I wouldn’t chnge one word of your brilliant, insightful writing, dearest RitaOK. “He is truly an enigma.” Indeed!
I’m grateful for this article, annalex!!
I would add a few possibilities beyond Rita’s “one of these”. My take on the pope is that he genuinely wants to expand the conversation in the Church beyond the Humanae Vitae set of issues, and also involve marginal Catholics and those fallen away or about to fall away. How to do it properly is indeed a big question; the left-wing instincts of Archbishop Bergoglio indeed get in the way; but the dialog must go on. Clearly, when the Catholic flock is dwindling and not listening very much, something has got to be done that hasn’t been done. This article is a part of the process just as much as the Pope’s snap remarks, designed to captivate the hostile media.