Pope Francis' Visit: Wrap-Up, Part I | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis' Visit: Wrap-Up, Part I | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I will follow MSW's list with my resposes to each number:



First: Francis use of a loving God as a guide to basic orientation is a good start.  That lens, however, must be used to analyze whether the current moral teaching is actually from God or from moral fear of God the Ogre.  This includes the hard cases like assisted suicide, late term abortion when the fetus will never survive to birth, gay marriage (which to me is not a hard call on changing doctrine) or masturbation (which some old fashioned Catholics still regard as always a mortal sin).



Second: It was nice that both Washington local news, the nightly broadcasts and cable news, at least for a while, left the Donald alone - and Boehner.  By Saturday, Anthony Bordain and the Prison shows were back on the other two cable channels.  I am sure EWTN kept it going, but I would never watch their commentary on this except to watch their confusion as to what the Pope said. I also note that George Weigel behaved himself, so anything is possible.



Third: I hope that Obama drastically slows down deportations and also declares amnesty on drug offenes so that they cannot be used in deportation proceedings.  The idea that legislation will pass is fairly dead.



Fourth: I can't wait for the day 2 cultural warrior discussion.  Let me just point out that when people speak with condemnation on the morality of the other, they are speaking from pride and fear - and not for God.



Fifth: I hope someone can get Francis to realize that the religious liberty of Church employees is as important or more important than that of the Church at-large when dealing with the employees.  I think the Court will ultimately agree with that, absent ministry decisions.  The American bishops want religious power - both in the public square and over their workers.  The establishment clause means we can't give it to them, nor should we.  I like the way the Pope seems to not give any footing for intolerant cake bakers or county clerks.



Sixth: Francis was right to honor the Sisters and Nuns, however this is too little too late. The culture in the pews is chaning faster on women priests and bishops (there abbesses who would be great) than on gays - and the shift on gays is huge.  The question is not if, it's when and how.  Here is a hint, the Anglicans did it and, while that d rove some of their faithful to the Ordinates, it won't last long .  Of course, reunion with Canterbury would essentially accept the new status quo.



Seventh:I wonder if the Tea Party Catholic members will heed the words of the Pope, particularly Paul Ryan, who is in charge of those programs.  The Pope was certainly clear about dysfunction not being good.  Boehner took it to heart so much he resigned, presumably to ram through a few centrist things before he goes.  As far as abortion, even a congressional action moving citizenship under the 14th amendment to the begining of the second trimester would fail, largely because the GOP would not want to see this issue settled or even see progress - it would kill their captive Pro-Life base.



Eighth:As I wrote yesterday, what he said about marriage was interesting, although I don't think it is crass consumerism that has marriage fail but an attitude by the families of the bride and groom that a marriage with big problems should be ended so that the more innocent spouse is spared the pain of going on.  I'm not talking about violence but instead economic uncertainty, illness, especially mental illness, in the spouse and even cheating.  This puts transient moods over duty and that is a shame.  In-laws should want their children to be morally excellent, because ultimately that will make them happy.



What the Pope did not say is significant and I bet the right-wingers are stewing in their juices over it.