Thread

In all charity Francis was a challenging Pope. I mean that in the best way I can. I was born and raised on JPII, my oldest brother was ordained by him in Saint Peter's. It was a comfortable pontificate, everything was fine I was fine, the church as fine. Then came all the scandal and Benedict, but while the church needed shoring up, I was fine. Then came Francis. He said things that made me feel not fine. I don't know if he was good, bad, or confused, but he made me have to really evaluate what is true and if I am really following Christ. He challenged me to think about what it really means to Love, to serve, to be merciful. To my surprise, most of the time he wasn't wrong. My U.S. version of conservatism was a bit rigid, judgmental, and legalistic. I am not going to do a full defense of Francis. I never really liked him, but I am very grateful that God gave him to us. It is nice to enter the era of Leo with the full knowledge of how the media, both liberal and conservative, twist everything a Pope says. They do it for opposite reasons but they interpret it the same way. Anyway. I am grateful and full of hope. peace!

I mean, it's great that you got something out of certain things he said. But that doesn't absolve Francis of the evil he did.

God isn't going to ask my advice on Francis. But if He did I'd go with forgiving him his trespasses as I hope mine will be forgiven as well. In the meanwhile I will interpret everything he said in as orthodox light as possible. Both for my own sanity and to help anyone who might be tempted to follow more heterodox readings.