What's with the Pope? He keeps talking about abortion and marriage between a man and a woman.

I thought Pope Francis said we shouldn't be talking about this stuff all the time?

I thought he said, "Who am I to judge?"

What the ...

Pope Francis condemns abortion and infanticide as unspeakable crimes.

Reiterating that human life is sacred and inviolable, Pope Francis told the Italian pro-life group Movimento per la Vita today that it is “necessary to reiterate the strongest opposition to any direct attack on life, especially innocent and defenseless, and [the mother’s] unborn child in the womb is the innocent par excellence.”

In his remarks Pope Francis quoted from Gaudium et Spes [“The Gospel of Joy”] from the Second Vatican Council: “From the moment of its conception, life must be guarded with the greatest care while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes.” - Source

Pope Francis insists on the right of a child to a mom and dad.

“it is necessary to emphasize the right of children to grow up within a family, with a father and a mother able to create a suitable environment for their development and emotional maturity. Continuing to mature in the relationship, in the complementarity of the masculinity and femininity of a father and a mother, and thus preparing the way for emotional maturity.” - Pope Francis

I told you so.  And yet some Catholics have been worried the Pope wasn't Catholic, while others kept saying the Pope has to speak more clearly on these issues.  Ye of little faith - you sound just like New Ways Ministers when you speak like that:

Pope Francis needs to speak clearly on LGBT issues...

For those who have been lifted up by the pope’s more positive remarks on LGBT issues, these new words will come as a shock. Though the pontiff has been developing a reputation as being progressive, many have warned all along that his thinking on women and gender have needed development. Since the heart of these remarks focus on the outdated concept of “gender complementarity,” it seems reasonable to attribute these remarks, in part, to this blind spot of his.

Regardless of its origin in the pope’s thinking, this remark shows that Francis still needs to learn a lot about LGBT people and their families. That’s the bad news. - Bondings 2.0

 The Pope IS Catholic.

Told ya.

I knew that!

I didn't say that - you did.

Yes you did.

See? Everything is okay. Or - Can't we all just get along?

"That’s why a crabby, griping, whining believer is an oxymoron!
That’s why we say, “Joy is the infallible sign of God’s presence.”

Cardinal Dolan

Cardinal Dolan and Stephen Colbert and Fr. James Martin, S.J. Comedy Hour.

Cardinal Dolan prayed at both conventions.  Cardinal Dolan was at Fordham last night.  Fr. James Martin hosted he and Stephen Colbert.  According to all reports, it was a fun and funny evening.  Cardinal Dolan is a great guy - I mean that with all of my heart.  I like Colbert and I like Fr. Martin too.  They are Catholics.  Fordham is Catholic.  Get it?  It's a wonderful life!  Life is beautiful!  Get it?  These people are Catholic.  Get it?

No, I don't think you do.  Because there are a lot of blogged-down-and-dirty Catholics who condemn these folks - for sure they condemn Fr. James Martin.  Who are you people?  Fr. James Martin, S.J. is a priest in excellent standing.  Therefore, if the Church doesn't condemn Fr. Martin, then I don't either. 

Oh.  So anyway, Cardinal Dolan writes about the Fordham event here:

Humor, Joy, and the Spiritual Life

Tonight I was privileged to be at Fordham University in the Bronx for a special evening on “Humor, Joy, and the Spiritual Life” with TV host Stephen Colbert and Father James Martin, SJ. I had a great time, and it appeared that the more than 3000 people — mostly students — jammed into the Rose Hill Gymnasium had a great time as well. - Here’s the text of my remarks.

"Lord save us from sour faced saints." - Teresa of Avila 

 

What?

 

Causes for the canonization of Paul VI and John Paul I moving on up.

This is such good news.

I love both of these Popes.  I was so fortunate to see Pope Paul VI several times while staying in Rome.  Sadly I never saw Pope John Paul I, the kind, smiling Pope - yet I was immediately attracted to him and felt a deep love for him.  I esteem both Popes as saints, although I am always surprised when I discover not everyone thinks as highly of them as I do.

I'll never forget being corrected by an eminent priest, who in response to my saying I thought Paul VI was great, proceeded to tear him apart by pointing out all of his failures and assigning blame to His Holiness, personally - for all the troubles after Vatican II.  Similarly others have dismissed John Paul I as ineffective since his reign had been 'aborted' by death - although most would likely affirm, if he had lived, "he would have promulgated the errors of VII".  Human judgments Christ might condemn.

Another friend once told me that not one blessed/saint has ever been canonized who attended or celebrated the Novus Ordo.  That is not true BTW, yet how ironic if every Pope since the Council turns out to be a saint?

No date has been announced for the beatification of Popes Paul VI and John Paul I, but it is possible that it could occur during the Year of Faith (Oct. 11, 2012-Nov. 24, 2013), which begins with the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. Both popes were present at the Second Vatican Council. - Source

Thinking about the Holy Father and the Extraordinary Form of Mass...

I'm no expert to be sure, but it seems to me that the Holy Father is just fine with the Ordinary Form of Mass.  It is my understanding that he celebrates the so called Novus Ordo every day.  We know he celebrates all of his public Masses using the Ordinary Form with great reverence and solemnity.  Obviously the Holy Father loves the Mass, which explains in part why he issued the Summorum Pontificum.  Nevertheless, I think it noteworthy that the Holy Father always celebrates Mass according to the Ordinary Form - the Novus Ordo of Paul VI.
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I don't think it is ever a good idea for anyone to try and think for the Pope, or to put words into his mouth, or to interpret what he is really saying and doing to suit one's agenda.