Commentary on the Pope’s Interview Continues

Pope Francis

Commentators are still reacting and responding to Pope Francis’ landmark interview in America magazine, in which he said, among many other things that the Catholic Church was too focused on being judgmental towards lesbian and gay people.  Yesterday, we provided you with a variety of commentary, and we will do the same today.  As mentioned, the interview was wide-ranging, covering many topics.  In these snippets, we will focus on commentary that deals with his comments regarding lesbian and gay people.

Sister Jeannine Gramick

Sister Jeannine Gramick

Sister Jeannine Gramick, New Ways Ministry’s co-founder appeared on Canadian Public Television in an interview in which she said,

“He is saying to lesbian and gay Catholics who have left the Church because they have felt coldness and they felt the door slammed in their face: This is your Church. Do not think you have to leave because you are lesbian or gay. Do not think you have to leave because you practice artificial means of birth control. Do not think you have to leave because you are divorced and remarried. This is your Church, it is a church for all of us. There’s this big tent and that is his idea of the Church…

“His worldview is very different from the worldview that we’ve been operating under the past thirty-five year..[that] we have the truth, and we are going to proclaim the truth, and we can’t deviate from the truth. In the interview, he speaks a number of times that he speaks about uncertainty…He comes from a worldview that says there is truth, but we are in search for that truth. Hopefully we as a Church will be open to new things.”

Lewis Speaks-Tanner

Lewis Speaks-Tanner

Lewis Speaks-Tanner, the vice-president of Dignity USA made an appearance on NBC Nightly Newssaying:

“I think that there are a lot of Catholics who still go, but feel excluded and now this message that he’s given has given an opportunity for them to feel more welcome.”

Francis DeBernardo

Francis DeBernardo

Francis DeBernardo of New Ways Ministry was interviews by several media outlets, telling The Baltimore Sun that the release of the pope’s interview was a “landmark day in the church’s history” and that:

“ ‘Many lesbian and gay Catholics and their family members have been waiting decades to hear a compassionate word from the Vatican, which they have never received’…

” ‘Today we got confirmation that the hints the pope had been giving all summer were true — he really does want to welcome gay and lesbian people to the Catholic Church.’…

” ‘There’s been a movement over the last three decades of pastoral leaders trying to welcome lesbian and gay people, but they’ve always been met with resistance from the hierarchy. Today they got their permission slip from the Vatican to do so.’ “

Mary Hunt

Mary Hunt

Lesbian and feminist theologian Mary Hunt wrote a wide-ranging essay in Religion Dispatches responding to the pope’s interview.  On his comments on lesbian and gay people she stated:

“While it is true that Pope Francis has downplayed some of the hot button issues: “abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods…it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time,” it’s also true that in no way did he disavow them: “The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church…”

“I would not advise holding one’s breath until those official teachings are replaced with sensible, respectful recognitions that adults make their own choices on matters of personal morality. Rather, I observe that the trajectory that millions of lay Catholics have set is finally being joined by some clerics, including this most highly placed one. My caution is simpy not to miss the forest for the trees.”

She concludes her essay, noting that she the interview made her hopeful, noting:

“Let the dialogue get bigger and the table grow more crowded. “

Her essay comments both positively and negatively on many of the different topics of the pope’s interview.

Andrew Sullivan

Andrew Sullivan

Gay Catholic writer Andrew Sullivan, on his blog The Daily Beast, was effusive in his praise for what he sees as “The Rebirth of Catholicism”:

“I am, I must confess, still reeling from Pope Francis’ new, lengthy and remarkable interview. I can barely believe that these words – so redolent of Jesus’ – are coming from the new Bishop of Rome, after so long an absence. Although the Pope is unfailingly respectful of his predecessor, let no one doubt the sharpness of Francis’ turn away from the dead end of Benedict. His message is as different as the context. “

Michael Sean Winters, in The National Catholic Reporter, discussed the fact that many conservatives, including bishops, have not been happy with the new pope,and that this new interview was not going to gain him any friends among them.  But, he notes:

Michael Sean Winters

Michael Sean Winters

“This pope is clearly not backing down. He notes that he was ‘reprimanded’ for not talking more about abortion, same sex marriage and contraception, but he then reiterates his prior stance. And, frankly, I would not mind hearing the pope speak more about these things because he speaks about them so differently from the way we are accustomed to hearing them spoken about: no condemnation, no fetish for certainty, no exclamation points around the rules. Pope Francis speaks about other people as a pastor should speak about them, as children of God. He shares his own struggles, opens up his own faith journey, and the effect is dazzling.”

Allen Rose

Allen Rose

In The Washington Post,  Allen Rose, a Dignity national board member,  commented on how the pope answered a question about gay and lesbian people by speaking about “the mystery of the human being:”

“This is basically what LGBT Catholics have been saying: ‘Let me share my experience of my life, of God being in my life and what it means to me. I think there is disagreement among gay Catholics, is this enough? To me, you have to start somewhere.”

John Allen, Vatican correspondent for The National Catholic Reporter, injected a sobering perspective in his commentary on the pope’s interview:

Truth be told, the liberal wing of the church will be cheered by the new pope’s language — his rejection of a ‘restorationist’ mentality in Catholicism, for instance, and his insistence that “thinking with the church” cannot simply mean thinking with the hierarchy. At some point, however, they’ll demand movement from rhetoric to policy, and on that front, many may be disappointed.

“Francis has twice now uttered a firm ‘no’ to women’s ordination to the priesthood, and he’s unlikely to radically change teaching on matters such as gay marriage, abortion or contraception. A desire to project a more merciful tone on those matters isn’t the same thing as disagreement with their substance.

“Meanwhile, for at least some on the Catholic right, it must now seem powerfully obvious that this just isn’t their pope. Francis is determined not be a cultural warrior, meaning he doesn’t intend to use his bully pulpit primarily to fight political battles. He acknowledges some conservatives are disappointed he hasn’t been more forceful on the life issues, but insists church teaching is already clear and he doesn’t intend to go around repeating it. He also underscores that this won’t be a terribly disciplinary papacy.”

Joseph Amodeo

Joseph Amodeo

Joseph Amodeo, in The Huffington Post, has a more optimistic viewpoint:

“Now, I in no way believe that the Church’s teachings regarding LGBT people are going to evolve overnight; however, I do think that we may start to see a softening of language. This is a much-needed first step toward witnessing, appreciating and encouraging LGBT people of faith to share their gifts openly in service to the Church. As Pope Francis emerges on the global stage, I can only hope that his commitment to reaching out to a world in need will help him to see the desire of LGBT people to be appreciated as living and contributing members of the Body of Christ.”

More commentary, as appropriate! Stay tuned!

–Bob Shine and Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry

6 replies
  1. duckman44625
    duckman44625 says:

    The laity and some clergy/religious have attended to Francis’ remarks because they have heard them with their hearts – the voice of the Holy Spirit within. Why, however, do the majority of our American Bishops and many priests not hear the Truth of Francis’ humble, Christ-like words ? Why do they continue to judge and exclude ? Are they the wolves in sheep’s clothing which Our Lord warned us of – to not follow ? Namaste.

    Reply
  2. Rev. Fr. Andrew Smith- Pastor, SS Cyril and Methodius Parish United Indpendent Catholic Church
    Rev. Fr. Andrew Smith- Pastor, SS Cyril and Methodius Parish United Indpendent Catholic Church says:

    I agree with Mary Hunt and John Allen in their cautious optimism regarding Francis’ responses. I further agree with the comment above by Stephen Sottile. Actions speak louder than words. As an independent Catholic priest and an openly gay partnered man, I will get excited when the day comes that my orientation would not encumber my service as a priest under the “big tent” of the Roman Catholic Church. For now, I will be content in leading a small parish in the independent Catholic realm where the issues of same-sex marriage, the ordination of women, etc. are already in practice. It may taken a “Vatican III and/or Vatican IV to bring the Church in to step with modern viewpoints on the many “hot button” issues we, as people of faith face in today’ society.

    Reply
    • duckman44625
      duckman44625 says:

      Amen…though my parish is a sanctuary for LGBT people – welcoming and loving – accepting of our gay pastor – I am familiar with the “Old Catholic Church” – a parish of which I have attended in Reading, Pa – they have married gay clergy – female ordination. I can only hope that the parish you shepherd is near me but fear not – living near Syracuse, NY. Our Bishop is hostile and per Vatican 2 – cares only about ritual, rules and the coffer. Happy if you could help me in locating a parish such as yours.

      Reply
      • Rev. Fr. Andrew Smith- Pastor, SS Cyril and Methodius Parish United Indpendent Catholic Church
        Rev. Fr. Andrew Smith- Pastor, SS Cyril and Methodius Parish United Indpendent Catholic Church says:

        Duckman,
        This is Fr. Andrew’s partner, Rick. I’m the National Communications Director for the UICC, and Council President for SS Cyril and Methodius. If you are comfortable, please email your external email address to our external church address: [email protected]
        There is a website you should check out. I’m looking at NY listings, and I don’t know most of the small towns. This is a directory of Independent and Old Catholic churches in the US by state:
        http://www.independentmovement.us
        It may not be exhaustive, but I think its pretty complete. I did find a listing in Warsaw, 20 miles south of Batavia. I can’t guarantee that all the Old Catholic churches listed are progressive…they run the gammet(sp). Best of luck to you, finding a more progressive Catholic church home. SS Cyril and Methodius is located in northeast WI. Check out the “Not All Catholics Are Roman, But All Catholics Are One” Facebook group. Another is “Independent Catholic”. There is a LOT going on in the broader Catholic realm right now.
        Many Blessings,
        Rick

        Reply

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