We always notice when he says stuff that's dubious if not downright wrong-headed. Are we supposed to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear, when he defends the unborn child?
He talks it. He also walks it. When he became Pope, one of the first things Francis told his Almoner (top charity official), Monsignor Konrad Krajewski was to open a residential shelter just off of St. Peter's Square, serving all sorts of needy people but with a priority for pregnant women and street children.
This was in the news earlier this year when a Rom (also called gypsy or zingano) woman gave birth on the sidewalk near St. Peters' Square and the Pppe, hearing of it, directed that she as to be offered free housing for a year.
He's also requested Sisters of Life to set up one of their missions in Rome.
Could he do more? Of course. Is his alliance with prpulation-bomber ecology freaks (like the crew that rolled out Laudato Si) a problem? A big one.
But if anybody, president, premier, or prelate --- other than Francis--- had said and done what he has to uphold the right to life of the unborn, that person would be called a pro-life leader.
Think about that.
In Francis' case, that damage is usually not caused by statements which directly extol abortion, although his eulogizing of that Italian woman who had been a life-long campaigner for abortion rights, came very close to it. Rather, it''s caused by where he places abortion in the hierarchy of issues which he considers most important. Based purely on the volume of words which he expends and the emphasis which he places on these issues, one is forced to conclude that poverty, unemployment, health care, immigration rights and the environment are more urgent and pressing issues for mankind right now.
Sure, abortion is an issue, but it's not the issue on which civilization as we know it, depends. It's one of many issues with which the Church is concerned. The "seamless garment" by any other name.
When viewed in this light, I'm sure you can see that it's possible for a Catholic to justify voting for a pro-abortion candidate, for instance, if his/her stance on those other issues mentioned above (poverty, health care etc) is in line with Catholic policy and this is why we are so afflicted in the US with bishops and Catholic laity who are in love with Obama and his fellow travelers.