That’s my experience as well. My kids are involved heavily in the youth ministry and said no one is talking about it in their circles.babochka:
How much pain and confusion has it caused?Granted, people are upset about it on the internet, but I haven’t heard a single “in real life” Catholic say a single word about the synod let alone these statues.
I as a Catholic have to admit my limitations.
One of my daughters is involved with youth ministry at an FSSP parish. This has most definitely been a topic of discussion at that parish. We are not members of that parish and often have a different perspective from the priests there; I frequently have to talk her down from the “sky is falling” mentality. But it has not just been at the traditionalist parish that I have heard this talked about. My Catholic circles are pretty broad - ranging from Eastern Catholics to traditionalists to conservative-leaning homeschoolers, to Knights of Columbus and Boy Scouts. With varying degrees of intensity, the subject has come up in all but the Boy Scouts
With all due respect to Pope Francis he has clarified very, very little. We need so much more clarifications.
Or fewer airplanes
Sure. And if those shrieking about pagan idols continue to be confused, it would seem prudent and helpful for somebody with the proper authority and knowledge to educate them and reassure them with a clear and consistent manner. For most people, that will be all that is needed; for some, that will never be enough.
There is not a single thing the Pope could say that would calm people who just want him gone.goout:
With all due respect to Pope Francis he has clarified very, very little. We need so much more clarifications.
I have heard so much in real life. Its really caused scandal and confusion.
Joe, be sure to read the remarkably even-handed analysis link posted by babochka above. It explains that people’s concern was more than the presence of the statutes in a church. I suspect that the videos of the Pope blessing one of the statues and people prostrating themselves in front of them probably set people off the most, and might be what the OP meant by “pachamama worship service.”
@Emeraldlady that is not a fair statement to make. Are there those who would like that, perhaps, but the Catholic church is a universal church with an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics in the world and His Holiness Pope Francis is our father, our Holy Father, our shepherd, and we need that guidance, that shepherding and clarification on the confusing issues that are happening today, for our souls sake. We need it just the same as any parent needs to give it to their family because that is what we these 1.2 billion Catholics are, a family.
There is plenty My Pastoral Pope could say to people who want understanding and do not want him gone. This is not a polarised Pope Francis vs not Pope Francis. It is about the Laity and a growing number of outspoken clergy and even non catholics now, who want clear understanding and explanations of what why and where.
History shows that the Popes don’t involve themselves in pointless debate when the answers lie with trust in the Holy Spirit. Pope St John Paul II was never drawn into the public about the things he did that stirred up that easily scandalised crowd. In fact, to attempt to engage in explaining the workings of the Spirit to those who don’t accept that the Spirit can be unpredictable, is an even greater cause of divisiveness.Emeraldlady:
@Emeraldlady that is probably not a fair statement to make. Are there those who would like that, perhaps, but the Catholic church is a universal church with an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics in the world and His Holiness Pope Francis is our father, our Holy Father, our shepherd, and we need that guidance, that shepherding and clarification on the confusing issues that are happening today, for our souls sake. We need it just the same as any parent needs to give it to their family because that is what we these 1.2 billion Catholics are, a family.
As I have just pointed out, Pope St John Paul II didn’t engage in explaining away the ‘scandalous’ things he did, and everything worked out just fine when all the drama faded.Emeraldlady:
There is plenty My Pastoral Pope could say to people who want understanding and do not want him gone. This is not a polarised Pope Francis vs not Pope Francis. It is about the Laity and a growing number of outspoken clergy and even non catholics now, who want clear understanding and explanations of what why and where.
Not some memo to a Press Office to do with what they will.
@MagdalenaRita We need real leadership over this scandal
I was not talking about pointless debate or any kind of debate, just answering questions. St. Pope John Paul II did answer questions.
If he did then why did those scandalised by his participation with pagans on a number of occasions, depart to groups like Most Holy Family Monastery or SSPX and other fringe groups?Emeraldlady:
I was not talking about pointless debate or any kind of debate, just answering questions. St. Pope John Paul II did answer questions.
The SSPX was founded in 1970, long before the Assisi meeting and IMHO there was and is a lot more happening, or our loss of Catholic identity, in the church that have caused people to gravitate toward the SSPX.
It is one of the go to enclaves when Catholics have issues with the Pope even today. There’s a thread active at the moment about that very thing.Emeraldlady:
The SSPX was founded in 1970, long before the Assisi meeting and IMHO there was and is a lot more happening, or our loss of Catholic identity, in the church that have caused people to gravitate toward the SSPX.