Tag Archives: Pope Francis

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An interview that credits Pope Francis as saying about 2% of Roman Catholic clerics are paedophiles stirred controversy Sunday, as the Vatican sought to raise questions about the article’s accuracy and others called on the pope to take more action on the issue.

The interview by Eugenio Scalfari, published Sunday, quotes the pope as calling the rash of sex abuse scandals “a leprosy in our home” and saying the pedophiles include “priests and even bishops and cardinals,” according to a CBS News translation. “And others, even more numerous, know about it but keep quiet, they punish without saying the reason why. I find this state of things untenable and it is my intention to confront it with the severity it requires.”

The Vatican has pushed back on some points. According to Vatican officials, Scalfari does not record his conversations with the pope nor transcribe them word for word. News.va, an official Vatican news source, cited Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi as saying Scalfari quotes Francis from memory alone, and that the pope does not review the results before publication.

Any excuse.

Did Pope Francis really say 2% of Catholic clergy are paedophiles? (Lauren Raab, LA Times)

Pic: Wikipedia

Pope_Francis_at_Varginha_(2)

Pope Francis said that staying childless will ultimately bring married couples nothing but “the bitterness of loneliness”.

The Pope also counselled childless couples to be fruitful and multiply, and not spend time raising pets when they could be raising children. He said that while a childless life offers better vacation opportunities, it will end in solitude:

This culture of well-being from ten years ago convinced us: ‘It’s better not to have children! It’s better! You can go explore the world, go on holiday, you can have a villa in the countryside, you can be care-free… it might be better – more comfortable – to have a dog, two cats, and the love goes to the two cats and the dog. Is this true or is this not? Have you seen it? Then, in the end this marriage comes to old age in solitude, with the bitterness of loneliness. It is not fruitful, it does not do what Jesus does with his Church: He makes His Church fruitful.

Maybe Eamon Casey and Michael Cleary had the right idea after all…?

Pope Francis Urges Couples To Raise Kids, Not Cats And Dogs (Maya Rhodan, Time)

Pic: Wikipedia

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[From top: Taoiseach Enda Kenny meets Pope Francis at the Vatican yesterday, and later stands next to Cardinal Seán Brady as he was interviewed on RTÉ’s Six One News last night]

Yesterday Pope Francis declared John Paul II and John XXIII as saints in St Peter’s Square in Rome.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended the ceremony and met with Pope Francis afterwards, during which he invited the pontiff to Ireland.

Afterwards, Mr Kenny was interviewed by RTÉ.

During this interview, he stood next to Cardinal Seán Brady, who was given names and addresses of children who were being abused, or who were at risk of being abused, by Fr Brendan Smyth, in 1975, but failed to ensure they were protected.

Mr Kenny told Six One:

“I have to say that I invited him to Ireland and, while it’s not an official responsibility of the Government, I did say that if the church authorities extended an invitation and that he’s willing to travel, the Government will see to it that everything is done to make that visit a real success.”

Meanwhile, RTÉ journalist Tony Connolly reported:

“Controversy surrounds both men [John Paul II and John XXIII], particularly John Paul the second, who faced criticism over his handling of clerical sex abuse cases. However, the church insists that it’s their very humanity in itself which is a prerequisite for sainthood.

Watch back here

Previously: Cardinal Brady: More Than Just A Note Taker

(H/T: Ringos Dove)

 

No. It’s SuperFran.

You’d miss Benedict all the same.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNnpTJsATdk

Is the Pope kinda too liberal?

Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin had this to say about Fran the Man Pope Francis when asked on CNN:

“I’m kinda trying to follow what his agenda is. You know I’m surprised that he came out with a couple of things in the media that but then again I’m not a one to trust the media’s interpretation of somebody’s message. But having read, there were media outlets that he’s had some statements that to me, sound kinda liberal and that’s taken me aback. It’s kinda surprised me. But there again, unless I really dig deep into what his messaging is and do my own homework I’m not going to just trust what I hear in the media.”

Leave the Pope’s mates alone.

Previously: Is The Bear Catholic?