Column: Pope Francis has energized many Catholics

MINNESOTA
ABC Newspapers

By Don Heinzman
November 1, 2013

While stories on questionable judgment and the conduct of priests in the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul dominate the media, the positive message of Pope Francis is energizing many Catholic church members.

Across the metropolitan area, Pope Francis’ emphasis on having a welcoming, inclusive, forgiving and loving church is being received well by suburban Catholic church leaders. They are welcoming the tone and surprising message of Pope Francis, while acknowledging church teachings probably will not change.

That emphasis on love may be his “trump card,” notes the Rev. Lauren Germann, pastor of St. Andrew’s church in Elk River.

Citing the pope’s emphasis on loving everyone regardless of their faults, Germann wrote in his parish bulletin, “Our love for others does not discriminate. There can be no exceptions to love. We love those who have had abortions, love those who use contraception, we love all people regardless of their sexual orientations.”

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