[Tax-chick]

I think it’s important to remember that Pope Francis is not trying to avoid criticism of himself. He’s trying to evangelize the world under very difficult conditions.

It could be that more people besides my ironical son (sitting across the room) and me will notice that people who otherwise have nothing in common are criticizing the Pope, and they’ll think, “Maybe we should pay attention to the guy who’s consistent.”

[defconw]

You are way more hopeful then me. I am glad someone is. I am pretty much on the Oh here we go again, wheel. Not because I think he's wrong, it's just the constant harangue, most especially in here.

Then again who cares what they think. The Holy Father no matter what he says or does has a target on him.

I once had a philosophical discussion on the nature of sin and does the priest take on the sins of confessees. It was about the time that JPII was being criticized for not stepping down in his illness. Of course we know Benedict got criticized for stepping down. So they never can win. I was in the JPII was teaching us how to embrace suffering by his example and how to die. Quite moving, although it was tough to watch his decline. But then again the Crucifixion was no picnic either.