[Alex Murphy]

Many conservative Catholics are experiencing a range of negative feelings about Pope Francis. When a headline screams that he stated that 2% of Catholic clergy are pedophiles, that he “promises to solve the celibacy problem” that he doesn’t want to convert Evangelicals or that he doesn’t judge a homosexual who “searches for the Lord and has goodwill” they experience confusion, anger, resentment, bewilderment and fear.

Some have given up on Pope Francis. Others say he is “the false prophet” who will accompany the anti Christ in the end times. Others don’t like his dress sense, grumble about his media gaffes and some think they are all intentional and that he is a very shrewd Jesuit who wants to undermine the Catholic faith. The sensationalism doesn’t do any good. These folks should step back and realize they are (in their own way) being just as sensational about Pope Francis as liberals were about Pope Benedict when they called him “God’s Rottweiler” or “Nazi Ratzi” and said he was a closet homosexual and a hater of women.

So if Pope Francis upsets you–and by the way–I’ve had my own moments of head scratching over Francis–here are ten things to remember which help put things in perspective and maintain some balance.

• he is the pope
• we have been blessed for the last thirty years with two stellar popes
• Popes come and go
• Catholics should love the pope, but they should love Jesus more
• check out the times in which we live
• conflict sells
• Remember Francis is from Argentina
• you don’t have to pay serious attention to every single word that falls from the mouth of the pope
• welcome to the muddled mystery that is the Catholic Church
• what good does it do to get all upset and huffy about the pope?

He could have just summarized it by saying "shut up and kiss the ring."

[piusv]

I was thinking more along the lines of “keep your heads in the sand”.