Tag Archive for Francis

Wedding Bells for Priests?

May 27, 2014 Comments Off on Wedding Bells for Priests?

The Pope is reconsidering celibacy for priests?  Maybe.  After receiving a letter from a group of priests’ girlfriends last week, the Pope said,  “The Catholic Church has married priests in the Eastern rites….Celibacy is not a dogma of faith; it is a rule of life that I appreciate a great deal, and I believe it is a gift for the Church. The door is always open, given that it is not a dogma of faith.”

For Catholics, such a papal utterance is akin to the parting of the Red Sea.  Maybe this Pope, who has done so much to return the Catholic Church to the simpler, more human-family-oriented church of the Apostles and early Christians…just maybe he’ll return this “rule of life” to those same olden days.  If priests could marry, the church would have more men joining up, which would help the dwindling ranks.  There would likely still be orders that stick to this “rule of life”–a division in the church that Ireland had to work through in its early Christian days.  A man could choose to join one of those if he felt it was the right thing to do.

Will that change come in Pope Francis’ lifetime?  We’ll see, but I won’t hold my breath.

[Full disclosure: I am a practicing Catholic.]

 

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The Pope is a Thief?!

March 7, 2014 Comments Off on The Pope is a Thief?!

Pope Francis revealed that he stole something from another priest–his confessor, no less.  He wanted to remember the man who had done so much for him, so, when he died, he took his confessor’s rosary beads. What’s worse, he is still in possession of those stolen goods.

Just think of the scandal: the Catholic Church is being run by an admitted sinner, a human being with weaknesses, someone who makes mistakes (like the recent inadvertent  use of an inappropriate word in a homily). He must be insecure, too, because he asked Catholics worldwide, in a survey, what their thoughts and feelings were instead of steadfastly dictating that “This is the way it’s always been, and this is the way it will remain.”  Now, I ask you, what kind of leader is that for the Church?  What would Jesus do? I wonder.

 

 

 

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Francis: A Misguided Pope

October 16, 2013 Comments Off on Francis: A Misguided Pope

Look at the outrageous things Pope Francis is doing!  He sent $270 (200 Euros) to a Venetian woman in her 80s who had been mugged, robbed on her way to the hospital to visit her ill husband.  On World Environment day he actually linked all life together, saying that ignoring the poor and wasting food instead of sharing it with the poor is not what we should be doing.  Then, two days ago, he called a German bishop to Rome to chastise him for his lavish spending habits, including the $42 million he spent on his own home.  All the while, this new-Pope-on-the-block has been living simply (no lavish Papal apartment for him) and encouraging others to do so.

What’s wrong with this man?  Does he somehow believe–and want us to believe—that Jesus lived a simple lifestyle, focused on the poor, taught the disciples to look after the vulnerable people they met, and shared what he had with others for the good of the whole community?

What kind of a church does Pope Francis think he’s striving for?  What kind of a world does he want to see come about?

In today’s world, where we MUST look out for #1, how misguided can he be?!

 

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Pope Restates the Obvious

July 29, 2013 2 comments

It’s good that Pope Francis stated again that the Church must accept homosexuals into the fold, as they, too, are part of God’s family.  He says we should accept and not judge any person who follows God, even, I assume, homosexual priests (gasp!).

Well, duh!  Homosexuality is a “sin” when practiced.  If a person is, within himself, a homosexual–or tax cheater or liar or Tweeter of unsavory pictures–he has the inclination but doesn’t “sin” until he actually practices that inclination.

Priests take a vow not to enter into sexual relationships.  Which is more important, that one is inclined toward AC or DC or that he breaks that vow?  If he keeps his vows and goes about a life of priestly work and doesn’t flaunt or promote his sexual preference–who cares?  If God does, isn’t that between God and him?

Let the Church discipline and reject those who fail to keep their vows, not just a group that “real” men somehow feel threatened by.

 

 

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Pope Francis and Respect

June 21, 2013 Comments Off on Pope Francis and Respect

Mutual Respect: That a culture of dialogue, listening, and mutual respect may prevail among peoples.  That’s one of the Pope’s “intentions” for June.  Each month, he publishes a couple of “intentions,” which are special things he asks all Catholics to pray for during the month.

This one resonated with me.  If this were a reality throughout the world, we’d be well on our way to universal peace.  Sounds SO simple….

 

 

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Thoughtful Thursday: Blessed Humanity

May 30, 2013 Comments Off on Thoughtful Thursday: Blessed Humanity

 

Here’s a short, powerful lesson in humanity:

“Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and can be of service to him. And blessed is he who loves his brother as well when he is afar off as when he is by his side, and who would say nothing behind his back he might not, in love, say before his face.”  (St. Francis of Assisi)

[He not only SAID it–he LIVED it!]

 

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Misguided Pope

March 22, 2013 Comments Off on Misguided Pope

There’s something wrong with the new Pope.  On Holy Thursday he intends to leave the beautiful church provided for him and go to a youth prison for the traditional Mass and foot-washing.  He actually thinks that prisoners are people! And doesn’t he realize that kids are of no value until they’re adults?  I don’t know about Pope Francis’ misguided actions.  After all, he’s the shepherd of his people, who may very well take his example to heart and think that all human life is to be respected.  Then where will we be?!

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I’m in Love with a Priest!

March 19, 2013 Comments Off on I’m in Love with a Priest!

Pope Francis’ installation homily emphasized protecting the environment and caring for one another, especially the weakest and poorest of the world.  That’s my kind of Pope.  And priest.  I hope he and the Curia (they often have a warring relationship similar to that of the President and Congress) can work together toward those ends.

Meanwhile, I’m basking in the warmth of a new romance–with a man who seems to care about all of Creation (human and otherwise) and a priest who reads the New Testament the way I do.

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Pope Francis & Future of the Church

March 13, 2013 Comments Off on Pope Francis & Future of the Church

The new Pope is a Jesuit who feels enough kinship with St. Francis to take his name.  If he follows the teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis of Assisi, the Church will help lead the world into a greater respect for all life on Earth.  The Church will banish scandals that harm innocents. It will demand acceptance of all people, despite economic station, politics, gender, or health.  It will advance sharing of resources among all peoples.  It will cultivate true stewardship of the Earth. In a perfect world, these would lead to universal peace; in our imperfect world, such attitude changes are at least a giant step toward that peace.

Pope Francis has a huge job ahead of him.  I wish him well and will be following him with a hopeful heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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