UNITED STATES
Politico
By NAHAL TOOSI 09/20/15
Vice President Joe Biden calls him the “most popular man in the world.” But not everyone thinks Pope Francis is a saint.
The 78-year-old pontiff’s visit to the United States is so highly anticipated that Republicans and Democrats in Congress may even pretend to get along for a few hours. For some activists, however, it’s a chance to chide the Vatican on issues ranging from the clerical sex abuse scandal to the canonization of a controversial Franciscan friar.
As Francis prepares to meet with President Barack Obama and address Congress this week, the church’s detractors are preparing to stage news conferences, small protests and other shows of dissent. Along the way, they are finding that — unlike his less-beloved predecessor, Benedict XVI — it’s tough to take on Francis.
“Relative to Benedict, this pope is a public relations genius,” said David Clohessy, executive director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. “The assumption is that he’s fixing the abuse crisis. And if people are open-minded and listen and eventually concur that, no, he’s not fixing it, the next line we hear from many Catholics is, ‘But by golly, he’s gonna!'”
Francis has taken several steps to address the sex abuse scandal that has so damaged the church. He has set up a commission to advise the Vatican and agreed to create a tribunal to prosecute bishops who fail to protect parishioners from abusers. He also has begged for forgiveness from abuse victims.
Clohessy and others say such as steps are window dressing at best, focusing more on the idea of healing than the need for prevention and accountability. The activists would like to see bishops being ousted over their roles in covering up abuse, as opposed to simply quietly resigning. They hope to argue their case to the public through support group meetings, news conferences and leafleting events ahead of and during Francis’ visit to D.C., New York and Philadelphia.
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