Well, apart from being outwardly swell to those around him, he’s not so afraid of meeting his maker that he rides around behind bulletproof glass. Maybe he’s a crooked devil when he’s out of view, who knows, but his public face is a refreshing bit of humility and compassion that has eluded the office for many years. Arguably an organization’s leader sets the tone and course for the rest of the management. Considering how huge The Church is, even a modest step in the direction of Christy-ness amounts to a huge overall improvement worldwide.
nm
That’s just it. He’s a swell guy coming after a not-so-swell guy. Anyone would have a problem following JPII and Benedict wasn’t up to it, in so many ways. Francis is just so open and non-ogre-y. He may have to walk back some of his comments, but I’d rather it be because he was coming across as too nice and open and compassionate and not throwing daggers at Jews or Muslims or anybody else. He seems to be trying to make the face of the church more compassionate and loving instead of so mean and dour. Benedict was just so wrong a choice coming after JPII
To be fair, this may be the very first time in recorded history that Sarah Palin is correct. The New York Times piece on this La Civilta interview with Francis is incredibly misleading.
Well, he apparently bewilders Sarah Palin – no big deal there . . .
But, this Pope is also making the Mob nervous.
[roll The Godfather Part III]
You’re not going to find any dislike of this pope in the pages of America, of course.
But if you want to see the creepy underbelly of conservative Catholicism, look here: www.fisheaters.com.
Jerome Corsi is a nut (he’s a prime shaker in the birther wars), but I don’t remember him ever being a “Vatican II was illegitimate!” sort of nut. So I think he, and people like him, are a data point in favor of conservative Catholics having some issues with Francis:
No joke this time: Is the pope Catholic?
This one, about the forces lining up against Francis, made me laugh with this sentence:
Emphasis mine.
Fisheaters? Kinky.
NB: ‘Ndrangheta is not the Sicilian Costa Nostra from the Godfather. They are from the tip of the boot that is kicking Sicily, and hardly friends. Besides all that P2 stuff in the Godfather though, the mafia has shown themselves willing to kill churchmen, see Pino Puglisi.
A known crank, never met a conspiracy he didn’t like. Sure, “many.” But I’m sure that there are several times more people who literally think that Obama is a lizard person. And I’m sure that there are many people who disagree with that, and say no, he’s a mole person from the center of the earth. If you claim to have faith in the Church, you’d think you’d believe that it can’t be toppled after 2000 years.
No. I worry about him too. I’m not a Catholic of any stripe, but I too kind of like him. I think his combination of calling out assholes and refusal of ostentation is gonna get him shot.
I also think, if someone were to point this out to him, he’d say, “Yeah, probably. What’s your point?”
Well, the poster was just looking for conservative Catholics who aren’t just rejecting anything post-Vatican II who have a problem with Francis. Corsi is a nut, but he still fits the bill.
Not where I was going. Basically I think he’s being a drama queen, and even if you don’t like the Pope, it doesn’t lead you to be believe he’ll destroy the papacy any more than Alexander VI did.
Well, yes. That’s why I said Corsi is a nut.
Mighty_Girl (the OP) isn’t the only one worried over the Pope’s safety.
Articles in today’s media are saying that an Italian prosecutor with experience in chasing after the Mafia, is now worried that Francis may really be ruffling some dangerous feathers, with his anti-corruption reformist calls.
Example article (there are many others):
Prosecutor warns of a mafia threat against Pope Francis by Eric J. Lyman, Washington Post, Nov. 14 (or 13?), 2013.
Google search for keywords pope francis mafia threat shows many more similar.
Along with the above, Pope calls for big changes in Roman Catholic Church.
I think I’m in love.
Dude apparently wasn’t just fucking around when he picked the name Francis.
OK, that Fisheaters site is hilarious. One of their signs of trouble in the Church is “…your RCIA class was hardly Catholic”. No, it wasn’t Catholic at all. That’s the whole point of an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) class: It’s for people converting to Catholicism. If you’re already Catholic, you don’t go to RCIA.
This will not go well with some people.
As somebody who “lost her faith” 20 years ago, and finally walked out 15 years ago, this is the first time I am excited (and not in the ravingly mad sense) by anything the RCC does. I wish there were no religions, but since I am not going to get my wish, the best next one is for religions to become sane.
Yes, you are the only one. Or, rather, IF there’s a threat to his life, it will come from some loony like John Hinckley, not from an albino Opus Dei operative.
I’m a faithful, conservative Catholic, and have reservations about the direction Francis intends to take the Church, but on a purely personal level? It’s very hard not to like this guy.
That said, the Pope is (gasp!) Catholic, and contrary to what the media would have you believe, he’s GENERALLY saying the same things his predecessors have. It’s usually a mistake to describe the Church in political terms, but if we MUST do so… well, John Paul II and Benedict XVI were LIBERAL in economic and foreign policy terms. Hence, when Francis talks about poverty, he’s NOT actually shifting the Church leftward. It already WAS on the Left, economically.
What does that leave? A PERCEPTION that Francis is pro-gay and not really a stickler about abortion. A perception that’s not really justified by his actions to date.
Count Rush Limbaugh out as one of his supporters:
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/12/02/rush-limbaugh-vs-the-pope/?hpt=hp_t1
Sarah Palin dislikes him as well.
The Popes comments are very much in line with New Testament thinking. Republicans want to sell the idea that God is on their side and as proof rewards them with wealth. It’s a form of Propserity Gospel. Pope Francis has the gall to call that bullshit and that’s ruffled more than a few feathers.
What Francis is saying really isn’t very extreme. Most moderate Christians I know recognize that his message is keeping in line with Biblical teaching. It may come to pass that this breaks some of the republican ownership of religion. The fallout from this will be quite interesting - and should reveal some true colors in the next few weeks as politicians feel the need to respond to it.