By Nastacia Voisin |
Pope Francis surprised and inspired many church-watchers when he spoke candidly about the role of the Catholic Church in a recent interview.
Conducted with the Italian Jesuit publication La Civiltà Cattolica, the interview reveals how Francis’ Jesuit roots inform his inclusive and possibly transformative perspective.
The media has highlighted the Pope’s comments that the church should no longer be “obsessed” with certain issues, specifically abortion, gay marriage and contraception. While the Pope’s opinions on these topics are orthodox, his criticism of the Catholic Church’s focus on these hot-button issues is encouraging to some.
“We have to find a new balance,” Francis said in the magazine America’s translation of the interview. “Otherwise even the moral edifice of the Church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.”
Francis did not endorse homosexuality, abortion or the use of contraceptives, saying that the teaching of the Church on those matters is clear. But he did stress that when those issues arise, “we have to talk about them in a context.”
Theology professor Sister Kathleen McManus described her reaction to the Pope’s interview as “jubilation.” McManus feels that the Catholic Church has “been in a retrogressive period,” and Francis’ emphasis on love before doctrinal purity is “a breath of fresh air.”
“He has boldly and bluntly stated what many of us in the Church have felt … about this narrow focus on sexual morality and reproductive issues,” she said. “It’s not that they don’t have a place, but they’re not a dominant part of the Gospel.”
The Pope has also adopted a progressive approach to the role of women, saying it is “necessary to broaden the opportunities for a stronger presence of women in the church.”
Senior Andrea Merrill said the Pope’s vision of an inclusive church, a “home for all,” caused her immediate excitement.
“Finally focusing on what the Church is for, not what it’s against,” Merrill said. “It’s a brilliant change.”
Even while Merrill wished for an even more progressive statement from the Pope, she hoped his outlook signals the beginning of a less judgmental Catholic Church.
“It would mean so much if the Church was more welcoming and less harsh about certain doctrines,” she said. “That could heal whole families. It could repair relationships.”
As an ethicist, assistant professor Rene Sanchez says the Pope’s critique is a healthier approach to the issues of abortion, contraceptives and sexuality.
“It’s almost like there’s moral ethics and then there are these three issues.” Sanchez said. “And we’ve made these three issues the report card for how Catholic we are. It’s stunning to me.”
Fr. Charlie Gordon especially appreciated the Pope’s humble approach. Francis began his interview by saying “I am a sinner. This is the most accurate definition.”
“I thought that was a magnificent place to begin,” Gordon said. “I think that humility is 90 percent of the spiritual life.”
