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Colorad007
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I think that the whole Catholic faith more or less transcends political leanings, even though it surely informs them.
Some American Catholics really don’t like Pope Francis. Here’s why
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edwest2
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lax16
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Please, dear friend, do not worry!
I understand that Pope Francis is stirring things up a bit and that has some people very uneasy. However, our last two wonderful popes did so much to feed the flock of those already devout and faithful.
This pope is catching the attention of those with hardened hearts. Please pray that their hearts will turn to the Lord because of our wonderful Pope!
I have an old friend who is not religious and lives a scandalous life. Last time I saw her (I only see her about once every two years) she brought up Pope Francis. She said she loves him and if she ever thought of becoming Catholic it would be because of him. That’s nothing short of amazing!
He is not appealing to these types of people because he is bending the rules. Absolutely not! He is willing to broaden the conversation and “catch” liberal-minded people where there is common ground.
I know that our last two popes said and wrote so much that I could read everyday and never catch up. For that I am grateful! However, this Pope is feeding the other part of the flock. The sheep not standing in thick pasture but on the rocky side of the mountain.
Let us be content with all we have as faithful Catholics and let the others connect with Pope Francis. The Holy Spirit is absolutely brilliant in the selection of this pope!
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lax16
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I am a very faithful, conservative Catholic and do not agree with this article.
I think Pope Francis is very good at reminding us that there is much work to be done and we must meet people where they are at.
He is not here to make us comfortable but to help us to remember to include sinners at our table.
Frankly, I need that reminder!
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lax16
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Not sure if Pope Francis actually said it, but the part about the loneliness of the elderly is spot on!
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newcalling
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I am somewhat familiar with the quote, but I can’t recall the Catholic response to it exactly or when it was said (at least a year ago I think, I’m pretty sure it was before I was Catholic. ) I am pretty sure that the pope clarified his response later, or at least his office did. Hopefully someone will have more details, but I am responding because I do remember the quote and I remember being satisfied with the ultimate clarification.
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CatholicKnight3
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I am in a spiritual crisis for a lot of reasons. Pretty much suffer from scrupulosity my entire life. I know I have ruined my relationship (whatever sort of relationship it ever actually was) with Christ. I believe in my heart that I am pretty much hopeless.
That is my crisis. Did not mean to bring all of that up here. It just that I have defended the Catholic faith for so long. From the riches that are inherited with the communion with the saints. To having a blessed mother that Christ gave us from the cross. To the fulfillment of the Eucharist in understanding the true presence of the Holy Spirit. Trying to convince my protestant friends that just because something is SPIRITUAL does not mean it is SYMBOLIC.
Having said all of that, I still still feel utterly hopeless. I know my relationship with Christ is not good to say the least. Every time I come back to the Church, go to confession, I find myself in the same place. Always walking on eggshells. Not knowing if I am sinning, or knowing that I just did.
I really have no idea how to live in peace knowing that I basically sin every time I take a step. At least it sure seems that way. I have ZERO excuses for anything I do that offends Him.
That, is my crisis. Sorry for rambling. Anyway, this stuff has me concerned. It really does. Some people have had decent answers and it is helping. However, this stuff has caused heavy stress on me over the last year or so.
Sorry again for my rambling. God bless.
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LongingSoul
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But I’m saying that as a theologian priest and Cardinal, he wasn’t in line with conservative theologians of today who demand the topic closed. In 1972 he was obviously contemplating the subject with mostly pre-V2 teachings which addressed a world of few divorces and annulments. He rightly closed the uncertainties of that distant essay in 2014 which was probably not necessary since he addressed the position of the Church as per Familiaris Consortio, 1981 and Letter to Families, 1994… later in 1994.
LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CONCERNING THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION BY THE DIVORCED AND REMARRIED MEMBERS OF THE FAITHFUL
But since the 70’s he has addressed the subject with openness quite a few times.
CONCERNING SOME OBJECTIONS TO THE CHURCH’S TEACHING ON THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION BY DIVORCED AND REMARRIED MEMBERS OF THE FAITHFUL 1998
Some theologians are of the opinion that the faithful ought to adhere strictly even in the internal forum to juridical decisions which they believe to be false. Others maintain that exceptions are possible here in the internal forum, because the juridical forum does not deal with norms of divine law, but rather with norms of ecclesiastical law. **This question, however, demands further study and clarification. **Admittedly, the conditions for asserting an exception would need to be clarified very precisely, in order to avoid arbitrariness and to safeguard the public character of marriage, removing it from subjective decisions.
And again in 2005…
[MEETING WITH DIOCESAN CLERGY OF AOSTA
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
Parish Church at Introd (Aosta Valley)
Monday, 25 July 2005](Meeting with clergy of the Italian Diocese of Aosta (July 25, 2005) | BENEDICT XVI)
*Another priest raised the topic of Communion for the faithful who are divorced and remarried. The Holy Father answered him as follows:
We all know that this is a particularly painful problem for people who live in situations in which they are excluded from Eucharistic Communion, and naturally for the priests who desire to help these people love the Church and love Christ. This is a problem.
None of us has a ready-made formula, also because situations always differ. I would say that those who were married in the Church for the sake of tradition but were not truly believers, and who later find themselves in a new and invalid marriage and subsequently convert, discover faith and feel excluded from the Sacrament, are in a particularly painful situation. This really is a cause of great suffering and when I was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, I invited various Bishops’ Conferences and experts to study this problem: a sacrament celebrated without faith. Whether, in fact, a moment of invalidity could be discovered here because the Sacrament was found to be lacking a fundamental dimension, I do not dare to say. I personally thought so, but from the discussions we had I realized that it is a highly-complex problem and ought to be studied further. But given these people’s painful plight, it must be studied further.*
Just demonstrating that he is not as permanently closed to theologically examining the question in the light of new understandings over time.
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Colorad007
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So it seems then that you do understand that the pope’s political leanings, whatever they might be, aren’t really the problem. I understand your frustration and I also understand your scruples. The way out of both is of course in total abandonment to Christ, who loves you very much. You need a spiritual director and you also need to concern yourself less with papal news–most of it isn’t really news at all, anyway. If there is a pope you especially love, read everything they have written, which you can find on the Vatican website. Make sure you are grounding your day in fixed times for prayer, because that is where you will most intimately learn to love Christ.
Relax. The Church hasn’t changed even if the pope is unconventional or whatever. He cannot change what the Church teaches and I don’t think he really wants to, either. The next pope may indeed be more traditional and conventional, but none of that should matter to you, because the Church isn’t the possession of this Pope or any pope. The pope is at the service of truth, of Church teaching, and not the other way around.
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Colorad007
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In your quotes Cardinal Ratzinger is very clearly talking about the validity of marriages and the grounds for nullity. That is a very different question than giving Communion to divorced and remarried couples, which cannot happen, and which has been routinely rejected as contrary to Magisterial teaching.
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LongingSoul
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No, in the first quote he raises the aspect that some suggest could be a point of exception ie. when a juridicial decision seems out of accord with the internal forum perhaps the internal forum could rule. Read it more carefully to see that he is contemplating a proposed exception raised by some.
Pope Francis has said from the very start there will be no change in the general rule on Communion. That is not at issue.
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ProVobis
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And how did Jesus worship?
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Shaolen
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So sorry. Here is the link he gave which describes a “catholic blogger” named Skojec who said he was uneasy when hearing this since he thinks abortion etc would be much more urgent.
msn.com/en-us/news/us/some-american-catholics-really-don%E2%80%99t-like-pope-francis-here%E2%80%99s-why/ar-AAexX50?li=AAa0dzB
Feel free to address that or any other part of that article.
Here’s an article about that quote in particular. It was an interview in late 2013 with la republica
freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3073733/posts
msn.com/en-us/news/us/some-american-catholics-really-don%E2%80%99t-like-pope-francis-here%E2%80%99s-why/ar-AAexX50?li=AAa0dzB
Feel free to address that or any other part of that article.
Here’s an article about that quote in particular. It was an interview in late 2013 with la republica
freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3073733/posts
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Joe_5859
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I agree with Colorad007’s response, but I’ll just add an encouragement to pay attention to the upcoming Year of Mercy. I think instilling hope is going to be one of the primary objectives. God bless.
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anthony022071
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Scrupulosity is not a sin and it is not always a bad habit. The opposite of being scrupulous is being unscrupulous, which is bad. Your relationship with Christ is not ruined because of your self-doubts. Your salvation does not depend on how you feel about yourself. Salvation depends on faith and obedience in good works. It is good to be devoted to defending the Catholic faith. It is meritorious. Pray for the grace of spiritual peace,use holy water on yourself, make the sign of the cross whenever you are troubled, attend mass as often as possible, and adore Christ in the eucharist. Remember that God allows his saints to be tested with doubts in order to purify and strengthen their faith. When you feel like you are sinning even though you are doing what is right and have not anything offensive to God, that is the devil troubling you with discouraging thoughts. Have patience, trust in God and don’t listen to your nagging doubts, which come from Satan.
Don’t worry about the questionable things that the pope says and supports. They will not supplant the doctrines of the Church. They will become irrelevant over the coming years. The pope is not a heretic and he is not misleading the Church as a whole. Whatever false opinions are being promoted in the Church will sooner or later be shown to be false and will be abandoned.
Please send me a private message if you want me to help you in your crisis.
“Do not be afraid, just have faith.” (Mk 5:36).
”Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7
”Go forth in peace, for you have followed the good road. Go forth without fear, for he who created you has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Blessed be you, my God, for having created me.” – St. Clare of Assisi
”If certain thoughts bother you, it is devil who causes you to worry, and not God, Who, being the spirit of peace, grants you tranquility.” – St. Padre Pio
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gilliam
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Alan55
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What makes many U.S. Catholics uneasy is that Pope Francis has not focused on reproductive issues as most important (abortion, birth control, divorce and remarriage, LGBT rights) but instead focuses on economic issues. His public statements indicate his belief that the Church should be more concerned about the plight of the poor (particularly those in the Third World), which is very much in line with the teaching of Jesus. He has not changed Catholic teaching on reproductive issues, but he has proposed pastoral initiatives that are intended to show greater compassion.
U.S. Catholics who vote Republican are distressed by the change in emphasis, but the notion that Pope Francis is changing Church doctrine is just plain wrong. Moreover, the idea that Francis should refocus the Church on reproductive issues and stop criticizing wealthy capitalist economies seems more a political stance than a religious one.
There has been an attempt to diminish the Pope’s teaching authority with respect to the economy and the environment, among other things, as if you could brush off or ignore such teaching. I’d invite those who consider themselves faithful Catholics to revisit the issue of the authority of papal teaching on such topics. Their dismissive attitude toward Pope Francis’ teaching is not well founded. Papal teaching on non-dogmatic topics is not infallible, but it is to be taken seriously by Catholics. You can’t follow the teaching of your favorite pope (John Paul II or Benedict XVI, ignoring, for example, their social teaching, for example) and ignore the rest (e.g., John XXIII and Francis).
U.S. Catholics who vote Republican are distressed by the change in emphasis, but the notion that Pope Francis is changing Church doctrine is just plain wrong. Moreover, the idea that Francis should refocus the Church on reproductive issues and stop criticizing wealthy capitalist economies seems more a political stance than a religious one.
There has been an attempt to diminish the Pope’s teaching authority with respect to the economy and the environment, among other things, as if you could brush off or ignore such teaching. I’d invite those who consider themselves faithful Catholics to revisit the issue of the authority of papal teaching on such topics. Their dismissive attitude toward Pope Francis’ teaching is not well founded. Papal teaching on non-dogmatic topics is not infallible, but it is to be taken seriously by Catholics. You can’t follow the teaching of your favorite pope (John Paul II or Benedict XVI, ignoring, for example, their social teaching, for example) and ignore the rest (e.g., John XXIII and Francis).
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lynnvinc
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My experience was the opposite. When Pope Francis’s 1st words as pontiff, after asking people to pray for him, were “We need to protect creation,” I was so stunned with thanksgiving and joy I got tears in my eyes. At last someone who really understood that God’s creation is important and without it, we cannot survive.
Of course, JPII and BXVI also understood this and wrote about it, but Pope Francis REALLY understands it at a very deep level and understands how we are exceedingly undermining God’s creation and creating a big death trap in the process.
In the article the writer says he was upset by Francis writing “that the world’s biggest evils are youth unemployment and loneliness.” I don’t have a lot of problems with that (I myself tend to speak in hyperbole). If one thinks more deeply about it these issues, they are big problems that lead to various evils, perhaps even abortion. (Occasionally it is a good idea to look into why people have abortions…assuming one is actually concerned about this issue and not just into punishing evil-doers.) Youth unemployment and loneliness are reflections of the disconnection among people, the lack of Christian charity or works.
It sort of reminds me of my husband’s uncle, a parish priest in India, telling me the greatest sin was arrogance, that it was the sin of Lucifer. After giving it some thought I realized he was right.
The fact that the author is upset with the pope pointing out youth unemployment, loneliness, and “social program” issues, makes me question whether he has read up on Jesus and the Gospels. That would be a good place to start to understand AND appreciate our wonderful, tremendous Pope Francis.
Without love Christianity is junk and bunk (I tell myself, since there are some American Catholics I struggle to love rather than …)
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LongingSoul
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You have put that so perfectly well, Alan. I’ve tried to say it here before but it seems to go over peoples heads, but it is such a foundational attitude of a Catholic faith that without submitting to it, I can see the Catholic Church being brought very low … from within. My suspicion coming from the years of reading on these Catholic boards, is that it is the residue from a Protestant upbringing that enters the Church surreptitiously with Catholic converts from Protestantism. I think that it might be one of the most difficult of hurdles for Protestant converts, moreso than with converts from outside Christianity.
(I’m just reminded of the original insult of European Protestants … ‘papists’. It was a direct attack on the heart of Catholics that submit to papal teaching in the way they are meant to.)
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Lormar
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I’ve been saying that for a very long time and have noticed it as well. It never seems to be addressed, and it is hard to combat it in a country that places such importance on independent thinking. It’s never easy to submit our intellect and will to anyone.
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