I am not surprised that smear campaigns are spreading pretty fast with a click of the button, for example of topics being covered: Francis dealing with dictatorships; Francis and liturgical practice; Francis and the moral teachings of the Church; Francis, the poor and the papal ministry; Cardinals turning on Benedic; Francis and the Ignatian (and Jesuit charism); Francis and Communion and Liberation; Francis and Benedict.
Many have fallen in love with Pope Francis --at the moment he's the People's Pope. It won't be long before concerted ugliness is mainstream seeking to discredit, distract and divide, and lead away from the faith in Christ and the Church. Division has appeared and it's the work of the devil, not of the Holy Spirit. Don't believe me, just wait and see...
Stuff to read first...
Mary Anastasia O'Grady, "Behind the Campaign to Smear the Pope" (WSJ, March 17, 2013) --a must-read, a good job done
John Allen, "Path to the papacy: 'Not him, not him, therefore him," (NCR, March 17, 2013) --lots of good details and analysis
Ross Douthat, "What the Church Needs Now," (NYT, March 15, 2013) --key points need heeding
To understand the problem of Ms Manson's thinking see article below, you need to read what Father John Zuhlsdorf writes, "Liberals will soon turn on Pope Francis" -(my thoughts later on what Manson wrote).
A sampling of the detractors:
- Jamie L. Manson, "One of Pope Francis' allegiances might tell us something of the church's future" (NCR, March 15, 2013)
- Jesuit Father Thomas Reese, "Francis, the Jesuits and the Dirty War," (NCR, March 17, 2013) --gives very questionable analysis of the political and religious landscape but identifies Francis' "acceptability" within the Society of Jesus; recall that Father Reese was sacked by Pope Benedict
Greetings,
This attitude just proves the legitimacy of the man and more importantly Whom he represents.
t