America Magazine allows for some free readings of its articles. This one by a young Jesuit hits the nail on the head! Although this Jesuit won’t say it, what needs to be said is that we need this papacy to end and a new pope to be elected. We need a new beginning in the papacy, one that is Catholic and majestic.
4 comments:
I cannot access the free article despite never accessing this site before.
I'm not sure that disappoints me either.
I don't wish to be critical of the pope.
I think many privately share similar concerns and opinions.
It is probably best to let the Holy Spirit decide what is to happen and when.
The Lord always provides.
The headline reads: "WOW! JUST WOW! A YOUNG JESUIT LIKE CARDINAL PELL CALLS THIS PAPACY A DISASTER"
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The above headline is puzzling as Joe Hoover, S.J., who authored the article in question, deemed Pope Francis' Pontificate a tremendous holy success.
In regard to that which in Joe Hoover's opinion have constituted Pope Francis' verbal indiscretions: Mister Hoover declared:
"Summing up a person by the history of their human errors is simply not an honest way to look at their life."
"The pope in fact has changed the tone and manner of the church’s approach to the L.G.B.T. community. The pope in fact has spoken words that have been balm of mercy over and over again for millions of people for more than 11 years now."
"Pope Francis has advocated for refugees, the poor, the outcast, those abandoned in a “throwaway” society."
"These are facts; they are not arguable. He has been extraordinary, and his re-focusing the church on the fundamentals of caring for “the least of these,” as Christ did, has had an immeasurable impact on the world. In moments like this, I need to be reminded of a papacy like that."
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The article has insisted that to focus upon Pope Francis' certain verbal indiscretions ("indiscretions" according to one's opinion) is a poor and dishonest way to evaluate the current Pontificate.
Again, contrary to the headline in question, it is Joe Hoover's (S.J.) opinion that Pope Francis' Pontificate is an "extraordinary" (Mister Hoover's word) holy success.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
I find everyone's fixation on a common crude expression used even among those so inclined to be a lot of only woke angst PC virtue signaling over "offensive", or attempts to show this means something significant to either side in the wars of religion.
I just think it shows Francis has no class, but we knew that already. Will not dive again into his possible motives for doing so, but he had a reason to do this twice of late, fitting within his own game plan.
In regard to Joe Hoover's (S.J) article in question: The following is among several aspects that have interested me:
Mister Hoover stated that he had embarked upon "four different attempts over the past couple of weeks at talking about Pope Francis and the things he says and things he does that are not, well, helpful."
Mister Hoover said in regard to his first draft: "So, there was my article. Call the pope out on his verbal indiscretions. Let the world know that we desperately would like him to do better."
But as Mister Hoover noted, each draft of his article had grown darker. Mister Hoover said:
"For the past couple of weeks, whenever I have heard about anything Pope Francis has done or said, past or present, anything wonderful or kind or prophetic, I could only see it through the lens of a man who used that slur. “Laudato Si’!” (the slur). World Children’s Day! (the slur). Welcoming people to the Jubilee Year! (the slur)."
"Writing all of this, I was a prosecuting lawyer stringing together evidence, all to paint one clear picture of a Francis who is all but a pontifical bull in a china shop, insensitive to the ways his words and actions have troubled and hurt people."
"One editor who read this third draft wrote on the document: It sounds like you think the pope is a terrible leader. And truthfully it was not a pleasant article to write. Because the fact is, I do not think he is a terrible leader."
"But you can get on a tunnel-visioned hyper-focused literary crusade, writing something like this; almost a toxic journalistic high scouring for evidence."
"You shut out all the good Francis has done and see all of it stained and overshadowed by these hard papal moments."
"A pope is imperfect, and so am I. And we can let his imperfections and ours be conformed to the cross of Christ rather than the undying rage of our inner turmoil over him."
"Summing up a person by the history of their human errors is simply not an honest way to look at their life. The pope in fact has changed the tone and manner of the church’s approach to the L.G.B.T. community."
"The pope in fact has spoken words that have been balm of mercy over and over again for millions of people for more than 11 years now."
"Pope Francis has advocated for refugees, the poor, the outcast, those abandoned in a “throwaway” society."
"These are facts; they are not arguable. He has been extraordinary, and his re-focusing the church on the fundamentals of caring for “the least of these,” as Christ did, has had an immeasurable impact on the world."
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The above reflects my approach in regard to Pope Francis. For that matter, that reflects my approach in regard to each Pope of my lifetime. I prefer to accentuate their positives (at least that which in my opinion constitutes positives.)
Pax.
Mark Thomas
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