Opus Dei Father John Wauck teaches in the School of Church Communications at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. During the 2013 papal conclave, he served as a television commentator for ABC.
On Oct. 8, he spoke with the Register's senior editor, Joan Frawley Desmond, about Pope Francis’ efforts to reach alienated Catholics and the public through an unprecedented strategy of informal interviews that reportedly bypassed Vatican filters.
Two recent interviews with Pope Francis have produced inaccurate headlines attacking pro-life activism and Catholic conversions. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat worried that the Pope’s communications strategy — which Douthat described as an “almost-frantic engagement with the lapsed-Catholic, post-Catholic and non-Catholic world” — could backfire. What’s your view?
It’s important for everybody to calm down and look at the big picture.
Pope Francis, the Successor of Peter, is the most popular man on the planet. There are worse things that could happen, especially given the water under the bridge, such as the abuse scandals.
You can quibble about how he is saying things, but we are in a good place. Even the need to explain and interpret the Pope’s words is not bad, because you get to talk about things.
I lived through the whole Da Vinci Code excitement, and in the end, it was a gift. It made Opus Dei open the door and shine the light, and people found Opus Dei was okay. It wouldn’t have happened without the novel.
In the Pope’s latest interview with Eugenio Scalfari, of the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the Register reported that the interviewer “admitted to neither recording nor even taking notes of the exchange.” The journalist said he “did show the text to the Holy Father for approval, but it isn’t clear how closely the Pope read it.” What do you know about this interview?
It isn’t clear Pope Francis had said any of the things the story reported he had said.
But this is a tiny thing in the big picture, which is that the Pope’s words are being parsed in the news.
No other pope got a CNN headline when he called for a bishops’ synod. That is free publicity.
Insiders can worry about how it was said, but he is not changing any doctrines, and he is explicit about that.
The Pope wants people to know that the Church isn’t here to condemn them. That is one of the false images of the Church.
Is it possible that he is being misunderstood by some of the public? Of course. But he is trying to reshape how the Church is seen — and that will then make it possible for many to hear the moral message.
Keep in mind that when he talks to the Catholics at Mass at the Doma [St. Martha guest house], he is not afraid to admonish the congregation in house. But when he is talking to the world, to the old atheist, he talks in a different way.
Catholics aren’t used to a pope talking off the cuff in newspapers, and the unpredictable outcome has made some very uneasy.
It can be disconcerting. The interviews are not magisterial statements.
He is talking to a soul. He is relentlessly personal, one-on-one, talking all the time. Seeing it in those terms, it is easier to understand what he is saying.
Part of the enthusiastic response to Francis is the sense that you are entering into a relationship with a father figure. People catch that sense of spiritual paternity and think, “This could be my dad.”
Benedict gave an impression of a teacher bent on communicating important truths and was almost willfully stepping aside. He didn’t want to be in the picture. Theologically that is correct, but, psychologically, the sheep like a pastor. People are hungry for this kind of relationship.
What is the feeling in Rome a half year after Pope Francis’ election?
The general feeling of the Italian population is that they love him to death. Shopkeepers, taxi drivers are huge fans.
Those who are not are those deeply involved in the life of the Church and are disconcerted. [They are questioning:] “What exactly is the agenda here? Where are we going, and what am I supposed to be doing?”
How would you describe Pope Francis’ communications strategy?
I don’t think there is any strategy. The media strategy is: Get out of the way — Francis is in town and doing his thing and winning over the masses.
Benedict was often criticized for communications problems during his pontificate. What is the difference between his approach and Francis’ efforts?
It is night and day. Benedict wasn’t terribly interested in mixing it up with reporters. And people were not expecting [Cardinal Jorge] Bergoglio to be either. He wasn’t out giving interviews in Argentina.
Now, he is taking interviews, and I don’t think they are coming from Father Lombardi [the papal spokesman]. He is running his own communications shop.
It is working so far. The question is when and if the honeymoon will end.
So Pope Francis acknowledges the frustrations of lapsed Catholics, and that creates fresh opportunities for outreach at the parish level or around the family dinner table. Are we ready for this engagement?
That is a long story about the lack of preparation of generations of Catholics left without formation and priests poorly prepared to explain the faith.
Pope Benedict XVI predicted the faithful were being sidelined from mainstream culture in the West, yet they could still serve as a “creative minority,” a leaven in a secular world. Is Pope Francis concerned that the faithful are too insular and have retreated from this kind of outreach?
With Francis, there is a turn to the outside. Benedict was interested in making sure that God was at the center of the Church, including the liturgy.
Francis’ message is very valuable: The Catholic Church is not something that was just made for Catholics. It is made for the whole world — and specifically sinners. He wants that message seen, heard and understood.
We all believe that. But we don’t always act or think that way. We slip into a tribal mentality: It’s our thing. Or: The Church is for the good people. Yes, of course you have to put your own house in order, and that is what Benedict was doing.
My hunch is that Francis believes that part of getting your house in order is understanding correctly what the Church is about and for. That missionary outlook is important.
Janet Smith, the U.S. moral theologian and pro-life leader, wrote a column in First Things that challenged the Pope’s suggestion that Catholics should set aside hot-button issues like abortion to first help people learn that God loves them and forgives their sins. Said Smith: “I think most people think they are not sinners and not in need of redemption.” Has the Pope unnecessarily alienated pro-lifers?
There might be awkward moments. Pope Francis is directed to the outside. That goes for his language as well.
But his speeches include a lot of solid, clear teaching. Pro-lifers should run with the good stuff, and that will clarify the ambiguous [remarks].
What is interesting to consider is that Francis is asking the bishops named by Blessed John Paul II and Benedict, and the priests and seminarians formed by these popes, to get out into the fray: Don’t stay home.
That could be really good. They will carry out into the street, the periphery and the world their understanding of the faith and the priesthood shaped by John Paul and Benedict.
The [current] seminarians and many priests entered into the priesthood after the sex-abuse scandals. That has made them stronger: They have had to wrestle with corruption in the clergy and people looking askance. Telling those guys to get out there is very positive.
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Great interview! I hope this will help some people who are having trouble accepting the Holy Father’s style. It seems to me that his actions, his homilies and his pre-papal writings should be enough to counterbalance a couple of informal remarks. But apperently not for some.
So glad to read Fr. John’s perspective. I had just posted this myself: “I think one of the things that is very important in understanding Pope Francis is that we read everything that he writes/says . . . and not just some things. I think that is the only way we can really understand his heart and his mind. Just reading one interview is not enough. No one says all that he thinks in a single conversation, especially a conversation he’s having with one person and not the whole world.”
Thank you. A great piece that counters or at least calms the hyper-critical segments of our church to stop and see the forest through the trees. Or at least, give our pope some time.
Christ commanded Peter to “Feed my Lambs.” When the Church gets out of politics and eschews government money and focuses on pastoring the parish instead of taxing it, then we may be grateful for Pope Francis exhortations. How long must we wait?
Nobody has to explain nervously what dear Pope Franics is telling the world. The entrenched hierarchy are afraid of losing power; hence they are falling over one another with traditionalist spin. Get used to it. Things are in a flux. Change is on the way….“poco a poco….paso a paso”.
“...his speeches include a lot of solid, clear teaching. Pro-lifers should run with the good stuff, and that will clarify the ambiguous [remarks].” Actually for me, it doesn’t explain other statements. Perhpas I’m just too dense. I’m glad the faithful Catholics of goodwill are having passionate discussions about this. Nonetheless, I find some of the pope’s comments both puzzling and troubling and the efforts to explain them, so far, are not very convincing.
The good news is that of course he’s not changing any teachings of the Church, nor can he.
So what Father John Wauck is saying is don’t necessarily read what he says, but read what he meant to say…we should be mind readers. My feeling is that what he said is what he said. It seems that abortion etc are topics we should not talk about because it is not politically correct and might make abortionists and atheists mad!
Sorry. This does not convince me. The Pope is on a world stage. He has all kinds of listeners and some of the thing he has said are unorthodox, even in the one on the plane after WYD. He can’t be a loose cannon!
Also, the Holy Father is Latino and the Vicar of the Universal Church. Often what we in USA think is or should be on the front burner in the culture is not the same in the Southern Hemispheres. Each region is different. The vast majority of the Church is not the USA. American arrogance and delusion that the Church revolves around our social ills, our liturgical aspirations, etc.
Thank you Father Wauck! I am a conservative and I don’t understand all of these nay-sayers about the Pope. Do they think that the Pope is for abortion? Come on. Also, he is talking to everyone, that we are all sinners and need our Lord’s mercy. Do the people that are critical of the Pope think that they are not sinners?
I think that some should really read the whole interview. And, it is interesting, we complain about the secular media. But, are we not doing the same? Picking up what we want to hear and criticize. And, it is interesting to me that Pope Francis with the thousands of people prayed at St. Peter’s Square about peace. We see the results and yet even we, Catholics and the Catholic media do not say anything about the fact that America did not bomb Syria. Just maybe the prayers helped? We and others in the world are talking about the Church in a more positive way. Is that bad?
A very good interview, with very good questions, helpful,intelligent, brief and to the point. In addition, I enjoyed your style and vocabulary. Should you be asked to work in the Vatican Press Office, please say yes! THANKS
Ok, so we have heard from somebody who defends this Pope and his style. Now publish an article coming from a different perspective.
When you “echo” your words, own them and don’t try to “back-peddle” or have so many interpreters explain the meaning of such. Contradiction and confusion yielded the first responses; his own words from the interviews backed it up, and usually gut instincts are not accidental.
There is a saying, satan pulls the trigger, but God redirects it. Ponder and reflect.
Thanks, but no thanks!
When one translates from another language, things can sound a bit different. The Pope is saying that we are so concerned with abortion, contraceptives and everything else now that is the new Healthcare, that we forget the other things that the Church must do, like evangelizing for just one. I really like this Pope, he is letting ALL PEOPLES know that they are loved by God [not just Catholics] and they mean something in this world. He practices what he preaches. He lives amongst the people. He is a “People Person” whereas the previous Popes were more on the intellectual level and would rather be with their books. I shall always remember my past Bible study teacher, a priest, who said that the Kings has princes and the Pope made Cardinals to be Princes of the church and they always were set apart from the “people”. This Pope is amongst the people and he will do a great deal for the Church. I am not saying the previous Popes were not good Popes, they were, but Pope Frances is very different and the kind of Pope [leader] we need in the world today.
Dear Fr. John, your explanations shed more light into the Holy Father’s teachings. I think, we need to read in between lines and not just run away with one or two things that did not sound good or “authodox” to us, in the Pope’s statements during the personal interview. Maybe, the truth of his message is either too strong to grasp considering the fierceness of the battle now raging against such issue as abortion etc or the truth should not be told at this time lest “the enemy” will be emboldened. If this is true, then we need to fight our fear.
This is reassuring to a degree, but I have to disagree with something Fr. Wauck said:
“Benedict wasn’t terribly interested in mixing it up with reporters.”
This is certainly not true because Benedict did many interviews with journalists throughout his papacy and prior to it. The Peter Seewald collaborations were extraordinary, and his “Court of the Gentiles” initiative has already born fruit.
Fr. W. also said:
“Benedict gave an impression of a teacher bent on communicating important truths and was almost willfully stepping aside. He didn’t want to be in the picture.”
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be in the picture, it was because he wanted the focus to be on Christ, not him. But he was a very kind and loving pastor. He thought that there was a danger in having a “rock star pope” because the medium becomes the message, not the message itself.
NO ONE should have to explain what our POPE says ! The Freemasons, Homosexuals & Communists targeted the Catholic Church & infiltrated its ranks. It is the Popes responsibility to purge these miscreants from our ranks & it is not going to be accomplished with well meaning interviews.
Whoever is the right occupant of the office of Peter is to be listened to prayerfully, obeyed and supported positively in the Spirit of the Son of God. This is serving Jesus the Lord.
Our Pope gives me new Hope, a crisp clean fresh wind, I am Thankful.
Praise the Lord for the Pope. Let’s just simply love him and support him with our prayers. He is the chosen one for this confused world. God Bless the Pope and God Bless all of us.
A pope is unique he is not like us in terms of faith because he is chosen by God so if he is than he is always guided by God in talks and did. therefore us a Christian I believe in pope. most of the time we are misinterpreting popes words and dids as well as Gods words and dids. and at the end we crucify him ( Jesus) - thanks
I see this as a stepping stone for everybody to get more knowledge on the on the catholic doctrine to learn more about Catholicism
Pope Francis indeed has shown a true color of a good follower because a good leader must first be a follower and that is what Pope Francis has display the interview was brief and understandable by letting us know the true meaning of Catholicism
Excellent article setting out very clearly the issues under consideration.
I am a 2012 convert and would describe myself as Orthodox. I have a special affinity for the Pope Emeritus because, as a church organist/musician, I see very clearly indeed what he did to enhance the importance of correct liturgical celebrations. I also now have a special affinity with Pope Francis for his “reaching out to the margins”, to the whole world in fact. He certainly knows the “smell of his sheep”! We are experiencing a different style of papal communication - no surprise given his origins and background - the world is taking notice - there is no change to doctrine - what’s not to like?! I feel TRULY PRIVELGED to be a Roman Catholic in a desperately secular world where the Culture of Death grows stronger every day. ALL OF OUR EFFORTS MUST BE DIRECTED TOWARDS DEFEATING SATAN AND HIS MANY ACCOMPLICES, THE WORLD, THE FLESH AND THE DEVIL. How many times has the Holy Father referred to the Devil - he is very real, he is everywhere, his inflence can be seen in my and your parishes…......we all need to be those Roman Catholics we were meant to be…..LOVE CONQUERS ALL !!!
“It isn’t clear Pope Francis had said any of the things the story reported he had said.
But this is a tiny thing in the big picture, which is that the Pope’s words are being parsed in the news.
No other pope got a CNN headline when he called for a bishops’ synod. That is free publicity.”
——
“The general feeling of the Italian population is that they love him to death. Shopkeepers, taxi drivers are huge fans.”
——
“Keep in mind that when he talks to the Catholics at Mass at the Doma [St. Martha guest house], he is not afraid to admonish the congregation in house. But when he is talking to the world, to the old atheist, he talks in a different way.”
—-
my take: does it now mean that for the sake of free publicity, Christians should say controversial things - even heretical things.
For example Pope Francis is reported to have said in May 2013, “And that, simply, is blasphemy. To say that you can kill in the name of God is blasphemy.”
—-
What about Abraham, Moses, Gideon, David, Judah Maccabeus? Where they committing blasphemy?
—-
All these reminds me of what the Lord Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make a single convert, and when he becomes a convert, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.” (cf Matthew 23 v 15
All of us who are disappointed with the Pope’s comments or confused or hurt by them seem to be acting just like the prodigal son’s brother. If Our Holy Father met us on the street and we told him about our work to save unborn babies and to help young people live chaste lives, he would probably hug us and thank us and tell us we are doing a good job. But he sees the need to save ALL souls, especially those who have strayed and are eating the scraps left by the pigs.
I am reminded of the parable of the Prodigal Son. The Father runs out to greet the returning, repentent wastrel, puts clothes on his back, shoes on his feet, a ring on his finger and orders the fatted calf butchered and the feast prepared. All well and good, more joy over one who repents than 100 who have no need for repentance. No quarrel with that. Overjoyed with it, actually.
But that isn’t the end of the parable. While the revelers revel, the Father also goes out to the one who does not need to repent, the faithful elder son, who is miffed that he’s never gotten so much as a kid to share with his friends, let alone a whole calf. And the Father comforts him, reassures him that he remains a treasured son, and explains exactly what he, the Father, is doing.
Somehow, it would not have been the same had the Father sent his chief steward out to reassure his elder son. It was something the elder son had to hear from the Father himself.
It’s a question of balance: you must not only constantly reach out to the alienated, you must also constantly reassure the faithful, because among them there are always smoldering wicks that even a slight breeze can snuff out.
I think this is a great interview. I think that it is clear that the Pope is speaking off the cuff. Everyone speaking off the cuff makes mistakes and we are used to getting things smoothed over by media machines that this seems clumsy and ill-advised. But, this is more like dinner table conversation, friendly and personal.
It is as if Pope Francis is a pastor who goes into the streets to speak to the poor, (mine does - does yours?). He should be talking about the love of God, helping to solve people’s most immediate problems of food, clothing, and shelter, and showing the love of God, building the trust that might allow him to talk about chastity or abortion and the forgiveness of God.
What Dr. Smith said about people not thinking of themselves as sinners is true. It isn’t talked of. Who has heard of sin? Adultery and murder are our evening’s entertainment! Even mine, I’m ashamed to say. But the reality of sin is only apparent in contrast to holiness and purity, not in some intellectual argument. Knowing you are a sinner is a matter of conscience and most consciences are dead or dying in America, so it takes recreating them, or reawakening them and I think that takes love. Pope Benedict wrote that God is Love, not God is Judgment on All Your Sins.
What did Jesus say, anyway? Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself. Well, how do you take criticism from strangers? Isn’t it better from someone you trust? Pope Francis is out there winning trust with his charm, his honesty, his humanity, and authentic Church teaching. He isn’t teaching for theologians but for the people and if he doesn’t say things just right, I say give him a chance. Every word is not ex cathedra but the Holy Spirit is at work in him as It worked in Benedict XVI and Blessed John Paul II.
God has not abandoned us. We have a vigorous new leader and it is a little like holding on to your hat on a roller coaster, but what a ride! How exciting it all is! How wonderful and joyous! How good is our God!
I stipulate that I am a sinner. Nevertheless, I am unapologetic about my obsession with abortion. Every Catholic needs to get obsessed about doing something to promote and protect the Culture of Life—as the soon-to-be-canonized JPII proclaimed over and over again in Evangelium Vitae and elsewhere. Or should we ignore him because of his obsession? It seems to me that an encyclical by a recognized saint outranks a rambling, unscripted, undisciplined interview given to a Jesuit journal of dissent. Objectively speaking, it is indisputable that the Pope’s remarks (which were not a slip of the tongue but rather reflect his actual opinion) have given aid and comfort to those who are teaching false doctrine, to the Nancy Pelosis and Andrew Cuomos of this world, and to those within the Church whose heretical “pastoralism” has been crippling the Church. As far as I can tell so far, this Pope, who prizes welcoming everyone to the Church, has not said or done anything to welcome the orthodox faithful who are “obsessed” with various aspects of the mission of the Church (just as almost every saint was obsessed with some particular issue). Why attack the faithful for being obsessed and unbalanced? This is negative, critical, and judgmental—and hypocritical, coming from someone who so smugly proclaimed “Who am I to judge?” the gays? If he forswears judging the gays, then he should keep his mouth shut about his own flock. If he is so pastoral, why not say what he had to say in a positive way—for example, why not praise the “obsessed” faithful for their passionate efforts and then encourage them to increase their role in welcoming others to the love of Christ? And if he is so hugely popular with most Italians, why doesn’t he take advantage of this by showing up unexpectedly outside an abortion mill—surely they exist in Rome—like he has shown up unexpectedly at many other venues of the common man? Let’s see how many young Italian women will enter the abortion mill if the Pope himself stands and prays outside, speaking directly to each one’s soul in his “relentlessly personal, one-on-one” way. This example could very well “win over the masses” on abortion and at the very least would put an end to the many valid questions raised by his “obsession” remarks.
@Anna : The Pope represents Christ the Lord. And what did Christ the Lord do? He moved from place to place among the people( Never kept himself enclosed in any fortress or Palace, or even in a well built mansion or house.) proclaiming the Kingdom of God and asking people to repent and enter this Kingdom , teaching, saving, admonishing, warning, healing, casting out demons, Presenting the credentials of his claim through miracles, Revealing the father’s role in his own life, revealing the father and his love for all people in the world. Pope Francis is trying in all these matters to follow the Lord, the Good Shepherd.
Let us hope and pray all future Popes will be such Good Shepherds living and moving among the people, feeling the smell of the Sheep in truth, trying to save them and bring them to salvation in Jesus the Lord.
“Vatican filters.” : Filters from wherever they come from are no good for authentic people.
I haven’t seen a pope nor have I seen Pope Francis in reality, but I am a Catholic and I vowed to die being a Catholic because I had seen God’s mighty works in my life. Therefore, I don’t care what people say about what the pope said or how they interpret what the pope said. He is my pope and so does the other popes to come. Thanks
@Richard Collier: You are angry and you do not understand at all what the Pope is trying to do. He has not changed the beliefs of the CC, and he is not going to change Dogma….he is trying to welcome those who left the Church because in the past the Church has truly sent them away “outside” the Church. You cannot teach anyone “outside” the Church unless they come “inside”....then the teaching starts. I have read some horrific blogs on this NCR abt. gays, abortions, divorces, etc. and some have given up on the CC because of that. So, how does the Church get to them, unless they are in the Church?
If you truly believe in what you are doing for the Church, and you ARE doing good, then your would be confident enough to understand the Pope’s position. [we do need more avid Catholics] and he is asking people like some avid Catholics to not judge, to welcome, and at the same time to continue with your beliefs. There is an old saying…“Actions Speak Louder Than Words”; “example” does count. We must remember that Pope Francis is a Pope to all peoples, not only to practicing Catholics and if you have read as much about Pope Francis, as I have, I assure you he does appreciate what people like you do. You are ‘here’ in the Church and he hopes that the avid Catholic will help him in what he is trying to accomplish.
@Richard Collier,
I agree! You are the Elder Son who has always stayed with the Father, always done the Fathers will but who seems very hurt that the Father is running down the road to welcome the Prodigal back home. As I am your sister in Christ, I say as a sister, “Don’t be that way!” Your brothers and sisters out there are longing for Jesus! Longing for God’s love and mercy. Longing for your mercy, too. God has been so merciful to each of us that we are called upon to withdraw our judgments on others’ actions and on the conditions of their hearts and instead to welcome them home and to pray that the Holy Spirit cleanses them and restores them to full fellowship with us.
I can’t know the state of my homosexual friend’s soul or her activities. I’m not that nosy. God knows. If Hanoi Jane praises Pope Francis, she’s got it wrong but she’s paying attention. The Holy Spirit has a chance to work. And no one wants to stop you from doing your corporal works of mercy. But, is your way the only way to work for the Kingdom of God?
Perhaps prayer for our Pope is a good way to deal with this? Pray that the Holy Spirit will use him, that his words will be clearly understood and that, perhaps, Pope Francis will think just a moment longer before speaking to the press!
The interviews are on the Vatican website in at least five languages and they all say the SAME THING. C’mon.
WOW, My heart churns with excitement as I see Jesus alive in this Servant of God. Our Lord lived in the streets to gather his flock from the sin of the world. Let us all join in to walk with Francis and rebuild our world in Love and Charity. Let’s start with rebuilding our Family structure. We all need to reconcile and dedicate our lives to The Word Made Flesh. We need Mother Church who is the Truth that will lead us to Eternal Salvation. Pray for Justice in our fragile world. Turn your life and trust in the Mercy of God. His Spirit will come alive in you. Forgive and carry no baggage on the journey and let your heart love unconditionally.
Glennon,
That is an exciting challenge. It is the most difficult thing to live in a family and it is one of the reasons why teenagers want to run away. I have left the Church before because I believed that I had to live up to her teachings in order to be a Catholic. I went looking for a less demanding religion. It was with grateful heart that I gradually learned that Jesus doesn’t expect that kind of perfection from me! Confession gives me great hope and peace and the abillity to be with other sinners and say, I could be just like you. Maybe I was just like you. Let me tell you my story…
“Father John Wauck discusses the Holy Father’s ‘relentlessly personal’ approach.”
“...personal approach.” : Personal approach of this Pope is unimaginably superior and better than dry intellectual,impersonal,institutional or ritualistic approach which we find everywhere. Jesus the Lord came to save Persons and the Pope’s approach to persons is in “context” which too simple people find difficult to understand.
The present Pope is a special blessing for all and is closer to Christ the Lord and when he starts his ministry of the Word like Peter and John (Acts.3) in the context of the the lame man and the Lord stars working with him and healing people of all illnesses, diseases and evils of all sorts the world will take special notice and accept him as a true Apostle of Christ the Lord and all the Bishops in the world will have to follow suit or run away and hide themselves.
@chris awo on Friday, Oct 11, 2013 9:03 AM (EST):
“.....my take: does it now mean that for the sake of free publicity, Christians should say controversial things - even heretical things.
For example Pope Francis is reported to have said in May 2013, “And that, simply, is blasphemy. To say that you can kill in the name of God is blasphemy.”
—-
What about Abraham, Moses, Gideon, David, Judah Maccabeus? Where they committing blasphemy?
1.”.....should say controversial things..”
Did Jesus the Lord say controversial things or no?
2.”.....What about Abraham, Moses, Gideon, David, Judah Maccabeus? Where they committing blasphemy?”
Did Jesus the Lord teach us to KILL? or rather to be…....and be sacrificed for the SALVATION OF ALL?
—-
Those who are ready and waiting to find something, anything, beyond “style” in this Pope….“in his very own words” can’t help but remind me of the older brother of the prodigal. Actually neither son was a very good example of loving the Father for Himself, but one was willing to return as a mere house servant for conditions that would be better than he had experienced the hard way, and the other who remained “faithfully” at home, being obedient while taking in all the security and goodies probably with no real “heavy lifting” had his own true loyalty and love challenged when his reaction was jealousy and desire to run the father’s own human reactions that came naturally out of being who he was….a father. Instead of being happy that he had everything every day without going through the process of finally realizing that the hard way, he learned he was perhaps too comfortable while missing the most important thing….without love all the sacrifices, humiliations, personal confrontations, sufferings are shown to be nothing. This very quick knee jerk reaction to so easily find fault with our new Pope, selecting only a few expressions to zero in on while seemingly to neglect his entire life as his real example of his faith and love of Christ and His mother…and the Holy Spirit shows more about the criticizers than perhaps the Pope! We all need to take a look at our real motivations for “doing” good. The route of speaking legalism to those who have really been mauled by the demon in these past decades hasn’t seemed to have worked all that well. We have to remember that he is a father to the entire world and be willing to come out, like that father, to the road that hopefully will bring the prodigals home, watching and hoping with sadness during the wait until that happens. There may even be prodigals within the house itself!
scientific computational theology based on scientific facts with reference to quantum pysics and principles.had proved that science is part of religion.logical proofs developed by researchers and even by atheists had proven the existence of God .Thie is now the time for upgrading our faith,not change.,because God enlightened us through our church leaders and scientists.Though atheists now abounds they are part of positve change.The arrival of the church’ s revolutionary leader to effect this changes and is part of a process for salvation(spiritual and material).this enevitable destiny is at hand.
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