Father Thomas Reese, SJ basically parrots what LaCroix and Robert Mickens have already written about Pope Francis’ mental acuity and incoherence. But it is good that Jesuit Father Reese emphasizes this, especially when it comes from the progressive cabal of the Church, the NCR and Fr. Reese, both stuck in the 1960’s.
While Fr. Reese does raise his concerns about the way too much talking this pope does and off-the-cuff, not well thought-out and often incoherent and confusing, he bitterly complains that this pope, like every pope before him explains, although Pope Francis does so feebly, why women can’t be ordained to Holy Orders and why bishop conferences are a monster and Catholics should just listen to their own bishop who has authority from God, conferences don’t as God didn’t create bishops’ conferences.
Heterodox Fr. Reese couldn’t stomach the pope saying this.
You can read the full NCR commentary by Fr. Reese, SJ here:
Does the pope need an editor?
MONEY BYTE:
The pope's interview last month with America, the Jesuit journal, was a textbook example of why the Vatican does not want the pope doing interviews. The pope poked the Russian bear in the nose, gave a convoluted response to why women cannot be priests and even had a muddled response to a question on racism in the United States.
If I had been his press secretary, I would have been pulling my hair out during much of the interview. I would have wanted to edit the text before it was published.
3 comments:
Francis is a guy who had enough problems that he was exiled by superiors of provincial Argentina as unstable and who also looked for solace in psychotherapy (which field is the most changeable of all medical fields) rather than seeking solace in a spiritual life and God. He has always had several screws loose nor did he attain to typical Jesuit education standards.
He judges the world by populist political Argentinian standards and acts accordingly as pope. He is the backwoods boy brought in to revolutionize the Church, and he has let his power go to his head and is difficult to manage even by those who put him into power, and so now they start to distance themselves from him as the obvious end of his papacy approaches.
Father McDonald said..."...like every pope before him explains, although Pope Francis does so feebly, why women can’t be ordained to Holy Orders..."
Father McDonald, fewer than two weeks ago, you declared the opposite. You praised Pope Francis' response in question for its clarity and depth.
Your "money quote": "Kudos to the pope for being so clear this time."
Posted by Fr. Allan J. McDonald at Tuesday, November 29, 2022:
POPE FRANCIS REITERATES FOR THE HUNDRETH TIME THAT WOMEN CANNOT BE ORDAINED TO HOLY ORDERS--NO TO WOMEN PRIESTS!
"In an interview published in America magazine today, Pope Francis unequivocally stated that women cannot be ordained as priests..."
Father McDonald, you added:
"My comment: Of course, the Holy Father goes on to describe what women can do and wants to develop that theology based upon the Marian principle. And in my most humble opinion, that is a great idea!"
"With the Marian Principle the Holy Father seems to imply also the anthropological way as well. It is based upon the Church as feminine, referred to as "Mother" and as "her." This of course, upset feminist of my generation seminary in the 1970's."
"Thus as the pope points out, woman can't become ordained to the Sacrament of Holy Orders but they have roles of importance in the Church to compliment the Petrine Principle!"
"Kudos to the pope for being so clear this time."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Father McDonald, based upon your headline and comments, I thought that the article constituted a nasty attack upon Pope Francis.
But I did not find that to be the case.
Overall, Father Reese praised Pope Francis, as well as the interview in question...pledged his loyalty to Pope Francis.
Father Reese said: "Everyone knows I love the pope and I will defend him to my dying day...I will continue to like him and be attentive to every word he says."
Father Reese said of Pope Francis:
"His recent interview comes across as a first draft in need of editing. Perhaps it is the old editor in me that wants to make the text better."
"But in editing, there is always the danger of smothering the voice of the author."
eese
"It is probably better to let Francis be Francis."
Father Reese praised several answers that Pope Francis had offered during his interview in question.
Again, based upon your headline and commentary, I had expected a very negative article by Father Reese.
But I did not encounter that.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
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