Pope Francis’ Political Instincts Are Execrable

 

As a faithful, devout Catholic, I believe the pope to be infallible when he is pronouncing on matters of faith and doctrine. However, as I have told my own children many times, that does not mean that the pope is right about anything else. As a historian, I teach them of the history of the papacy, with all its lechers and weak-minded boobs, as well as its holy saints and wise and powerful leaders. In most of my lifetime, the pope has been someone whose wisdom I valued and whose reasoned statements on matters of international importance I could at least respect, even if I disagreed.

But, Pope Francis, as much as I pray for him as the leader of my church, has terrible political instincts. His self-important idea that if he doesn’t speak up, the Israelis will suddenly start oppressing religious worship, rather than being the only country in the Middle East that guarantees freedom of worship, makes me sick. The reality is that the threat of violence is not coming from the Israelis, and that only areas of Jerusalem that are under the control of the Israelis, not the Palestinians, are safe for people of all faiths.

May the Lord bless Pope Francis and bring him the wisdom to know when he should speak and when he should shut his mouth. Today I rejoice in the announcement that the US will stop acting as though reality is not real and accept Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Lord be praised! This time next year, or perhaps more like three or four years, in Jerusalem!

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  1. Hartmann von Aue Member
    Hartmann von Aue
    @HartmannvonAue

    MarciN (View Comment):
    I just read the transcript of the speech. It contains this at the end. Clearly the pope did not read the speech:

    In making these announcements, I also want to make one point very clear. This decision is not intended in any way to reflect a departure from our strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace agreement.

    We want an agreement that is a great deal for the Israelis and a great deal for the Palestinians. We are not taking a position of any final status issues including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem or the resolution of contested borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved.

    The United States remains deeply committed to helping facilitate a peace agreement that is acceptable to both sides. I intend to do everything in my power to help forge such an agreement.

    Exactly. He appears not to have taken the 10-12 minutes needed to listen to it. His opinion on the matter is therefore worthless.

    • #31
  2. Zafar Member
    Zafar
    @Zafar

    But his moral judgement is sound.

    • #32
  3. CB Toder aka Mama Toad Member
    CB Toder aka Mama Toad
    @CBToderakaMamaToad

    Zafar (View Comment):
    But his moral judgement is sound.

    Why do you think so?

    • #33
  4. Zafar Member
    Zafar
    @Zafar

    Still small voice.

    Also – he doesn’t finesse it to pander to his home team’s sensibilities – the truth is what the truth is, palatable or not.

    • #34
  5. CitizenOfTheRepublic Inactive
    CitizenOfTheRepublic
    @CitizenOfTheRepublic

    He’s an Argentine.  That’s all you need to know.  A sick political culture – imported mostly on the backs of Italian immigrants – destroyed a once wealthy and successful nation.  And its modes of thinking/acting make it impossible to achieve political stability.  There is no reason to take anything about politics and society that  that man says seriously.

    • #35
  6. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    DocJay (View Comment):

    Manny (View Comment):

    DocJay (View Comment):
    Relatively silent on the murder of Christians in the ME , yet the first to pipe up about Islam being oppressed by Trump and Jews. By oppressed I mean following the Bible and recognizing the true capital of Israel. Oh the horror.

    Oh I think that first part is a unfair. I have heard him speak up about Christians being martyred in the middle east, often, after every atrocity. He just doesn’t link it to a core Islamic belief. You know, the “not true Islam” nonsense.

    Relatively was my qualifier, but you’re right, I looked it up. I was unfair.

    I just don’t like the man. I disagree with almost every one of his opinions that are political. He’s a socialist and a dangerous one.

    So my question is @docjay and @manny, how does one trust the spiritual wisdom of a man when his temporal wisdom seems almost entirely lacking?

    • #36
  7. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    Zafar (View Comment):
    Still small voice.

    Also – he doesn’t finesse it to pander to his home team’s sensibilities – the truth is what the truth is, palatable or not.

    You’ve hit upon the crux of the Pope Francis issue:  Why is it Pope Francis is causing millions of life long Catholics to question the “truth” according to Pope Francis.

    • #37
  8. Zafar Member
    Zafar
    @Zafar

    EDISONPARKS (View Comment):

    Zafar (View Comment):
    Still small voice.

    Also – he doesn’t finesse it to pander to his home team’s sensibilities – the truth is what the truth is, palatable or not.

    You’ve hit upon the crux of the Pope Francis issue: Why is it Pope Francis is causing millions of life long Catholics to question the “truth” according to Pope Francis.

    I think it’s ego.

    Or whatever word describes the assumption that morality and self perception always align.

    • #38
  9. EDISONPARKS Member
    EDISONPARKS
    @user_54742

    Zafar (View Comment):

    EDISONPARKS (View Comment):

    Zafar (View Comment):
    Still small voice.

    Also – he doesn’t finesse it to pander to his home team’s sensibilities – the truth is what the truth is, palatable or not.

    You’ve hit upon the crux of the Pope Francis issue: Why is it Pope Francis is causing millions of life long Catholics to question the “truth” according to Pope Francis.

    I think it’s ego.

    Or whatever word describes the assumption that morality and self perception always align.

    Or 180 degree changes in “truths” that may be the cause of the current rash Catholics suffering from Pope Francis “truth” whiplash.

    • #39
  10. Teneo Inactive
    Teneo
    @Teneo

    Given the vulnerability of the Vatican to a terrorist attack, I see the Pope’s words as being pragmatic not political.

     

    • #40
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