Should we criticize Pope Francis, or not? If so, how? Part 1.

CatholicCulture.org ^ | Sept 8, 2016 | By Dr. Jeff Mirus

[RBStealth]

Over the last thirty days my own criticism of Pope Francis has been more pronounced than usual. Given last week’s extensive criticism of the Pope’s suggestion regarding the works of mercy by both myself and Phil Lawler, it may seem that CatholicCulture.org is in the midst of a crescendo of criticism. I know from feedback that our readers tend to reflect seriously about the wisdom of criticizing the successors of Peter, and I want to emphasize that our writers do as well, pretty much all the time.

This does not mean that we always strike the perfect balance when it seems important to explain and evaluate something the Holy Father has said or done. That would be humanly impossible. But it does mean that there is a proper balance to be struck. It is my purpose in Part 1 of this essay to consider the overall considerations which lead to the decision to criticize. In Part 2, I will explore the many different ways in which criticism can be offered, including some of the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Not a new problem with this Pope

This is not an entirely new problem, of course, at least not for me. During the pontificate of Paul VI, I lamented his administrative weakness in the face of the neo-Modernist revolution (that is, the rapid rise of theological secularism) in the Church. He himself said that all he had been able to do for the Church was to suffer: There was, almost self-evidently, little doubt about his sanctity. But in the context of Paul VI’s common inability to successfully pursue his own ends, his courageous promulgation of Humanae Vitae in 1968—a brilliant exposition of the nature of marriage and the consequent immorality of deliberately impeding conception in the marital act—could only be received as a signal demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s protection of the Magisterium.

...(cont'd)...

[Popman]

The Pope is a man, flesh and blood like any other man...

He is not above criticism...

If anything, he should be highly criticized when he strays off his very important role as the spiritual leader of over a billion people...

[Popman]

-—However, I come to find out that there are almost as many different sub-groups of “orthodox” Catholics as there are Protestant sects.-—

Wow...some here will consider you a heretic for saying that...

[SkyPilot]

Jorge isn’t holy and he isn’t a father. He is a heretic and an enemy of Christ.

[attiladhun2]

Is a hog’s backside pork?

[Revel]

At the rate the Catholic church is going- Obama will be the next pope.

[milford421]

I speak for myself as a practicing Catholic, but here is my take on the Holy Father.
He has not changed Catholic belief, has not spoken ex-Cathedra, and expresses his opinion often and usually without much thought. I disagree with the Holy Father as a man on just about all of his opinions regarding Europe, the “refugees”, islam, politics, global warming, etc.

I do, however, trust completely that God has a reason for everything - the Holy Father being the present Pope included. I will continue to give my respect to the Pope. I will continue to live the Catholic faith that I’ve followed for decades, and I will continue to respectfully disagree with the opinions of the flesh and blood man who is the leader of the Church.

[Luircin]

Throw Frank the Hippie Pope out!

Are there any such things as Catholics in exile?

[RBStealth]

I’m with you, and there are very few of us, especially on FR.

[RBStealth]

also, publically criticizing the pope is anti-evangelization.
A little bit of criticism okay!, but this never ending stream of criticism hurts the Church.

Catholics criticizing the Pope, scares converts away
and our mission is evangelization

[MagillaX]

Like any other leader God allows to be in charge. Be it government, work, church. You respectively follow their instructions the best you can unless it crosses a clear moral or ethical line.

The Pope may be in a position of being first of the Bishops but he still has to find support for major issues before imposing it on others.

God is in charge and has a reason for everything.

[milford421]

Very little respect these days. I do the best I can.

[GingisK]

He does wear goofy clothes.

[Arthur McGowan]

If the Pope ever came to me for confession, I would tell him:

“I cannot give you absolution because it was sinful to accept the Papacy, and it is sinful not to resign. You are the worst Pope in history, and I say that knowing there have been rapists and murderers among the Popes. You have done more harm to the Church than they did.”

[Arthur McGowan]

I don’t agree. The Pope should be criticized for words that contradict the teaching of the Church or undermine morals, and for actions that give scandal. The scandal must be neutralized as much as possible.

[piusv]

Vatican II caused a massive upheaval in the Church. There are many different responses to it which contradict one another.

I would add one more thing to this. Although there are different responses to Vatican II, the one thing that all responses to Vatican II have in common is that Vatican II contradicts the Magisterium that came before it. Of course, I am not including the "I prefer the TLM better" group that still thinks Vatican II teaches the Catholic Faith whole and entire.

[BlatherNaut]

Catholics criticizing the Pope, scares converts away

Perhaps that may have been true to some extent in an earlier era when information traveled more slowly.

Today, the activities of churchmen who collude with pro-abort population controllers (e.g. Jeffrey Sachs, Hans Schellnhuber, et al.), Marxists, Eco-Nazi's, the Lavender Mafia, etc. are rapidly exposed via social media, and it is their flagrant corruption and hypocrisy that repels potential converts. Failure by rank and file Catholics to publicly reject such evil behavior implies acceptance of same, and further scandalizes non-Catholics.

[ebb tide]

There exists a spectrum of Catholicism nowadays(the whole spectrum is not truth) but the middle would contain the truth with the accentuated ends falling further and further away from truth(having less truth). Those on the ends are no more truthful than is Protestanism, except that they both contain quite a bit of truth.

That is the most pathetic statement that I've ever heard from a Catholic. It sounds like something a Democrat would say: the "middle" contains the truth. Are you a member of Church Militant or Church Milquetoast?

[onedoug]

It’s gotta be some reflective renegade.

[SkyPilot]

I agree with Blathernaut's statement:

Failure by rank and file Catholics to publicly reject such evil behavior implies acceptance of same, and further scandalizes non-Catholics.

Romans 13:1 - "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Matthew 28:18 - "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."

Jorge Mario Bergoglio is a man. And as a man, he is a fallen sinner just like everyone one of us, which he consistently demonstrates on a continual basis.

While I can empathize with the posters who say they have to keep defending where Francis has taken the Catholic church in recent years, I don't agree with them, nor do I applaud them. You must make a stand (and it has eternal consequences). Do you stand with Christ, or with the Vatican and Francis?

I was faced with this same choice. I was raised a Catholic, was confirmed, and even visited seminaries while a high school student as I was contemplating the priesthood. My wife and I were married in the church.

But as I grew older, I knew something was not right. I observed those around me who were evangelical Christians, and they had something we didn't have. For one, they absolutely loved Jesus with everything they had. There was no "going through the motions" that I found to be the case with a great number of Catholics. They read the Bible and took comfort from it. Their lives seemed transformed. Going to services wasn't an obligation for them - they seemed to truly enjoy worshiping and serving God.

I went to a priest for counseling. I asked him how I could be sure I was going to heaven. I had had dreams about Hell, and in my heart of hearts, I knew I was in clear danger of being sent there. I had done "good works." I organized food drives for the church. I had been an altar boy. I went to Mass every Sunday. I went to confession. I prayed the rosary. I lit candles with my prayers. I wore medals of patron saints. I had prayer cards on my dresser.

I sat in the priest's office and pleaded with him for reassurance and for guidance on how I could be sure that I would not be damned. He stared right past me, fidgeted uncomfortably in his chair, paused for a very long while, and they said to me:

"Well, that is a Great Mystery....."

I went to another priest, who basically gave me the same answer. I felt devastated and alone.

Then, I started to listen to Christian radio. Ravi Zacharias' sermons and lectures were of a particular comfort to me. I started to read the Bible myself more and more. And what I found shocked me. Many things that the Catholic church did and taught me were in direct conflict with God's Word. The arguments that I was "interpreting things the wrong way" fell flat and hallow. The Bible was easy to understand, and neither I, nor my church, was following it.

Twenty years ago, I got down on my knees, asked Jesus Christ to forgive me of my sins, and to come into my heart and life. I prayed that prayer with every fiber of my being. Believe me, it was not easy. I struggled with that decision for months. I didn't want to "submit" to Christ and to have Him changed my life forever. I was afraid of letting go, and afraid of letting go of certain sins that I held onto.

Almost immediately, I felt the love of Christ in my heart. I must have watched the movie series "Jesus of Nazareth" in VHS a dozen times. When I prayed, it was like I was really having a conversation with the Savior for the very first time. I started to change. I stopped cursing. Certain cravings and lusts fell away.

I still stumble and struggle with sin, don't get me wrong. I have had to go to Christ many times, ashamed at myself. But to say I am not the same man I was 20 years ago would be a tremendous understatement.

No one has to be handcuffed to Francis, or to any institution that is clearly in conflict with the true Word of God.

Christ stands at the door.

Take care.

[metmom]

Caesar=Caesar...God=God!!

Except that no one ever considered Caesar to be the representative of Jesus on the earth.

If so, then there's a couple problems.

For one thing, a great number of popes never acted like Christ. One would expect more integrity from men who name the name of Christ in such a manner. It is clear that there is no fear of God in the men who lay claim to such an office and make such a mockery of it.

Another issue is for lay Catholics. Criticizing the pope then becomes equivalent to criticizing Jesus and it also becomes criticizing the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the college of cardinals in selecting the new pope, if indeed He does.

I have asked in the past if that is the case, that the Holy Spirit guides them in the selection of the new pope and have yet to get an answer.