Progressive reformer can’t be what the College of Cardinals expected…
I don’t traditionally care for popes. The Roman Catholic Church has this really long history of promoting oppression and corruption and ignorance, and there’s the whole pedophilia thing, too. I’m hard pressed to think of an organization that done more raw damage in the entirety of recorded history, and that has always been presided over by a pope.
But I’m starting to warm up to this new guy. He hadn’t been wearing his cool new hat for more than about 15 minutes when he suggested … out loud … to a freakin’ reporter … that atheists can go to Heaven. Meet His Holiness, Pope WTF the First. Of course, the Vatican trotted out the spokesclergy to explain that the Holy Father had been misunderstood. There’s some confusion about the canonical meaning of the word “redeem” and blah blah blah. It was like every speech Reagan ever made, where the spin doctors took center stage as soon as he left the room to tell everybody what he had meant to say.
It’s worth noting that while other Very Official Catholics stepped up to make clear that Francis hadn’t actually said what he said, the pope himself has not, anywhere I’ve seen, repudiated a word of it.
And the best part is, he just keeps on saying wack shit. Check this.
Pope Francis, in the first extensive interview of his six-month-old papacy, said that the Roman Catholic Church had grown “obsessed” with preaching about abortion, gay marriage and contraception, and that he has chosen not to speak of those issues despite recriminations from some critics.
In remarkably blunt language, Francis sought to set a new tone for the church, saying it should be a “home for all” and not a “small chapel” focused on doctrine, orthodoxy and a limited agenda of moral teachings.
“It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time,” the Pope told the Reverend Antonio Spadaro, a fellow Jesuit and editor-in-chief of La Civiltà Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit journal whose content is routinely approved by the Vatican. “The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently.
“We have to find a new balance,” the Pope continued, “otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the gospel.”
So, to review:
- Let’s stop talking about abortion all the time…
- …and teh gays…
- …and contraception.
- And atheists can go to Heaven.
Less remarked upon, but at least as interesting, is his stance on liberation theology, which his predecessors had ball-stomped at every turn.
Liberation theology arose as a Catholic response to the Marxist movements that fought Latin America’s military dictatorships in the 1960s and ’70s. It criticized the church’s close relations, including often overt support, with the regimes.
It affirmed that, rather then just focusing on seeking salvation in the afterlife, Catholics should act in the here and now against unjust societies that breed poverty and need.
In his seminal 1971 book, [the Rev. Gustavo Gutierrez, a Peruvian theologian and scholar who is considered the founder of liberation theology] argued that the church should have a “preferential option for the poor,” following the example of Jesus, who chose to live mostly with poor and marginalized people.
This isn’t inconsistent with his career, which has always placed emphasis on the plight of the poor. Even worse, it emerges in the interview linked above that Francis is a fan of Dostoevsky. Sweet hell, you don’t think he read “The Grand Inquisitor,” do you?
For the first time in memory, we appear to have a pope who’s familiar with the New Testament. I can’t help thinking that this is not what the College of Cardinals, as corrupt a cabal of reactionary child pimps as ever slithered across the land, had in mind when they fitted Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio for the big pointy hat a few months ago.
I’m never going to like the Church and I’m never going to share much with them in the way of theological beliefs, but I’m all in favor of any pope who puts social justice ahead of sexual politics on his agenda. I can’t wait for Vatican 3 and hopefully he continues raising hell right up until the moment he keels over dead of natural causes.
Poisoning – that’s a natural cause, right? My advice? Hire a food taster….
Categories: Religion & Philosophy
Progressive Culture | Scholars & Rogues 
I’m still skeptical of this guy. All the fine points you mention just put me in mind of someone advising the GOP to lay off the gays and abortion and contraception because it’s bad for business.
Time will tell. For me, the lib theology piece is the most interesting one. The other stuff revolves around actionable propaganda issues, but iberation theology goes to the core of who the church is.
True, that. As well, it’s a genie they’re gonna have a hell of a time trying to stuff back in its bottle.
Yep. If nothing else, it will make for some wonderful theater.
I understand your distrust of the new Slum Pope Frank, but I think he’s the real deal. A true Jesuit Soldier of God fighting for the poor and downtrodden.
With no pretense and a life of service to back up his position, he’s the closest thing to the ideals of Jesus we’ve ever seen in a head godtard. Living in the guest quarters and driving himself around in an old Renault…can’t make shit like that up.
Now, as Sam says, it’s just a matter of whether or not the entrenched Vatican gold ring and velvet underwear crowd will follow him or try to squelch him.
A most interesting turn of events!
“entrenched Vatican gold ring and velvet underwear crowd.” That is the funniest thing I’ve read for months.
I think it is possible to fake being anything (I think you can make that shit up). I’ve read quite a bit about Narcissistic Personality Disorder and psychopaths. They are masters at pretending to be something they are not. I’ve read that Narcissistic Personality Disorder is not uncommon among religious leaders such as pastors, priests, etc.
Of course you’re right Mystie, mere appearance is often deceiving. Action talks, bullshit walks. Proof of the Pope’s true intentions might be found in him performing a simple miracle…allowing priests to marry perhaps? That would cure 90% or more of the church’s disgusting pedophilia problem and set his place in history for sure.
I’m not sure what would cure the church’s disgusting pedophilia problem. Of course, they claim it happens in other churches also and I’m sure it does but I don’t know if it is to the same extent. Pedophiles like to pray on trusting people and they can often find those kinds of people in church.
Reblogged this on Adventures and Musings of a Hedgewitch.
I have very little respect for any religion as all they seem to do is create divide and conflict, something we as a species don’t require any assistance with. But, I will say, this pope is refreshing, so far. I agree though, locks on the bedroom door and a food taster are definitely a requirement from now on in.