Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Why I Am Catholic

Home
Did Pope Francis Really Say “Go Ahead, Make My Day” Yesterday?

Did Pope Francis Really Say “Go Ahead, Make My Day” Yesterday?

Last updated on: January 24, 2017 at 6:53 pm by Frank Weathers

Did Pope Francis Really Say “Go Ahead, Make My Day” Yesterday? 2017-01-24T18:53:06-05:00 Frank Weathers

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.

Photo by thierry ehrmann [CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

You know, about asking for a conference on the subject of women and the diaconate.

Surely not, Frank! The Holy Father is too kind, and has nothing in common with Inspector Harry Callahan, SFPD.

I don’t know, dear reader. He’s pretty cagey, our Papa Francesco. His subtlety is renowned as much as his clarity.

But is it his lack of clarity that is really to blame whenever we read something he has reportedly said that goes against what we believe to be true, good, and beautiful?

What if we’re simply reacting to the latest scoop o’ the day in a reflexive, fear-driven manner, because everything we see is warped by the ideological lenses we all wear? Or in a hope filled manner for the exact same ideologically refracted reason?

That’s the thought that runs through my mind these days. Maybe I’ll expand on that in future posts.

But first, I want to point you to the English translation of what Pope Francis actually said to the women religious who asked the question heard ‘round the world yesterday.

Thanks to Aleteia, we can do just that. Here’s Pope Francis speaking,

This, I remember. There are a number of publications on the diaconate in the Church, but it is unclear what it was like. I think that I will ask the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to inform me about the studies on this topic, because I have responded to you based only on what I heard from this priest — who was a scholarly and true researcher — about the permanent diaconate. And also I would like to set up an official commission to study the issue: I think that it will be good for the Church to clarify this point; I agree, and I will speak, to do something of this kind.

You then say: “We agree with you, Holy Father, who have repeatedly shown the need for a greater role of women in decision-making positions in the Church.” This is clear. “Can you give us some examples of where you see the possibility of a better inclusion of women, and of consecrated women, in the Church?”

I will tell you something that comes after, because I saw that there is a general question. Consecrated women must go to the consultations, the assemblies of the Congregation for Religious: this is for certain. Consecrated women must go into the consultations on the many problems that are presented. Another thing: better inclusion. At the moment, concrete things do not come to mind, but again, as I said before: to seek the opinion of consecrated women, because women see things with an originality different than that of men, and this is enriching: both in discussions, and in decision-making, as well as in concrete reality.

The work you do with the poor, the marginalized, teaching catechesis, accompanying the sick and the dying, is very important “maternal” work, where the motherhood of the Church can be expressed more. But there are men who do the same [work], and it is good: consecrated men, hospital orders… And this is important.
Therefore, on the diaconate, yes, I accept, and a commission that clarifies this well seems useful to me, especially regarding the early days of the Church.

Regarding a better inclusion, I repeat what I said before. If there is something to concretize, ask it now: concerning what I said now, are there further questions that will help me to think? Go ahead…

Read more from the CNA story posted here on Patheos. Then remember that the Church is like an aircraft carrier. She doesn’t turn on a dime.

Maintain an even strain, shipmates!

Previous Post

May 13, 2016

Your Friday The 13th Horror: The Return of the Rock 'n Roll Mass!

Next Post

May 14, 2016 Because the Church was Catholic at Pentecost

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog News Conversion Story Culture Learning Living Nature Prayer Uncategorized Working

Select a Month June 2016 May 2016 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Old Testament book is composed mostly of love poems?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ruth Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Solomon