Pope Francis gives another interview …
Here, a link is provided to another Pope Francis interview, this time with the atheist editor of Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Eugenio Scalfari. It’s about half the length of the previous Jesuit interview.
http://www.repubblica.it/cultura/2013/10/01/news/pope_s_conversation_with_scalfari_english-67643118/:
It was half past two in the afternoon. My phone rings and in a somewhat shaky voice my secretary tells me: “I have the Pope on the line. I’ll put him through immediately.”
I was still stunned when I heard the voice of His Holiness on the other end of a the line saying, “Hello, this is Pope Francis.” “Hello Your Holiness”, I say and then, “I am shocked. I did not expect you to call me.” “Why so surprised? You wrote me a letter asking to meet me in person. I had the same wish, so I’m calling to fix an appointment. Let me look at my diary: I can’t do Wednesday, nor Monday, would Tuesday suit you?”
I answer, that’s fine.
Interesting and hopeful interview…but:”We will also discuss the role of women in the church. Remember the church is feminine”. I hope Pope Francis discusses it WITH women, otherwise it’s yet another case of men among themselves discussing women and their roles….And what is the role of men? Should we women discuss men and their roles in a” feminine church”?….
This new interview reveals an amazing man in Pope Francis, yet, I feel like I’m in a “crazy-making” drama in the Church. On the one hand, Pope Francis can speak of a “court that creates a leprosy” in the Curia, and that he too becomes anti-clerical when confronted by clericalism, but, he signed off on an excommunication for an Australian priest just days ago. And we have not seen the reinstating of censured and silenced priests. I also agree with many including Soline Humbert, that there is a serious issue around discussing women in the Church, but, not discussing with the women of the Church. Many, many will disagree with me, but, I emphatically state…that the Pope is WRONG about his institutional and probably personal belief that Christ has not and will not call women to minister as priests..Now, he may not be calling women because the entire ecclesiastical structure is in need of change.And I say this on the Feast Day of St. Therese of Lisieux who I am certain did not get it wrong, when she says…that Christ spared her the grief of not being able to be ordained. I would certainly welcome the opportunity to speak to the Pope. Since he’s calling people on phone….I would love to be one of those persons that contacts. I have been wanting such a conversation with him since he was chosen. I won’t provide my cell number here, but, maybe, word will still get to him..do you think?
Germain Grisez has some interesting comments on Pope Francis’s latest interview. Germain is a renowned theologian. An extract:
”I’m afraid that Pope Francis has failed to consider carefully enough the likely consequences of letting loose with his thoughts in a world that will applaud being provided with such help in subverting the truth it is his job to guard as inviolable and proclaim with fidelity. For a long time he has been thinking these things. Now he can say them to the whole world — and he is self-indulgent enough to take advantage of the opportunity with as little care as he might unburden himself with friends after a good dinner and plenty of wine.”
URL: http://mirrorofjustice.blogs.com/mirrorofjustice/2013/09/germain-grisez-on-pope-franciss-interview.html
“Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense. We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and improve our knowledge of the world around us. Sometimes after a meeting I want to arrange another one because new ideas are born and I discover new needs. This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good.”
Again and again this Pope emphasises the need for dialogue, for meeting with each other, for listening to each other. How long must it take before some of the hierarchy actually heed these wise words? There is such a thirst for and such a need for dialogue, both within and outside the church. Pope Francis is setting us all an example but will we follow??
I hope Francis will issue a formal and authoritative statement of his vision, spelling out its theological presuppositions and consequences.
Thank you for this link. How moving is the naturalness, humility and availability of Francis.
” was still stunned when I heard the voice of His Holiness on the other end of a the line saying, “Hello, this is Pope Francis.” “Hello Your Holiness”, I say and then, “I am shocked I did not expect you to call me.” “Why so surprised? You wrote me a letter asking to meet me in person. I had the same wish, so I’m calling to fix an appointment. Let me look at my diary: I can’t do Wednesday, nor Monday, would Tuesday suit you?”
I answer, that’s fine.
“The time is a little awkward, three in the afternoon, is that okay? Otherwise it’ll have to be another day.” Your Holiness, the time is fine. “So we agree: Tuesday 24 at 3 o’clock. At Santa Marta. You have to come into the door at the Sant’Uffizio.”
I don’t know how to end this call and let myself go, saying: “Can I embrace you by phone?” “Of course, a hug
PLEASE take note Irish Bishops individually and collectively who do not even deign to acknowledge emails and correspondence from individuals and groups ! Remember who funds your Conference!
This comment of the Pope’s also stands out and offers clarity on where he stands on the Magisterium perhaps since values lead doctrine ?
“Political institutions are secular by definition and operate in independent spheres. All my predecessors have said the same thing, for many years at least, albeit with different accents. I believe that Catholics involved in politics carry the values of their religion within them, but have the mature awareness and expertise to implement them. The Church will never go beyond its task of expressing and disseminating its values, at least as long as I’m here.”
Prof Grisez is off the mark. “Making this assertion suggests, unfortunately, a caricature of the teachings of recent pontificates.” No it doesn’t. It suggests the portrait of those Catholics who club people over the head with dogma instead of engaging them in conversation. “[W]hat is meant by “moral edifice of the Church”? … who knows what he means?” I do. It means the moral authority of the Church, as perceived by people of good will who are not Catholic. “[I]f it was suggested by a spirit, it was not the Holy Spirit …” Does Prof. Grisez mean that the Pope “… hath an unclean spirit”, like they said of that friend of his whom Francis is always talking about? Finally, “[Francis] is self-indulgent enough to take advantage of the opportunity with as little care as he might unburden himself with friends after a good dinner and plenty of wine.” Well put, Professor! Or how about this: “They say, ‘Behold a man that is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners.’ And wisdom is justified by her children.”