I think it is incredibly disrespectful when (some) traditionalists try to spin Pope Francis’ interviews and words, saying “this is what he REALLY meant” to say. I think his words are crystal clear, and we should heed his wisdom.
I don’t think any specific "side " of Catholic is innocent of finalizing /clarifying what the Pope “really meant” – that there is discussion says enough.
Mudslinging between perceived "traditionalists " and “liberals” and “Catholics in good standing” is a sign that the Church is not unified. Those words are so meaningless as everyone who identifies with them can’t agree with others who identify likewise, are truly “one of them”
It is stupid. We are individual Catholics seeking to strengthen our faith and that should be the end of it.
Brendan says :
We should not turn anyone away from the Church. To criticise Pope Francis of welcoming all sinners is to be like the Pharisees.
There is a distinction to be made.
To call someone Pharisees, for the specific case about being “Rule minded and hypocritical” is one thing, but I hope you know to use them as an example is a sign that Jesus did not always extend his mercy , but his justice to the sinners in the gospel. Particularly the sinners who should have known better. The Sinners WERE ALSO the Pharisees. (Not all, as he did manage to reach Nicodemus, and others)
I hope you know at the time, the Jews of that day, taht Jesus Chastized were guilty of abusing children,
That’s why he mentions the millstone. That’s why Jesus says to certain Sinners in the gospel, This is why *" you will die in your sins" * because they mistreated children, because they didn’t even listen to the mouths of babes, acknowledging Jesus as the son of David.
To embrace Christ is to go all in, there is nothing wrong with any Catholic reaching out to the sinners with the caution to “sin no more”
But remember the words , Jesus came
"For the many" , not “for all” , so that “Some may be saved” not “All” because Jesus prophesizes that not all will choose him.
That is not an endorsement to not LOVE everyone, as we love our enemies – but to expect all to be treated with a one size fits all approach as if Jesus did that? That is preposterous
Jesus treated those outside with care, those on the margins with much care, the pariahs. Jesus treated those sinners and those knowledgeable about God, the hypocrites, the leadership, the worldly with his justice, as a STERN FATHER.
He didn’t take time to dine with the money changers. He whipped them and chased them out. Those at the temple who were there for purely livelihoods and innocence, he treated more gently.
Luke 12:47
“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
We are in the age of mercy, it is true. But the pagans of today are not the pagans of old.
In fact, I would say many non-Catholics who oppose the Church understand the Catholic Faith better than Catholics within the Church, even if it is an infantile understanding of philosophical and base theological levels of understanding.
Finally,
We should welcome all sinners (repentant and unrepentant) as Jesus did.
Repentant yes. Unrepentant? That would be imposing something on someone who wills to NOT follow Christ. This doesn’t make any sense.
Jesus did NOT even do this. When he preached the Eucharist , he didn’t chase after those who abandoned him. He even said to his apostles, “Do you also want to leave?”
and they said “we have nowhere else to go” because they knew he was the Truth.
Jesus never tyrannized anyone, and it would be uncharitable to enable a person IN THEIR sins…
All it takes for one MORTAL sin to be damned, it would be a sin of omission. St. Padre Pio has said, he would rather have an empty Church,
" than a Church full of devils. "
People are forgetting that the Church is Noah’s Ark…people can’t just have one appendage on the boat clinging, they have to want to be IN the boat sincerely, knowingly.