Will Pope's comments change Church's direction?

[Tim Killmeyer]

Hello gentlemen!

For this latest poll I wondered if we could have some discussion on the popularity of our new Pope Francis and how his words seem to resonate with people who don't usually give much credence to the Catholic Church as a whole, let alone anything the Pope has to say. His recent comments about changing our priorities from moral doctrines to serving the poor and the marginalized have given me to wondering if he is really saying anything different from the way I already live my Catholic faith or different from what I teach and preach. I wondered if his words will really "take the Church in a new direction" as the secular commentators seem to imply.


How about you?


As mention in the last POLL about paid deacons, the questions can't cover every little nuance. In fact, The board itself limits the number of characters in the question and answers, though it does allow for a LOT of answers. But I try not to get too complicated which turns people off. Participating in the POLL (by clicking one of the answers) and also joining in the discussion is the best way to clarify.

The question is: Will the Pope's recent comments change the focus of the Church's mission?

What I wanted to ask, but did not have room for in the question box is: "Do you think Pope Francis' recent comments about changing our priorities from moral doctrines to serving the poor and marginalized change the direction of the Church or the way you preach, teach, and minister?"

I only put "YES" and "NO" because the answers could only be 50 characters long (including spaces) and I couldn't make anything work, so feel free to reply to the thread to expand on your thoughts.

Tim

[Tim Killmeyer]

O.K., I'll start.

;D

I think the Church has always taught that we have to be sensitive to the situations of people lives and that we need to invite anyone and everyone to hear the Good news.

I think that many members of our Church (and that includes some clergy, though I'm generally speaking of the laity) do ostracize and exclude and make fun of people who struggle with various things or who have made bad choices in the past. In that respect, I feel that Pope Francis' words should make for a change.

But for people to extrapolate from that the idea that the Church will not continue to condemn certain intrinsic evils is a big mistake.

IMO, we welcome everyone and everyone needs to experience a metanoia continue to change their lives.

The problem that Francis is pointing out, as I see it, is that some people fell that they have "made it" (are "good" or "righteous") and have the right to beat others over the head with their sins while ignoring their own.

In that respect, I think there might be some change (to recognize that we all sin and have thing we need to repent of and change).

But to think that Francis' words mean that the Church will welcome everyone and overlook any evil in their lives is a grave mistake, IMO.

Tim

[deaconmikeb]

I agree with Tim. The Pope's comments is not changing what the Church believes but what it is trying to change is the idea that abortion, contraception, etc. has to be the prime focus...and to some only focus.
Mike

[Ron Tocci]

I don't think the American Bishops have been "insisting only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage, and the use of contraceptive methods," if that is what Pope Francis is implying. It is the political climate here with the ObamaCare intrusion on religious freedom, and the states' push to legalize gay marriage that have compelled the bishops to come out strongly on these issues. If the government were attempting to eliminate welfare or to halt the flow of immigrants, the Bishops - I am sure - would come out just as strongly on these issues.

I hope Pope Francis didn't intend to call "small minded" those who have devoted their time and energy to advocate strongly on a particular Catholic issue (e.g., abortion, religious freedom), but I can see how his choice of words could easily be taken as a directive to dial back one's efforts on that issue and instead focus on others. What would this accomplish other than disheartening those who are working in the trenches?

Yes, we should always balance the efforts to uphold Catholic doctrine with an attitude of mercy and compassion toward those who are not following it, but we should not "throw out the baby with the bath water." I hope what Pope Francis intended was to remind us to "condemn the sin, and love the sinner."

[dcnpat]

The secular commentators know NOT of what they hear or say when it comes to the Church, and especially Pope Francis. They HEAR what they want to hear, even if it isn't said, and they understand what they hear in the context that they want the CHURCH to CHANGE, rather than themselves having to change.

Pope Francis reiterates that we, the Church, continue to treat, as Jesus did, ALL God's creatures with love, but continue to chastise their choice of poor actions. We are still required to separate the deeds from the person because we are called to SAVE SOULS, yet not condone by wishy-washy watered down rhetoric inappropriate and immoral acts. Pope Francis is SPOT ON in his comments, and he doesn't want the Church to be stuck on the sandbar of just a few hot-tpoic issues, he wants us to hit them all by boldly preaching the Way, the Truth, and the Life to everyone, without judgement of their actions.

[abreviario]

I believe Pope Francis is already doing the mission of the Church, by bringing the Gospel message to all people by his words and his actions! He is not "throwing the baby out with the bath water"! He is refocussing his attention full time on the baby because that's the future of the Church!

[mikeb51907]

It has gotten to the point that I avoid reading anything in the secular media about Church teaching. It was either that or double the dosage on my blood pressure medication. There is no denying that Pope Francis is making some uncomfortable with his insistent reminder of the mission with which Christ commissioned His Church. Good. I am sure the Pharisees to whom Jesus addressed the story of the rich man and Lazarus in today's Gospel.
So the short answer is no, The Holy Father's comments are not going to change the direction of the church but they will help us to maintain our focus on our destination.

[Deacon James [Jim] Sheil]

When Pope Francis I said "It breaks my heart that the death of a homeless person is not news"; it spoke VOLUMES to me, in that the Church is also in on this misalignment of our priorities. I, too, can state that "it breaks my heart that the death of a prisoner is not news"! My 18 years in prison ministry has blessed me with becoming more in touch with this statement. I hope/pray that Pope Francis I's words will have an impact on the Church.

[rwilliamsen]

Not desiring to be a 'ditto head' - yet I concur with the general thread of this discussion.

Pope Frances is re-focusing our attention to the FIRST mission of the Church Jesus Christ formed 2000 years ago. It is not something new and not owned by clergy or laiety.

We are a church for the wounded and loveless. We, members of the church, do not "own" salvation. As deacons we stand on the front lines and need to exemptlify love, not condemnation.

If you have esperienced a profound conversion (God does not need to hit all of us over the head - many were smarter than me and found His love) than we need to remember that God loved us inspite of our flaws. And even after we surrendered to God the first time - we still had MANY flaws to confess and resolve.

I know that I still have flaws and am thankful that God loves me inspite of them and that He is patient with me as I try to conform my life fully to the one He desires for me. So, He has called us to serve Him and His other children.