences of 1876-1897. In a Catholic context who he is referring to is clear enough as demonstrated by the ongoing persecution of the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Immaculate. The Pope seems to have the likes and dislikes of a fairly typical modern Jesuit, and looked at through that prism much of the apparent confusion surrounding the Pope’s statements melts away.
The problem of course with having a papacy that operates on such a basis is that those clearly in the them camp do not like being targeted by the man at the top and will react to what they regard as unfair aspersions being cast on them. This is especially problematic at this stage in the history of the papacy in that Pope Francis is ticking off those Catholics who have hitherto overall been quite loyal to the papacy, while those who love what the Pope is saying against their adversaries are often Catholics who are lukewarm, to put it charitably, about the practice of the Faith.
Where is all this leading? I think that depends upon the length of the reign of Pope Francis. I do not expect him to change. Later this month he will turn 78 and what he believes was long ago set in cement. A long reign might end in a major schism. A short reign might make him a blip on the history of the papacy. A medium reign would probably most closely resemble the chaos of the reign of Pope Paul VI, with the Pope this time fostering the chaos and drift from orthodoxy. We shall see. One prediction I will make: it will be a very long time indeed before another Jesuit will ever again fill the shoes of the Fisherman after what I think future historians will deem a disaster of a pontificate.
Ping
Better call the “Uh-Oh Squad”.
He reminds me of someone else with that trait... it’s right at the tip of my tongue. I’m sure it’ll come to me.
“be” ashamed of you. Sorry.
Finally, I get it!
The Pope seems to have the likes and dislikes of a fairly typical modern communist? Jesuit
Which fundamentalists? Protestant/Evangelical or Roman Catholic?
Do you condone summary execution?
Right on track.
Just for clarity Evangelical “fundamentalism” was a reaction to the 19th century theological liberalism. Thus conservative Christians proclaimed the fundamentals:
FIVE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE FAITH
There are five fundamentals of the faith which are essential for Christianity, and upon which we agree:
1. The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8-9).
2. The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27).
3. The Blood Atonement (Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25, 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14).
4. The Bodily Resurrection (Luke 24:36-46; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 15:14-15).
5. The inerrancy of the scriptures themselves (Psalms 12:6-7; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20).
So if Pope Francis is opposed to the above, then he is opposed to basic Biblical Christianity.
I think that the Pope finds that he does not entirely get along with what some people would call fundamentalists but I might call hard nosed legalists. Jesus gave the Pharisees heaps about sticking to the letter of the law and not being merciful. It has almost become part of an excepted Christo/mythology that Jesus was therefore not a stickler for the law and “gave people a break” so to speak. This is not case. Because conservatives by nature point to the Law they are seen by many as aligning with the Pharisee.
The Law by it’s very perfection and our inability to keep all of it is meant to point us towards the mercy of Christ and so without it we are left wandering. The Cross is the place at which the Law and Mercy intersect with our lives. Without both the cross looks just like a stick
Those who put the Law above mercy and who seem to not have an ounce of forgiveness in them have got it wrong. So have those who ignore the Law altogether or who create their own version of the it.
I always find it funny how many within both general society and also within the Church forget Jesus also condemned the Sadducee who were more like the left of the Church all wrapped up in political maneuvering, intrigue and trying to negotiate with the world and it’s system.
It seems if there is a lesson it would be everyone needs to be careful and humble lest we fall one way or the other!
You do realize your words are in violation of the Religion forum ROE and generally in other FR forums?
I recommend you ask the RM to remove your post.
I’m being nice considering your profile shows a 2014 start. I know of course this could not be an alternate account.
My apologies. I was drinking tonight.
Pope Saint Pius X pray for us.
Instaurare Omnia in Christo (restore all things in Christ)
However,I can't help thinking that the world's definition of a fundamentalist is not quite the same as what a church-goer might think it is.
Considering that to one we are the savour of life unto life and to the other we have the stench of death it strikes me as dangerous ground the Pope is treading on.
"You just can’t say that, just as you can’t say that all Christians are fundamentalists"
Nasty trap that.
The fifth one is also Catholic dogma, but we perhaps understand it a bit differently from you.
Personally I think many of his comments are very poorly thought-out and do more harm than good, and this is a good example. Maybe he should learn not to talk to journalists, who are experts at taking things out of context and proportion. He has people who are paid to talk to journalists for him.
Ill Papa?
If Benedict says he wants to come back, does this guy have to step down?
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