How Pope Francis awakened the faith of a CNN anchor

[gilliam]

(CNN)I remember the day I stopped praying. It was the day after my little brother, Jimmy, died of cancer. He was 25. I was so angry at God.

I was 27 at the time, and, like most young people I had stopped going to church. But, on that day – that terrible day – I desperately needed to understand why God took my brother. I called the nearest Catholic church, looking for a priest. A lady picked up the phone. “Can I talk with Father?” I asked.

I wish I could say her answer was “yes.”

Instead, she asked me if I was a member of that particular parish. “Does it matter?” I asked. (At the time I lived far from my home parish.) I don’t remember how she responded, but the answer about my being able to see Father was clearly no.

I don’t know if all Catholic churches would have shut me out, but I figured, at the time, it was part of the long list of rules the Vatican required Catholic leaders to follow. I cried for a bit, then decided I would never ask God for anything. Clearly, his conduits on Earth did not have time for me – a lifelong Catholic – and sinner – so why would he?

Ever since, I’ve considered myself a lapsed Catholic.

Until Pope Francis.

read the rest:
cnn.com/2015/04/10/living/carol-francis-effect/

Seems to be relevant as we talk about mercy.

 

[ProVobis]

Cnn, msnbc …

 

[Robyn_p]

Beautiful. Thank you for sharing. I’m so happy she’s found faith again.

God bless our pope.

 

[amsjj]

Too bad she seems to hearing only that some sins are ok – the “judge” quote. But hopefully this will be a stepping stone to learning the actual teachings.

Prayers for her to grow in faith!

 

[BrethrenBoy]

Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.

 

[ProVobis]

Too bad she seems to hearing only that some sins are ok – the “judge” quote.

I agree. It doesn’t really say much about one’s faith, if there is constant search for rationalization of sin.

 

[Neofight]

I agree. It doesn’t really say much about one’s faith, if there is constant search for rationalization of sin.

Thankfully none of us are qualified to reach conclusions on the faith of others.

 

[ProVobis]

Thankfully none of us are qualified to reach conclusions on the faith of others.

Except that in this case, faith seems to be based on who the Pope happens to be. That’s not my conclusion, however, just an inference from the article.

 

[Mark121359]

Too bad she seems to hearing only that some sins are ok – the “judge” quote. But hopefully this will be a stepping stone to learning the actual teachings.

I agree. It doesn’t really say much about one’s faith, if there is constant search for rationalization of sin.

Thankfully none of us are qualified to reach conclusions on the faith of others.

But when you read her quotes such as “supporting the use of contraception,” or “He still argues against things I passionately support, but”…what other conclusions could you possibly reach? It seems rather obvious that she supports things that she knows full well the Church doesn’t…no?

Peace, Mark

 

[utah_rose]

Except that in this case, faith seems to be based on who the Pope happens to be. That’s not my conclusion, however, just an inference from the article.

Hopefully though she will begin that journey. As a side note though, parish secretaries should never deny a caller access to speaking to a priest! How does she know that the person is a penitent or in need of good spiritual advice, unless this particular parish didn’t want that priest to be bothered. And just because she doesn’t belong to a particular parish shouldn’t matter, but I do know that some are very insistent that you should contact your home parish.

I ran into this back in 2002 when trying to get an appointment with a priest for Confession during Holy Week and in only one instance was I able to speak to an actual priest on Holy Saturday after being away for 20 years.

 

[ringil]

It is wonderful how God provides us with different Popes with different gifts.

God Bless Francis, Benedict, and our departed pontiffs.

Great story.

 

[Peebo]

Except that in this case,** faith seems to be based on who the Pope happens to be**. That’s not my conclusion, however, just an inference from the article.

The Pope (Pope Francis) happens to be the “Vicar of Christ”…if by his example he can restore this persons faith in Jesus Christ what is wrong with that…isn’t that what we are all called to do

 

[ProVobis]

The Pope (Pope Francis) happens to be the “Vicar of Christ”…if by his example he can restore this persons faith in Jesus Christ what is wrong with that…isn’t that what we are all called to do

Seems like his example extends to confession if anything. Have you seen a dramatic weekly increase in confession lines? Where are articles on this?

 

[Lost_Sheep]

This lady sounds so much like some of my liberal friends who say they like Francis, but for all the wrong reasons. They believe that he can unilaterally change Church doctrine; for example, they seem to thing that the Holy Father’s infamous “who am I to judge?” remark means that he has declared that homosexuality is no longer a sin and it is just a matter of time before he “repeals” other sins like birth control, etc.

Some people just don’t get it.

 

[SWolf]

Seems like his example extends to confession if anything. Have you seen a dramatic weekly increase in confession lines? Where are articles on this?

Pope Francis has been very vocal about going to confession. People still don’t because (surprise) that takes actual effort and repentance.

Kind of like when Pope Paul VI tried to push Gregorian Chant per Vatican II, and was promptly ignored. Things that require effort to learn and do drive people away, yet without effort all we get is empty, tirgid warm-fuzzies.

 

[Peebo]

Seems like his example extends to confession if anything. Have you seen a dramatic weekly increase in confession lines? Where are articles on this?

What do confession lines have to do with this article…the news anchor in the article is referring to the influence Pope Francis has had on her hopefully returning to her faith…she did mention she was going to go to church and ask for forgiveness because of what she sees in Pope Francis…do you have an issue with someone asking God for forgiveness…or just with Pope Francis

 

[ProVobis]

What do confession lines have to do with this article…

It was a part of my returning to the faith, that’s why I mentioned it. Also in response to a poster mentioning example. I thought Pope Francis stressing confession was a good thing, do you not agree? Frankly I don’t care what the folks over at CNN and MSNBC think anymore. If anything they got me voting Republican long ago.

 

[otjm]

But when you read her quotes such as “supporting the use of contraception,” or “He still argues against things I passionately support, but”…what other conclusions could you possibly reach? It seems rather obvious that she supports things that she knows full well the Church doesn’t…no?

Peace, Mark

Well, the Church supports the 10 Commandments, and supposedly the only sinless person since the time of Christ is Mary; so by your logic, all of us support things that we know full well the Church doesn’t.

Faith is not an all or nothing; it is a journey, and some have fewer obstacles than others; yet we all have obstacles.

The woman is on a journey; and if you are farther along on your journey than she is, well, God bless you! And if she is still struggling with issues, how does she differ from the rest of us? I would suggest that she is more open about her struggles than many of the rest of us are; our pride seems a bit like the Pharisee (and the Tax Collector).

What seems obvious to me is that she has turned a corner, due to the impact Pope Francis has made.

And golly, she didn’t become sinless. So we should criticize her? So turning a corner is not enough to satisfy you, that she is closer to God now than she was before?

 

[St_Francis]

She’s on a journey.

What got to me in the article was this:

Lacroix likened the Pope’s approach to Jesus. “Jesus didn’t judge. Jesus did not come as a judge. He came as someone who preached and talked about the love of God.”

What about that incident in the Temple with the moneychangers? What about His telling the Apostles to shake the dust of the towns which wouldn’t listen to them (He who hears yoh hears Me) from their sandals?

Seems to me He extended mercy… *to the repentant. *To the unrepentant–not so much!