{"id":27563,"date":"2013-03-18T08:23:25","date_gmt":"2013-03-18T12:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communio.stblogs.org\/index.php\/2013\/03\/smearing-the-pope\/"},"modified":"2014-07-17T10:14:36","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T14:14:36","slug":"smearing-the-pope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communio.stblogs.org\/index.php\/2013\/03\/smearing-the-pope\/","title":{"rendered":"Smearing the Pope"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"English:<\/a><\/div>\n

The honeymoon was very short-lived: as tools of communication fling far and wide information and misinformation, social media gurus are now producing conflicting information about Pope Francis. But if you think I am talking exclusively of those who are Catholic haters think again; the Church has her detractors –enemies?– and sadly from within.\u00a0There are some insightful readers that help us to connect the dots of a new papacy. Father Raymond de Souza, John Allen and John Thavis comes to mind as credible.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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…<\/p>\n

Stuff to read first…<\/p>\n

Mary Anastasia O’Grady, “Behind the Campaign to Smear the Pope<\/a><\/strong>” (WSJ, March 17, 2013) —a must-read, a good job done<\/b><\/p>\n

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John Allen, “Path to the papacy: ‘Not him, not him, therefore him<\/a><\/strong>,” (NCR, March 17, 2013) –lots of good details and analysis<\/b><\/p>\n

Ross Douthat, “What the Church Needs Now<\/a><\/strong>,” (NYT, March 15, 2013) –key points need heeding<\/b><\/p>\n

To understand the problem of Ms Manson’s thinking see article below<\/span>, you need to read what Father John Zuhlsdorf writes, “Liberals will soon turn on Pope Francis<\/a><\/strong>” -(my thoughts later on what Manson wrote).<\/p>\n

A sampling of the detractors:<\/p>\n