tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343439372519556254.post5246815287156760163..comments2024-02-11T03:50:53.613-05:00Comments on Counterlight's Peculiars: Pope Francis Declares a Cease Fire in the War on Teh Gay?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343439372519556254.post-26486289730048512542013-09-20T14:59:28.939-04:002013-09-20T14:59:28.939-04:00Bergoglio addressed some new bishops on Thursday:
...Bergoglio addressed some new bishops on Thursday:<br /><br />In order to tend to one's flock, Pope Francis referred to three fundamental thoughts, the first one being the importance of welcoming with generosity:<br /><br />"Your heart must be large enough to be able to <b>welcome all the men and women you meet during your days</b> and whom you will seek out as you walk your parishes and your communities". The Pope stressed the importance of manifesting to others the love of God so that they may see the Church as a "good mother who always receives them and loves them."<br /><br />The second thought the Pope explained was to "walk with the flock", or rather <b>"walking alongside the faithful</b> and all those who turn to you, sharing joys and hopes, difficulties and sufferings." Pope Francis reminded the bishops not to forget their priests who assist in tending to the flock.<br /><br />The Holy Father also took the opportunity to warn them to not fall into the snare of careerism.<br /><br />"We shepherds are not men with the psychology of princes - ambitious men, who espouse this Church while awaiting another, more beautiful and richer. But this is a scandal! Imagine that a man confesses, saying, 'I am married and I live with my wife, but I continually look at a woman who is more beautiful than her; is this a sin, Father?' The Gospel tells us that this is the sin of adultery. Is there such thing as 'spiritual adultery'? I don't know, think about it yourselves. Do not await another more beautiful, more important, richer Church. <b>Do not fall into the trap of careerism!</b> It is a form of cancer!"<br /><br />The third element necessary to tend to one's flock, he continued, is to remain with the flock, that is, to remain in one's diocese <b>without seeking any change or promotion.</b> The Pope called on the new bishops to avoid being far from their diocese, and if they do leave, to do so for the shortest possible amount of time.<br /><br />"Espouse your community, be profoundly bonded to it!," the Pope said concluding his address. "I beg you, please, to stay among your people. Avoid the scandal of being 'airport bishops'!" [my emphases]<br /><br />http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=126786 <br /><br />Yes, even these remarks see the laity as children (the church as a Good Mother), but they represent a U-Turn in ecclesiastical politics. The path to advancement in the Roman communion has been right-wing politics, papal fundamentalism -- you could be a good pastor and Christian neighbor locally, but to rise to Monsignor or above, you had to espouse the party line. Now, whoops!, stay home and tend your flock! <br /><br />How can the political bishops in the US hierarchy convincingly change their tune overnight? Bergoglio needs a decade to appoint his kind of bishops to the hierarchy. In the meantime, conflicting messages. Interesting times.Murdoch Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10584498192562407670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343439372519556254.post-89863224652079709022013-09-20T07:45:49.770-04:002013-09-20T07:45:49.770-04:00At the risk of getting burned again, I am willing ...At the risk of getting burned again, I am willing to cut the Pope some slack on this. I agree that this is not a change of substance, but even a refocusing away from sex-policing would upset a lot of people within the RC hierarchy and be welcome.<br /><br />Dan Savage's effort has apparently provided a platform for very isolated gay and gay friendly Evangelicals to find each other; and when they find each other, they might begin to organize.Counterlighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14345956180434795401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343439372519556254.post-87696097913138043872013-09-20T05:12:44.545-04:002013-09-20T05:12:44.545-04:00I think I saw that Joe Jervis, on his Twitter feed...I think I saw that Joe Jervis, on his Twitter feed, calls himself an anti-theist. Notwithstanding, I believe he's truly an atheist. Whatever my problems w/ many of the anti-theist *commenters* at JoeMyGod, I've never had any problems w/ Joe.<br /><br />[The hour is late, and I'll discuss the Pope---Pope Francis, that is!---another time.]JCFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14516376500318551838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2343439372519556254.post-19536021219041449522013-09-20T01:06:37.318-04:002013-09-20T01:06:37.318-04:00Though not wishing to cloud the day, I would offer...Though not wishing to cloud the day, I would offer the caveat that there is no movement here, rather a re-focusing. There is no indication that the internal purge of the RCC will end, rather that those subjects which have led to the purges - mainly issues around sex and sexuality - will no longer be the approved talking points of the public face of the RCC. <br /><br />I do not say it doesn't signal change, but we must balance our hope with the reality of what is being said. MarkBrunsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16971990948866488080noreply@blogger.com