Reuters: Three years on, pope leaves Catholic conservatives feeling marginalized

[Darryl1958]

Not sure if you guys remember this, but Jesus also spoke in simple, easily misunderstood ways. Not only that, but he was somewhat cavalier about the whole idea that people would easily misinterpret what he was saying.

I like a lot about JP II and Benedict, but I think that opting to sound more like academics than like Jesus or Peter was not a strength but a failing. There’s an academic bias that mistakes tedious but internally consistent explanation for proof.

Jesus could often speak in frustratingly cryptic terms, taking the easy and explaining it in terms of the complex.for terms of the political paradigms of the day.
I fully agree though that Catholics, even conservatives ought to seek to find the face of God in the other, in this case a pope that speaks who speaks liberalese.

 

[kyrie03]

Not sure if you guys remember this, but Jesus also spoke in simple, easily misunderstood ways. Not only that, but he was somewhat cavalier about the whole idea that people would easily misinterpret what he was saying.

I like a lot about JP II and Benedict, but I think that opting to sound more like academics than like Jesus or Peter was not a strength but a failing. There’s an academic bias that mistakes tedious but internally consistent explanation for proof.

Difference- when Jesus spoke He didn’t contradict the Law or Commandments of God. When Pope Francis speaks and acts- he seems, at times, to contradict what is established Doctrine of the Church. He hasn’t corrected the “misperceptions” leaving most to believe in new doctrines

 

[otjm]

I agree we should respect authority in the church, but this becomes difficult when you see the pope watching cheerleaders in short skirts and circus performers with tight clothes that reveal too much, and putting balloons on his head etc. His statements are confusing. His behavior is different. My dad would not have done these things. Why does the pope do them?

You apparently did not follow John Paul 2 very closely.

 

[otjm]

Difference- when Jesus spoke He didn’t contradict the Law or Commandments of God. When Pope Francis speaks and acts- he seems, at times, to contradict what is established Doctrine of the Church. He hasn’t corrected the “misperceptions” leaving most to believe in new doctrines

I see you put in the qualifier “he seems”.

Perhaps if you paid a whole lot less attention to what the secular press “reports” and more to what that part of the Catholic press which remains true to the Magisterium reports, you would have fewer issues.

 

[CompSciGuy]

No, I am not aware that the Pope has lost teaching authority. When did that happen?

This only further proves your ignorance of Catholicism (not to be rude, but it is true. You are not alone though).

Papal infallibility does not mean that everything the pope says, whether in an interview or even in a homily, is automatically dogma, and it does not mean he cannot make personal mistakes. The pope can even believe in a heresy and that will have no effect on Catholic dogma. When it comes to teaching authority, the only way that something can be defined as authentic Church teaching is if the Pope explicitly declares it ex cathedra, that is, from the chair of St. Peter. Furthermore, the pope is not able to declare something ex cathedra that contradicts earlier teachings. So if the Pope were to try to declare ex cathedra that contraception is OK, then that could not be valid because it contradicts official Catholic social teaching.

This guy is not very popular, but he explains the dogma of papal infallibility pretty well:
youtube.com/watch?v=dMHTSY-7mKI

 

[CompSciGuy]

I see you put in the qualifier “he seems”.

Perhaps if you paid a whole lot less attention to what the secular press “reports” and more to what that part of the Catholic press which remains true to the Magisterium reports, you would have fewer issues.

Up until now I have been really concerned with Pope Francis’ comments in media reports… Now I have been in the habit of finding articles by Jimmy Akin and others that show what the media reports alongside the actual quote in its full context. It actually is surprising what you can do with a single quote.

Case in point:
catholic.com/blog/jimmy-akin/did-pope-francis-really-say-jesus-was-a-failure

 

[TMC]

This only further proves your ignorance of Catholicism (not to be rude, but it is true. You are not alone though).

Papal infallibility does not mean that everything the pope says, whether in an interview or even in a homily, is automatically dogma, and it does not mean he cannot make personal mistakes. The pope can even believe in a heresy and that will have no effect on Catholic dogma. When it comes to teaching authority, the only way that something can be defined as authentic Church teaching is if the Pope explicitly declares it ex cathedra, that is, from the chair of St. Peter. Furthermore, the pope is not able to declare something ex cathedra that contradicts earlier teachings. So if the Pope were to try to declare ex cathedra that contraception is OK, then that could not be valid because it contradicts official Catholic social teaching.

This guy is not very popular, but he explains the dogma of papal infallibility pretty well:
youtube.com/watch?v=dMHTSY-7mKI

Yes, you are rude. You are also wrong about my knowledge of Catholicism. I never said that the Pope made an ex cathedra statement. He has teaching authority even when not speaking ex cathedra. If you are getting your information from Voris than its no wonder that you have some of these misunderstandings.

 

[commenter]

I have been active in supporting solid doctrine in parishes, the diocese, fake “Catholic” schools, and other places. I helped start an independent genuine Catholic day school, over the objections of liberals. My former pastor told my wife I was a “reactionary”. etc. etc.

I do** not** feel marginalized by Pope Francis. Catholics - specifically those united to the Magisterium - are being marginalized by the secular culture in recent decades. I’m not surprised to see liberal Catholics, including priest and nun relatives, caught up in the anti-religious authority movement the media has been feeding us. I am surprised to see a few Catholic conservatives caught up in it. They argue that they are different from other anti-magisterium types, like Jack Chick, Call to Action, or National Catholic Reporter. But all the anti-papal roads lead to the same place.

The various sites - Vortex, Lepanto, the Remnant, etc - encourage us to evaluate the pope, and our bishops, from the media POV. (So do the fundamentalist and Catholic Left sites, as well as CNN, etc). When I am busy evaluating the Church, I no longer benefit from the Church’s guidance, how God might be using the pope, and my bishop. The secular media would love to totally separate Catholics from their church leaders.

Now that is marginalizing.

 

[kyrie03]

I see you put in the qualifier “he seems”.

Perhaps if you paid a whole lot less attention to what the secular press “reports” and more to what that part of the Catholic press which remains true to the Magisterium reports, you would have fewer issues.

Thank you for the fraternal correction. I agree- my duty is to know, love, and serve God and to be faithful to the duties of my state in life.

The issue I am attempting to highlight (miserably it seems) is the direction most seem to be headed. Most Catholics do not know the faith. They see and hear what the Vicar of Christ and the heirarchy are reported to say and do. Much of reported news is in contradiction to tradition and doctrine. Even those who do know bits and pieces of Catholicism as it has always been believed are thrown into confusion. And the confusion is deadly. These are souls of infinite value purchased by Christ’s precious blood. Who will love them enough to wake them up?

 

[kyrie03]

I am surprised to see a few Catholic conservatives caught up in it. They argue that they are different from other anti-magisterium types, like Jack Chick, Call to Action, or National Catholic Reporter. But all the anti-papal roads lead to the same place.

The various sites - Vortex, Lepanto, the Remnant, etc - encourage us to evaluate the pope, and our bishops, from the media POV. (So do the fundamentalist and Catholic Left sites, as well as CNN, etc). When I am busy evaluating the Church, I no longer benefit from the Church’s guidance, how God might be using the pope, and my bishop. The secular media would love to totally separate Catholics from their church leaders.

Now that is marginalizing.

Yes, all this fighting is damaging and very difficult to comprehend. Perhaps the “conservative” media outlets you mentioned are attempting (imperfectly) to preserve doctrines and traditions that had helped the average Catholic keep on the narrow straight road to heaven? It’s not anti-Papal to point out dangerous theology and encourage the faithful to stand fast and hold on to all of the traditions regardless of who is now allegedly proposing new paths to God.

Perhaps we need to read the “signs of the times” to recognize the Passion of the Mystical Body of Christ. The Church is dying. The hierarchy is being used by God -they keep falling asleep! We can respond by picking up our crosses and following the Spotless Bride regardless of what pain it causes. Uniting our sufferings to those of the Church will make our crosses sweet and our burdens light.

 

[JPUSC]

This is not Pope Francis’ Church or the clergy’s - it is God’s Church. The clergy are put in place to defend Catholic teaching and serve us, not the other way around. Jesus words’ that “the gates of Hell shall not prevail against [the Church]” doesn’t give license for the Pope to do anything he pleases or that the faithful should blindly follow everything that comes from him.

You people need to stop putting the clergy on pedestals. The abuse crisis happened because Catholics treat the clergy like gods and listen to and defend everything they do or say, even when they are wrong. The Church hid these sins from us for decades so they can maintain the illusion to the faithful that they are perfect. At the height of the crisis in the 2000s, we saw people carrying “We love our priests” signs despite new cases of abuse and scandals cropping up to this day. I’ve seen priests being waited on hand and foot like princes and kings by well meaning Catholics.

Many innocents probably fell victim to priest abuse because they were told to completely trust and respect the authority of a priest and believed he can do no wrong. After all, a priest is called a “Second Christ.” I went to Catholic school - I remember us students were given this impression. Turns out that the parish priest did turn out to be an abuser and was publicly caught by the police in his parked car in the middle of doing an evil and atrocious act. He was a high-ranking close friend of the Archbishop too. He treated associate priests and parishioners like they were his personal workers.

Kasper is a high-ranking Cardinal; it doesn’t mean his ideas on Communion for the divorced and remarried are right. He was singled out by Pope Francis with praise and is frequently known as “the pope’s theologian.”

If Pope Francis or Cardinals are wrong, don’t defend them.

How are Catholics being marginalized by the secular culture when Pope Francis is the most loved person in the world, being on the covers of TIME, Rolling Stone and others, nominated for Nobel Peace Prize awards, and constantly showered with praise and quoted by President Obama and other politicians and political candidates? The Catholic Church is now part of secular culture. Don’t forget to switch off your lights for earth hour today, like they’re doing in St. Peter’s Basilica. Wonder when’s the next lightshow? Maybe they could project gorillas on there for Easter, funded by another pro-abortion organization.

 

[graciew]

You people need to stop putting the clergy on pedestals.

If Pope Francis or Cardinals are wrong, don’t defend them.

Ok. I’ m in.
Now,can you listen for a while?
We have to be honest . When we do not know, we do not know either say it or admit it
or make clear we may be wrong.
Truly , priests have been sort of brothers to me.We have had our " arguments", we have been in peaceful and difficult times together with our teams and one more thing: they have.been the first ones to let me know they are human just like me.
But when the time comes for Consecration ,no one can take their places. When I have had to cross door in tears and Confession, no one can take their places.
Priests have been friends,they are. And neither can one stop defending them in good faith.
And they call me " daughter"and I respected my father…

I would do so with you to the best of my capacity.

I am sorry about your experience at school.Really.
May God bless you.

 

[otjm]

Up until now I have been really concerned with Pope Francis’ comments in media reports… Now I have been in the habit of finding articles by Jimmy Akin and others that show what the media reports alongside the actual quote in its full context. It actually is surprising what you can do with a single quote.

Case in point:
catholic.com/blog/jimmy-akin/did-pope-francis-really-say-jesus-was-a-failure

Your comment is exactly on point. I am barely short of flabbergasted at how people who designate themselves as faithful Catholics do not understand that the secular press is the last place anyone should look to see what this pope - or for that matter, either of the two previous popes - have had to say. The secular press on its best day is neutral to Catholicism if we are lucky.

How can any thoughtful, careful reader of your example not understand what he (the pope) is saying? Both critical thinking and common sense are in seriously short supply.

 

[otjm]

Thank you for the fraternal correction. I agree- my duty is to know, love, and serve God and to be faithful to the duties of my state in life.

The issue I am attempting to highlight (miserably it seems) is the direction most seem to be headed. Most Catholics do not know the faith. They see and hear what the Vicar of Christ and the heirarchy are reported to say and do. Much of reported news is in contradiction to tradition and doctrine. Even those who do know bits and pieces of Catholicism as it has always been believed are thrown into confusion. And the confusion is deadly. These are souls of infinite value purchased by Christ’s precious blood. Who will love them enough to wake them up?

I am not trying to be harsh. It is just that I get really fed up with some of the chatter emanating from those who should know better. The angst that was sent spinning over the synod on the family ignored what I was taught 60 years ago - that the Holy Spirit guides and protects the Church, and that the Church cannot err in matters of faith and morals. When I hear allegedly faithful Catholics making statements like “If the Pope (does this) I will leave the Church”… Like, where do they think they are going to go, and why do they not believe in the protection of the Holy Spirit?

As to what the Pope saw - while I might agree in spirit, I also know that he, and those around him, have little real impact on what others do when he is out of Rome. Some things are unseemly; but it is not exactly a new event limited to this papacy.

So the secular press is having a field day with things this pope says - so what else is new? Memories are short; Benedict, as limited as his comments to the press were, was treated to the same spin - and one has to look no farther than his moves to try to bring the SSPX back into the fold. The press had several field days over that, as just one example.

 

[commenter]

This is not Pope Francis’ Church or the clergy’s - it is God’s Church. The clergy are put in place to defend Catholic teaching and serve us, not the other way around. Jesus words’ that “the gates of Hell shall not prevail against [the Church]” doesn’t give license for the Pope to do anything he pleases or that the faithful should blindly follow everything that comes from him.

If Pope Francis or Cardinals are wrong, don’t defend them.

How are Catholics being marginalized by the secular culture when Pope Francis is the most loved person in the world, being on the covers of TIME, Rolling Stone and others, nominated for Nobel Peace Prize awards, and constantly showered with praise and quoted by President Obama and other politicians and political candidates? The Catholic Church is now part of secular culture.

I raise my voice against liturgical, catechetical, and other abuses in my parish and diocese. Fortunately there are a lot fewer abuses than a few decades ago. I always respect those in authority in the Church - pastor, bishop, pope. I respect all papal teachings, but the most important pope in my life is always the current pope. Those who attack the current pope indirectly undermine the teachings of Pope Benedict, Pope Pius XII, and so on - papal teaching that helped make up what you and I now call Catholic teaching. Don’t think of papal teaching as something only from former popes.

Catholics are marginalized today; not “Catholics” like Joe Biden, or Notre Dame, but Catholics who affirm the Catholic Faith, and the Magisterium. I am marginalized by my social work profession, in my former workplace, even by half my “Catholic” relatives, because I supported St. JP II, and Pope Benedict.

Whether the media trashes the pope, or praises the pope, that does not determine whether the vicar of Christ deserves my attention.

(earth hour? good grief!)

 

[josie_L]

I would agree with you whole-heartedly about catechesis, and your friend’s lady is a prime example of that.

However, what I see is conservatives who seem to find their information of what Francis said, from the same press they castigate (and with reason) for inaccuracy and exceeding bias. Perhaps it is partly due to the fact that I got rid of my television about 28 years ago; and partly due to the fact that when I look for information (such as a statement by Francis) I look to religious sources (such as Our Sunday Visitor and National Catholic Register), which are true to the Magisterium.

60 years ago I was in school and we were learning about our faith through the Baltimore Catechism. I learned then that the Holy Spirit guides the Church in matters of Faith and Morals; and I can only look to the angst exhibited over the Synod on the Family, and the conservatives totally rattled that doctrine was going to be changed. They, of all Catholics, should have known better. But I wander off topic.

I am not trying to say that one style of leadership is better than another. Both JP 2 and Benedict are at the top of my list of favorite popes. But so is Peter, who, from reading both his letters and his comments in the Gospels, does not appear to be an intellectual. However, he was on fire for Christ, and if I had to use one word, it would be evangelizing.

I see Francis (although brighter) to be in the same mold. He is not a theoretician (and we absolutely need those) but he is first and foremost an evangelizer; he has spent a tremendous amount of time “among the sheep” and that is where he sees his role. He calls us all (and me personally) to get past the “what” of the rules to the “why” of them.

I have seen conservatives upset with what Francis has said, not because they misunderstand his call for change, but precisely because he has made that call. I see others who seem to not know that the Holy Spirit guides the Church. I have seen conservatives, who are the first to say that the secular press hates the Church and rarely ever even shows minimal understanding of it, to be swayed by what that same press reports and how it reports it.

I guess another way of saying it is that if we (suspending reality for the moment) ended up with Peter as our Pope, there would be conservatives who would be upset with him. Peter was the pope the Church needed at that moment. And I firmly believe that John Paul 2 and Benedict were popes that we needed at that moment in time, and the Francis is the one we need now. Others disagree. So be it.

I agree wholeheartedly.

 

[JosieN]

This is not Pope Francis’ Church or the clergy’s - it is God’s Church. The clergy are put in place to defend Catholic teaching and serve us, not the other way around. Jesus words’ that “the gates of Hell shall not prevail against [the Church]” doesn’t give license for the Pope to do anything he pleases or that the faithful should blindly follow everything that comes from him.

You people need to stop putting the clergy on pedestals. The abuse crisis happened because Catholics treat the clergy like gods and listen to and defend everything they do or say, even when they are wrong. The Church hid these sins from us for decades so they can maintain the illusion to the faithful that they are perfect. At the height of the crisis in the 2000s, we saw people carrying “We love our priests” signs despite new cases of abuse and scandals cropping up to this day. I’ve seen priests being waited on hand and foot like princes and kings by well meaning Catholics.

Many innocents probably fell victim to priest abuse because they were told to completely trust and respect the authority of a priest and believed he can do no wrong. After all, a priest is called a “Second Christ.” I went to Catholic school - I remember us students were given this impression. Turns out that the parish priest did turn out to be an abuser and was publicly caught by the police in his parked car in the middle of doing an evil and atrocious act. He was a high-ranking close friend of the Archbishop too. He treated associate priests and parishioners like they were his personal workers.

Kasper is a high-ranking Cardinal; it doesn’t mean his ideas on Communion for the divorced and remarried are right. He was singled out by Pope Francis with praise and is frequently known as “the pope’s theologian.”

If Pope Francis or Cardinals are wrong, don’t defend them.

How are Catholics being marginalized by the secular culture when Pope Francis is the most loved person in the world, being on the covers of TIME, Rolling Stone and others, nominated for Nobel Peace Prize awards, and constantly showered with praise and quoted by President Obama and other politicians and political candidates? The Catholic Church is now part of secular culture. Don’t forget to switch off your lights for earth hour today, like they’re doing in St. Peter’s Basilica. Wonder when’s the next lightshow? Maybe they could project gorillas on there for Easter, funded by another pro-abortion organization.

 

[kyrie03]

I am not trying to be harsh. It is just that I get really fed up with some of the chatter emanating from those who should know better. The angst that was sent spinning over the synod on the family ignored what I was taught 60 years ago - that the Holy Spirit guides and protects the Church, and that the Church cannot err in matters of faith and morals. When I hear allegedly faithful Catholics making statements like “If the Pope (does this) I will leave the Church”… Like, where do they think they are going to go, and why do they not believe in the protection of the Holy Spirit?

As to what the Pope saw - while I might agree in spirit, I also know that he, and those around him, have little real impact on what others do when he is out of Rome. Some things are unseemly; but it is not exactly a new event limited to this papacy.

So the secular press is having a field day with things this pope says - so what else is new? Memories are short; Benedict, as limited as his comments to the press were, was treated to the same spin - and one has to look no farther than his moves to try to bring the SSPX back into the fold. The press had several field days over that, as just one example.

Curious to know if 60 years ago you were also taught the origins of law?

God is the eternal Lawgiver. He set the boundaries for the physical law (laws governing matter) and the moral laws (laws governing human wills). Under the moral law there are the Divine Laws directly from God - including both the moral laws in nature (natural law written on all man’s heart) and the physical moral law (revealed by God -think 10 Commandments). These laws CANNOT be bound or loosed by Peter or any other man. Yet here we are in the 21st Century thinking that it’s ok to confuse the law and to pastorally refrain from teaching the true intrinsic evil of contraception. Use of contraception for certain emergency situations (Zika) directly contradicts natural law that sexual organs were created by God for purpose of procreation and puts up barrier to prevent God from creating life. It denies the unitive AND procreative ends of the sexual act. If followed to it’s natural conclusion, it allows for eugenics. This misperception created by Pope Francis in his infamous airplane interview, confirmed by Fr Lombardi as referring to condoms and contraception, and being taken into consideration by the Philippine bishops is not considered serious enough to clarify. This isn’t just the press having a field day or the media spinning It’s the Pope not correcting the evil originating from his interview. Professed Catholics in overwhelming numbers already have been practicing artificial birth control as a means to prevent pregnancies (a grievous sin preventing those souls from entering heaven if not confessed and repented of before death). We are talking about MILLIONS of souls! Now the Pope himself seems to be condoning it -in at least limited circumstances.

You were taught correctly that the Holy Spirit guides and protects the Church; that it cannot err when it teaches on matters of faith and morals. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth - truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Certain truths are under attack in our Church. The Holy Spirit doesn’t protect a pope or bishop from teaching error. A future council can judge if there were errors and correct them.

How difficult is it to just reiterate that -what the Church has always taught is what must be believed and lived by all?

The angst surrounding the synod on the family is precisely because the synod was debating and considering proposals that are in contradiction to defined Church teaching - why are the heretics allowed to continue spouting their poison and even placed in influential posts? And yes, it is poison -it kills souls! Partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ while in the state of deadly sin is eating and drinking unto condemnation!

These are only a few of the tolerated abuses. I can understand why faithful Catholics would wish to leave such a seemingly disoriented Church. This isn’t the faith of our fathers. To leave isn’t the answer of course. To complain doesn’t gain merit. To turn a blind eye or pretend the Holy Spirit is guiding certain Churchmen when they err is also disastrous.

The answer is to learn and live the Faith, to point out the errors to others so they are not deceived, and to carry the cross even when it seems you are walking alone.

Recognize that the Church is undergoing its Passion and Death.

 

[JosieN]

Curious to know if 60 years ago you were also taught the origins of law?

God is the eternal Lawgiver. He set the boundaries for the physical law (laws governing matter) and the moral laws (laws governing human wills). Under the moral law there are the Divine Laws directly from God - including both the moral laws in nature (natural law written on all man’s heart) and the physical moral law (revealed by God -think 10 Commandments). These laws CANNOT be bound or loosed by Peter or any other man. Yet here we are in the 21st Century thinking that it’s ok to confuse the law and to pastorally refrain from teaching the true intrinsic evil of contraception. Use of contraception for certain emergency situations (Zika) directly contradicts natural law that sexual organs were created by God for purpose of procreation and puts up barrier to prevent God from creating life. It denies the unitive AND procreative ends of the sexual act. If followed to it’s natural conclusion, it allows for eugenics. This misperception created by Pope Francis in his infamous airplane interview, confirmed by Fr Lombardi as referring to condoms and contraception, and being taken into consideration by the Philippine bishops is not considered serious enough to clarify. This isn’t just the press having a field day or the media spinning It’s the Pope not correcting the evil originating from his interview. Professed Catholics in overwhelming numbers already have been practicing artificial birth control as a means to prevent pregnancies (a grievous sin preventing those souls from entering heaven if not confessed and repented of before death). We are talking about MILLIONS of souls! Now the Pope himself seems to be condoning it -in at least limited circumstances.

You were taught correctly that the Holy Spirit guides and protects the Church; that it cannot err when it teaches on matters of faith and morals. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth - truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Certain truths are under attack in our Church. The Holy Spirit doesn’t protect a pope or bishop from teaching error. A future council can judge if there were errors and correct them.

How difficult is it to just reiterate that -what the Church has always taught is what must be believed and lived by all?

The angst surrounding the synod on the family is precisely because the synod was debating and considering proposals that are in contradiction to defined Church teaching - why are the heretics allowed to continue spouting their poison and even placed in influential posts? And yes, it is poison -it kills souls! Partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ while in the state of deadly sin is eating and drinking unto condemnation!

These are only a few of the tolerated abuses. I can understand why faithful Catholics would wish to leave such a seemingly disoriented Church. This isn’t the faith of our fathers. To leave isn’t the answer of course. To complain doesn’t gain merit. To turn a blind eye or pretend the Holy Spirit is guiding certain Churchmen when they err is also disastrous.

The answer is to learn and live the Faith, to point out the errors to others so they are not deceived, and to carry the cross even when it seems you are walking alone.

Recognize that the Church is undergoing its Passion and Death.

I agree. I think Catholics must start praying the Rosary everyday. I also think praying to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and fasting will help. We need to pray with a sincere heart. God will hear us. The wrong that was done will be corrected if enough souls pray for it. Many people are not willing to make a sacrifice or a commitment to daily prayer. I think if we want change this is what we need to do.

 

[Darryl1958]

Going back to the early days of the papacy, I think that what many conservatives found so alienating was the way the pope stated that he wanted to change the conversation away from abortion and marriage and the issues of social Catholic conservatism.

I think that a lot of people took that to mean that the highest echelons of the Church did not had their backs anymore.

It is one thing to be a pariah on these issues from society in general when conservatives stick their necks out on these issues in defense of Church teaching and morality. But t is very disconcerting to see that this is no longer a deep and abiding interest of the papacy itself in standing with conservatives on the issues of the day.

It is never easy to swim upstream against the currents of culture, to be labeled as a hater and a bigot just on account of putting Church belief over personal belief.
And virtually every conservative, like everyone else, has personal associations with homosexuals, with divorced, with people who have vehement disagreement with Church doctrine. To the extent that conservative Catholics choose to talk about these things at all, it has meant putting themselves on the line, and subjecting themselves to friction and vehemence and accusations of self-righteousness, hypocrisy,heartlessness, etc., etc. etc.
With the Church’s assurance that this was the path of Christ, the teaching of Christ, courageously advocating for the Church was tolerable. To see Pope Benedict, for example, being treated with the same derision and contempt when he took his stance against condoms as being the solution for African AIDS pandemic, people were given the feeling of solidarity with the Church and the papacy itself here. Conservatives were not alone in the difficult and often demeaning venture of standing up for a higher morality, against the morality of the world, which the world itself advocates as a higher morality.

Right from the beginning of his papacy however, Pope Francis re-aligned himself. Conservatives were left alone on these issues, as the Pope became the media darling for leftist causes.