Pope Francis is Coming! Part II | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis is Coming! Part II | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Mercy, however, is not codependent.  It must literally mean that some things we thought of as sinful really are not when taken in a natural law, rather than a religious or Jewish national identity point of view.  Sin is what damages us, not what damages God (because you cannot damage God).  The degree to which that happens is also important, as is the intent – even with abortion.  Francis is not close to there, but I am not sure it’s his job to take us all the way there, but looking at the reality may take him there.



Francis is a pastor and not unacquainted with liberation theology.  Hopefully he will be open to emerging economic thought on the Democratic Socialist side, which seemed to be OK with Benedict as well.  He will certainly not endorse the Prosperity Gospel any time soon.  I hope he reminds us that while Matthew 25 says we meet Jesus in the poor, the story of Cain and Abel means that when we meet the poor, we give them the first fruits, not the leavings.



Religion and the Gospel are about us, MSW is wrong on that point.  Jesus did not suffer on the Cross to satisfy the Father but to experience the emptiness of human existence.  Remember, Witness is another word for Martyr.



Process does matter, but whether it affects the outcome by giving the Traditionalists a bone in the second Synod is yet to be seen.  I wonder if he is lobbying them personally.  It is telling that the move of Burke had nothing to do with his remarks – he actually wanted Malta.  Who knew?



Defanging the Curia might not be enough.  Taking a red pen to the table of organization and abolishing Dicastries is the end of this trajectory.



Gesture is part of Martyrdom, it is a witness to what is important and does not let personal comfort get in the way of that witness.  It’s not an act.  What MSW is describing is not methodology, its authenticity.



I am not sure Francis will mention the Jansenists, although it would be interesting, although I suspect from Gary Wills that some of what we would call old Jesuits (from the first half of the 20th century) could give the Jansenists a run for their money.  Glad to see they are gone and that Francis has restored the true nature of the Society.