tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226269873507053740.post7419588787957029661..comments2024-03-27T22:53:43.943-04:00Comments on Daffey Thoughts: Pope Francis has met the enemyDavid Griffeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06629314279592541401noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226269873507053740.post-23804733910487813492016-06-28T08:23:55.305-04:002016-06-28T08:23:55.305-04:00Tom, that is another point we've talked about ...Tom, that is another point we've talked about in my family. Pope Francis often appeals to his own cultural context. Perhaps what he says would make more sense for a Catholic growing up in Argentina. But as Americans are often told, the whole Catholic Church isn't just Argentina. There is a big, global Church out there, and many forces arrayed against it. By now, I can't believe he isn't aware of this, or doesn't have people surrounding him who are aware of it. Again, if we aren't willing to accept what he says at face value as evidence of his own particular biases and ideological leanings, we're stuck trying to make sense of a pattern that seems to make little sense at all. David Griffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629314279592541401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226269873507053740.post-63582047346718905592016-06-28T08:21:13.547-04:002016-06-28T08:21:13.547-04:00Mark, that is a good question. I don't see wh...Mark, that is a good question. I don't see what he says accomplishing much. He affirms those who hate the Church, almost as if to say they were right to do so. Within the Church, there seems to be those who resist everything he says because of how he says it, and those who love what he says but never seem to apply it to themselves. If we resist the notion that he does what he does because of his biases and own ideologies, then we're stuck trying to figure out just what good it is doing. David Griffeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629314279592541401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226269873507053740.post-5415018841966693952016-06-27T20:44:38.273-04:002016-06-27T20:44:38.273-04:00"And the forces arrayed against the Church to..."And the forces arrayed against the Church today, using all powers and abilities to assault the Church, lead astray its followers, and assail the fundamental truths of the Gospel, are not the woman caught in adultery."<br /><br />This is a very important point. Does Pope Francis not understand that his ambiguities, his repeated lack of clarity and precision in his words, provides fodder for the opponents and enemies of the Church? Do any of his close advisors not see this? Are they encouraging it? Hoping for it?<br /><br />Now I understand that some journalists, and others, will intentionally twist words for their own purposes. This has always been true and always will be true. But it seems that it doesn't take much twisting these days for journalists and other opponents of the Church to directly utilize what Pope Francis says, on virtually a daily basis, to forward the secular agenda. Or at least place doubt and confusion in the mind. This involves twisting of words of the Vicar of Christ, not just some regular guy from Dubuque. Doesn't anyone close to the Pope see what effect this is having?Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01517941173537623663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6226269873507053740.post-38308121909883129822016-06-27T15:08:38.522-04:002016-06-27T15:08:38.522-04:00My wife and I have struggled to deal with the Pope...My wife and I have struggled to deal with the Pope's off the cuff remarks now and in the past. At the dinner table last night my wife read the entire content of the Pope's comments (as reported by the media) to me and my daughters. My family's overall reaction was one of disdain for him not taking a more direct stand on things. Yes, his remarks could be interpreted as a Catholic response of invitation, inviting the "marginalized" back to the faith rather than treating them like lepers. And the Pope did take issue with certain politicization by pressure groups. However, I am not so sure about the use of the word "apologize." Perhaps there is a language/translation problem here - given that English is not the Pope's native tongue. But, as a traditional Catholic in a land (especially in Seattle) where that is anathema, I don't feel the need to apologize...but rather feel I need someone to apologize to me! Of course, this keeps me humble.<br /><br />My overall question is, given the vague construct of the Pope's remarks, are these words and comments helping anyone with conversion, with holiness, with going to heaven? Are not his words helpful to those who want to run away from those ultimate good things? After all, the Church can never make homosexuality "good."<br /> MJBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14628489724178631741noreply@blogger.com