What Francis Is Up To

Last updated on: July 22, 2014 at 3:07 pm by David Mills

What Francis Is Up To 2014-07-22T15:07:04-04:00 David Mills

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Francis is either foolish or cunning, is the basic division among Catholics bothered by things he’s said, particularly those things he’s said as reported by the atheist leftist Eugenio Scalfari. Here are two arguments for the second:

From the Irish Independent, the opinion of John Waters (a writer whose books I heartily commend) suggests that perhaps Francis,

painfully aware of the manner in which virtually every intervention of his predecessor was manipulated and distorted . . . elects to play the liberal media on their own turf, leaving faint, ambiguous tracks which can be revisited later on — thus inveigling journalists to change their attitudes and agendas while in reality offering little but seductive pieces of bait.

Francis’ statements on moral issues, Waters thinks, and illustrates with quotes, “are intended less as a manifesto for changing the Church’s teachings than a call for a restoration of perspective with regard to the core meanings and concerns of Christianity.”

From The Spectator‘s weblog, the Daily Telegraph‘s Damian Thompson has a somewhat different take:

[W]hy did Francis go back to Scalfari? I reckon the uncheckability of the quotes suits him fine. He can express his views that the Vatican is crawling with fawning backstabbers and that sexual perverts are over-represented among the clergy right up to the level of cardinal – yet leave himself diplomatic legroom by allowing for the possibility that he’s been misquoted. He is a Jesuit, after all. . . .

The background to this is the Pope’s war on the Vatican. I think he hates the place. And it’s interesting that he’s placed enormous power in the hands of Cardinal George Pell, who is also full of contempt for its greedy placemen. My guess is that the reforms, when they come, will be savage.

My thanks to my friend Mark Barrett, proprietor of The Snug of the Pub, for the link to the first.

The papacy & the pope

Previous Post

July 22, 2014

Intentionally Addicting Facebook

Next Post

July 23, 2014 Sexuality, Sexual Abuse & Chastity: An Interview with Dawn Eden

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion & life American Life Anglican Affairs Apologetics Art and artistry Beer Capitalism's downside Catholic converts Catholic issues Catholicism & public life Catholicism in general Christianity & culture Christianity & the Jews Conservatism Conservative problems Death Do unto others Dogs Ecumenical friendship Evangelicalism Evil in the world Family Friendship Heroes How we should live Islam It's a funny old world Jews Judaism Israel Judaism justice Liberalism Life issues Marriage Mary Mass Media Modern culture good & bad Modern life as it is lived Modern Religion Mormonism People Personal reflections Politicians Protestantism Race Rand & Randiansm Secularisms Sexualities Society justice equality freedom The papacy & the pope Uncategorized Worship Writing & Language

Select a Month January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Jesus do before He fed the crowd?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Called down fire Dug a hole Washed His hands Gave thanks and broke the bread