The Other Side of Francis -- Things for which to be Grateful!

Where are the other nine? Did only this foreigner
return to give thanks?

Being thankful is a virtue -- first of all to God, of course, but then to those who deserve our thanks. And so I present this article from Crisis Magazine,  The Politically Incorrect Francis—14 Shocking Statements. Author, historian Paul Kangor begins it writing:

Let’s be honest. Actually, let’s state the obvious. Many orthodox Catholics have had it with Pope Francis, as have non-Catholic conservatives who liked previous popes. It’s no stretch to say that a good number detest him. At the very least, many faithful Catholics are frustrated by the current pope. What with the ongoing confusion from Rome, atop the 2018 abuse report from Pennsylvania (with many more states to follow), plus the Cardinal McCarrick fiasco, and the Viganò letters—their patience is exhausted. 

I understand. Francis frustrates me, too, though I don’t hate him and often defend him, particularly with the very points I’ll make throughout this article.

And here are a few excerpts from the article which you may dismiss as just window dressing, but the context of some makes that difficult. Read these and the full article and comment if you like:

1. Gender theory is all the rage at our crazy universities, but it flatly enrages Pope Francis. He is an unrelenting adversary, comparing gender theory to “the educational policies of Hitler.” And of Satan. “Gender ideology is demonic!” he thundered in the summer of 2015. It militates against “the order of creation.”

2. “If there’s a doubt about homosexuality, it’s better not to have them enter the seminary,” Francis told Italian bishops last May. “If you think that the guy is homosexual, don’t put him in the seminary.” If there’s any suggestion of an inkling of homosexual inclination, said the first supposed “gay pope,” the who-am-I-to-judge pope, then keep his carcass out of seminary. 

“I say to the priests, gay religious men and women,” said Francis, “we must urge you to live fully celibate and, above all, to be exquisitely responsible, trying not to scandalize your communities or the holy faithful people of God by living a double life. It is better that you leave the ministry or consecrated life rather than live a double life.” 

“For this reason,” said Francis, “the Church urges that persons with this rooted tendency not be accepted into ministry or consecrated life.” He lamented: “In our societies, it even seems homosexuality is fashionable. And this mentality, in some way, also influences the life of the Church.” [On this one, I have to say his actions speak a lot louder than his words! His promotion and coddling of the lavender mafia in the Church speaks a lot louder than these words!]

3. In November 2014, speaking to no less than the European Parliament, the Holy Father condemned “dictatorships of relativism” (invoking his predecessor’s phrase), as well as what Francis called “ahistorical fundamentalisms, ethical systems without goodness, and intellectualism bereft of wisdom,” which, among other things, disregard and discard human life. “Whenever a human life no longer proves useful for that machine, it is discarded with few qualms, as in the case of the terminally ill, the elderly who are abandoned and uncared for, and children who are killed in the womb.” 

To make that statement to the European Parliament required real courage. It was a great moment. As John Allen put it, Pope Francis issued a “strong call to Europe to get both its social and its spiritual house in order.”

It's a long article, but I encourage you to read the entire thing. I think history (if the world lasts long enough to have our era in history books) will condemn Francis if he continues as he has. But this article demonstrates the possibilities of Francis.

Remember the great conversions of the past. Think of the great persecutor of the early Church, St. Paul. I thought immediately of Dr. Bernard Nathanson, one of the greatest enemies of life, who became one of life's greatest defenders.

Do we love the pope? Do we want what is best for him? Do we pray and sacrifice for him? Or do we only blast him with both barrels on every possible occasion?

I need to examine my own conscience on this. In the meantime, for today at least, I will try my best to be mindful to pray and make little sacrifices begging the Holy Spirit to make Francis the pope God wants on the chair of Peter.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on Pope Francis and us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for Pope Francis and us.

St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, pray for Pope Francis and us.

St. Peter, Rock of the Church, pray for Pope Francis and us.