Pope criticizes church emphasis on abortion, gays

[Retz]

Pope criticizes church emphasis on abortion, gays



VATICAN CITY (AP) — Signaling a dramatic shift in Vatican tone, Pope Francis said the Catholic Church had become obsessed by "small-minded rules" about how to be faithful and that pastors should instead emphasize compassion over condemnation when discussing divisive social issues of abortion, gays and contraception.

The pope's remarkably blunt message six months into his papacy was sure to reverberate in the U.S. and around the globe as bishops who have focused much of their preaching on such hot-button issues are asked to act more as pastors of wounded souls.

In interviews published Thursday in Jesuit journals in 16 countries, Francis said he had been "reprimanded" for not pressing church opposition to abortion in his papacy. But he said "it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time."

"The church's pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently," Francis said.

"We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel," the pope said in the 12,000-word article, based on interviews conducted by a fellow Jesuit, the Rev. Antonio Spadaro, editor of La Civilta Cattolica, a Rome journal for the religious order.

"The church sometimes has locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules," Francis said. "The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you. And the ministers of the church must be ministers of mercy above all."

The comments contained no change in church teaching, and the pope said reform should not happen quickly. Still, it was the pope's clearest declaration yet of a break in tone and style from his immediate predecessors.

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Pope criticizes church emphasis on abortion, gays


Couldn't agree more. Finally a highly competent Pope this time.

[Stoner]

...and the CBCP just HAD to issue some public statement in response to this, as if trying to save face because the Pope's words hit home.

[snoid_zero]

Love above all. Mercy above all.

This is the main message of the gospel.

We loved because God loves us first. And when we experience His love we can't help but love Him back.

Then we start to love ourselves, we start to value our life and the love He has for us.

And in the process, making no room for entertaining whatever garbage.

[falken]

...and the CBCP just HAD to issue some public statement in response to this, as if trying to save face because the Pope's words hit home.

They're so pathetic.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[niky]

I like this Pope. He's even more liberal than John Paul II.

The bishops made the right choice picking him. This is the kind of fresh thinking needed to keep the Roman Catholic Church relevant in modern times.

[vinj]

I like this Pope. He's even more liberal than John Paul II.

The bishops made the right choice picking him. This is the kind of fresh thinking needed to keep the Roman Catholic Church relevant in modern times.

It's quite refreshing to see someone trying to steer the Church to meet the demands of the modern world rather than alienate it's flock. My only worry is that Pope Francis may be making enemies amongst the conservatives who might be aiming for his head...

[Altis6453]

It's quite refreshing to see someone trying to steer the Church to meet the demands of the modern world rather than alienate it's flock. My only worry is that Pope Francis may be making enemies amongst the conservatives who might be aiming for his head...

Yup. A priest friend of ours has said that Pope Francis was the best thing to have happened to the Papacy in modern times, John Paul II excluded.

The CBCP should follow and have his back, or get the hell out of the way.