Papal Notes - "Wondering" after Pope Francis

"ROME — For generations, homosexuality has largely been a taboo topic for the Vatican, ignored altogether or treated as “an intrinsic moral evil,” in the words of the previous pope.
In that context, brief remarks by Pope Francis suggesting that he would not judge priests for their

sexual orientation, made aboard the papal airplane on the way back from his first foreign trip, to Brazil, resonated through the church. Never veering from church doctrine opposing homosexuality, Francis did strike a more compassionate tone than that of his predecessors, some of whom had largely avoided even saying the more colloquial “gay.”
“If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” (I thought he was supposed to be Christ's representative on earth? BTW...What would Peter say about "gay" pastors? Seriously think about that....) Francis told reporters, speaking in Italian but using the English word “gay.”
Francis’s words could not have been more different from those of Benedict XVI, who in 2005 wrote that homosexuality was “a strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil,” and an “objective disorder.” The church document said men with “deep-seated homosexual tendencies” should not become priests.
Vatican experts were quick to point out that Francis was not suggesting that the priests or anyone else should act on their homosexual tendencies, which the church considers a sin. But the fact that he made such comments — and used the word “gay” — was nevertheless revolutionary, and likely to generate significant discussion in local dioceses, where bishops are divided over whether to accept priests who are gay but celibate. (Sounds like someone is trying to be popular with the secular world right now and their obsession with the gay issue).
“We can see the figure of Peter so near to us,” said Milena Rocha, 20, a Brazilian student who slept on the beach Saturday night along with thousands of others in a vigil before the pope’s final Mass on Sunday, comparing Francis to St. Peter.  (...all the world wondered after the beast.  Revelation 13:3)     

She said that the vigil, in which many camped on the sands on pieces of cardboard, showed the energy that Francis was bringing to the church in Brazil, which has more Catholics than any other country, an estimated 123 million." NYT

 

WAIT!!!!

There's MORE "wondering" below, this time from CNN....

 

"(CNN) - At times last week, I was dumbstruck and even in tears as I followed the coverage of Pope Francis' visit to Brazil for World Youth Day.
Few things have filled me with more hope about my church than the pope's past few days. For what Francis did in Rio de Janeiro, and continues to do, represents some very positive change.
Monday’s surprising interview aboard his plane back to Rome, during which, in response to a question about gays and gay priests, he said, in part, “Who am I to judge?” likewise shows an openness that borders on revolutionary.


Hey..Protestants...Remember WHY your Protestant?

At the same time, Francis called for greater mercy for divorced and remarried Catholics, and asked for a "deeper theology" of women in the church.
But make no mistake: Francis is doing is something new. And he has
the potential to change the church, and in the process the world.His moving address in the favela was, outside the Gospels, the most succinct summary of social justice I’ve ever heard.
In an unscripted remark in Rio, delivered in his native Spanish, he said, “What is it that I expect as a consequence of World Youth Day? I want a mess. We knew that in Rio there would be great disorder, but I want trouble in the dioceses!"
There’s a word you don’t see in many papal encyclicals: fun.
But Jesus had fun. (What is traditionally considered his first miracle was at a wedding party, after all.)
And the Pope looked like he was having a blast at World Youth Day." CNN

And some "Wondering" on Fox News Latino......

 

"The pontiff, who has gained a reputation for being “the people’s Pope” and received rock star treatment in Brazil, broke from the traditional in his rhetoric by announcing that he will not judge priests based on their sexual orientation and for criticizing clergy for losing touch with their parishioners. But with the number of followers plunging in the world’s largest Catholic country, religion experts said the pope’s visit could be the springboard that helps revive Catholicism in Brazil.
The pope’s divergence from Catholic rigidity, plus the massive crowds he drew, suggests that the pope’s visit could succeed in reversing the downward trend of Catholicism in Brazil.

According to Strozenberg, last week’s visit by Pope Francis will leave two lasting legacies on Catholicism in Brazil.

“First, there will be more churches in poor areas. This is one of the messages he gave.

“Second, it will renew the visibility of participation of Catholic movements.”"

FoxNewLatino

 

 

O.K....Enough "wondering" for one day....