Pope Bluntly Faults Church's Focus on Gays and Abortion

[agnes_therese]

I just read the America interview, and it certainly was not as sensationalistic as the NYT made it out to be, but it was still troubling. I just wonder how much passivity toward moral issues the Pope wants the Church to take.

But he’s not talking about passivity. He’s talking about priorities.

“The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you. And the ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all.”
–and–
“The proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, profound, radiant. It is from this proposition that the moral consequences then flow.”

If we can’t draw people to Christ, everything else fails. Everything. He gets it. He totally gets it.

 

[stewstew03]

And yet I’ve never ever seen more than a casual reference to those topics at mass. Only doesn’t even come close to the reality of the situation. What we need is MORE discussion of it not less. I feel like I’m in Alice in Wonderland and reality is turned on it’s ear.

Why? He is saying the Gospel is first and foremost; and he is addressing a question asked by the interviewer (see my other post).

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

And yet I’ve never ever seen more than a casual reference to those topics at mass. Only doesn’t even come close to the reality of the situation. What we need is MORE discussion of it not less. I feel like I’m in Alice in Wonderland and reality is turned on it’s ear.

Even Wonderland makes more sense.

 

[edward_george]

I think the Holy Father is probably just reminding us that we have to contextualize these moral teachings within the broader framework of what we believe and not simply be “single-issue voters” or oriented solely to talking points. The Church teaches what she teaches about human behavior, but why? In the broader analysis we have to remember that all came from God, and that our actions can lead us back to God or away from God. We were made to return to God, and we choose whether we will act in this way or not. Ultimately our morality is centered on the love of God, coming from it and returning to it–and not simply following a bunch of rules. It’s easy to forget that, especially in a secular culture that is so oriented toward norms. Normalized behavior, not rightly-ordered or according to nature, is the groundwork of our society’s view of morality. Whatever is what people think ought to be done is the correct way. But we know a better way, a much grander way of looking at things, and that’s what the Holy Father calls us to keep in mind.

-ACEGC

 

[robert_chacon]

This is just a typical MSM headline, screaming for attention and completely failing to understand the real issues of religion and faith they are reporting on. I read the interview in America. The Pope never “faults” preaching on these topics. He simply argues for preaching that starts with the salvation of Christ and explains how that salvation has an impact on our morals, that we start with Gods love and what that means for our lives. He seems to fault when preaching only starts and ends with the moral imperatives and never explains the why or how they flow from Gods love and our salvation. I completely agree. If I have any fault with the Church it is exactly this. A good Catholic has to connect the dots on his own. But the message from the pulpit to he pews and to the world is usually just moral mandates , thou shalt do or shalt not do. The world and most of us in the pews, have little or no understanding of the why, of the mercy and love of God that relates to issues such as gay “marriage” or contraception or even abortion. I have often found that when discussing such issues with friends, when I do start with the context of Gods love for us, there is at least an openness to the message. They may not agree, but a visceral reaction against the Church melts somewhat to a realization that Christianity is not just about old rules from a book but a message coming from a source of love and charity. I believe that is the Popes message and has been his approach since he started his papacy.

 

[Corki]

If I weren’t Catholic, I would come away from news about our bishops in the US thinking that being Catholic is nothing more than being against abortion, same-sex marriage, and contraceptives as part of health insurance.

True, but that is not really a reflection of what our bishops actually say and preach about. It’s only those “hot button” issues that get a lot of press. Our bishops, at least here in the US, have been doing a very good job of balancing the messages about other Gospel themes and the morality issues. But you don’t see the NYT publishing the many exhortations made by our good bishops on those other themes.

 

[exnihilo]

I can’t really make sense of this quote:

‘Religion has the right to express its opinion in the service of the people, but God in creation has set us free: it is not possible to interfere spiritually in the life of a person.’

I’m just not sure what idea is being communicated. If the idea is that one can not coerce the spirit of a person then I do agree.

From reading the article it seems the Pope is concerned that people have the notion that the Catholic church only cares about a few certain issues. This may be so. But even if it is that does not mean that is the fault of the Catholic church. Some people only hear what they want to hear. Reading the Epistles sexual immorality is very frequently presented as a major sin from which people must repent.

Personally I find the strong stance on these moral issues attractive. But from what I hear the stance comes more from official statements than from homilies.

If I weren’t Catholic, I would come away from news about our bishops in the US thinking that being Catholic is nothing more than being against abortion, same-sex marriage, and contraceptives as part of health insurance.

I’m not Catholic and my impression is the Bishops are against these things but the majority of Catholics are for them. I would see a great problem being the open rejection of church teaching by so many Catholics. I see open US borders being another one of the big moral issues promoted by Bishops. That was left out of the list of issues that might be over emphasized. Of course that issue is not on the level of the others. But for me personally that is a troubling issue. Should that message be tempered to attract folks like me?

 

[robert_chacon]

If we can’t draw people to Christ, everything else fails. Everything. He gets it. He totally gets it.

I think this says it all perfectly and perfectly succinctly. Thanks!

 

[opus101]

In regard to abortion, gay “marriage” and contraception the Holy Father said:

“The teaching of the Church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the Church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.”

I think one of the reasons why the focus is often on these issues is because it is a response/reaction to those who are very visibly and audibly challenging and/or misrepresenting the Church on settled matters.

Maybe we can use his type of response…“The truth about this matter is settled and the teaching of the Church is clear. It will not change. Is there anything else we can talk about?”

 

[dixieagle]

I hear you and share your concerns, and I do think there needs to be more discretion given when doing interviews, in how words can and will be twisted. I can think of numerous times where a better choice of phrasing would have saved a lot of debate. Having said that, I do think the Times took it further than intended in this instance.

It is a given that a media outlet - on the “left” or “right” will pick and choose quotes to suit its own particular point of view. If we don’t realize that, we are naive in the extreme. That’s why it is imperative that we look to the Pope’s own words which are, in themselves, plenty thought-provoking.

I think this Pope says precisely what he wishes, in the way he wishes, and it’s refreshing.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

NARAL posted a statement thanking the Holy Father. That is the message that this is sending.

 

[dixieagle]

I just read the America interview, and it certainly was not as sensationalistic as the NYT made it out to be, but it was still troubling. I just wonder how much passivity toward moral issues the Pope wants the Church to take.

He is in no way suggesting passivity, but, instead, a deeper understanding of the Gospel, and a better job of spreading the message.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

As much as we can interpret his words to simply be a call to evangelize with the Gospel, can anyone here deny that this will give credence to clergy who support same sex marriage or who downplay the evil of abortion? That this will give credence to pro-choice “Catholics” and gay “marriage” activists?

 

[dixieagle]

NARAL posted a statement thanking the Holy Father. That is the message that this is sending.

No, it is what they wish to hear; they are, as ever, sadly mistaken.

 

[edward_george]

NARAL posted a statement thanking the Holy Father. That is the message that this is sending.

Mind posting a link? And even if this is the case, it’s not the words of the Pope that are the problem, it’s how they’re being spun in the media.

-ACEGC

 

[LittleFlower378]

I think one of the reasons why the focus is often on these issues is because it is a response/reaction to those who are very visibly and audibly challenging and/or misrepresenting the Church on settled matters.

I think this Pope says precisely what he wishes, in the way he wishes, and it’s refreshing.

Two things here… and you guys hammered it on the head. One, what the Pope said is very refreshing. A new way to look at things. Two, the world doesnt revolve around the USA but as you said OPUS the reason we are always talking about these things is because we see many of our own brother and sister Catholics who are directly going against the Church with these issues and teaching others to do so.

 

[agnes_therese]

NARAL posted a statement thanking the Holy Father. That is the message that this is sending.

This part of the message?
“The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church.”

Hard to be much clearer than that. How do you propose that he stop people who are determined to see something that’s not there?

 

[Estevao]

Abortion is the most important social issue there is. It needs all the focus it can get.

Given how the media “bluntly” lied about what Pope Benedict said about condoms in Africa, since then I have never trusted the secular media to report fairly on what the Pope says.

 

[agnes_therese]

As much as we can interpret his words to simply be a call to evangelize with the Gospel, can anyone here deny that this will give credence to clergy who support same sex marriage or who downplay the evil of abortion? That this will give credence to pro-choice “Catholics” and gay “marriage” activists?

Absolutely. You are completely missing the point of his message.

 

[AdvanceAlways]

Abortion is the most important social issue there is. It needs all the focus it can get.

Given how the media “bluntly” lied about what Pope Benedict said about condoms in Africa, since then I have never trusted the secular media to report fairly on what the Pope says.

Read what the Pope said then… the NY Times essentially got it right. The media is declaring this the greatest day since VJ Day.