UNITED STATES
Western Courier
Bree Bracey
It’s been said that the pope is now a global celebrity. When he recently came to America, millions of U.S. citizens saw him in person or live on television.
There is a vast religious audience, in addition to increasing numbers of interested secular viewers, who are attracted to the pope’s progressive views. But how progressive are they, really?
In a meeting I recently attended, discussion turned to opinions about the pope. One student said she doesn’t like how so many people think the pope is “so fantastic” when really the “progressive” things he’s said are just things good people ought to believe — like preaching about tolerance and acceptance. She also made the point that Pope Francis is probably only saying such things to keep the public happy. Another student quickly shut her down and said that, as a “queer Catholic,” these remarks meant a lot for this student’s entire community.
This conversation got me thinking. I was sure that the pope was a great man. I finally reasoned that, even if he doesn’t necessarily believe the things he says but is saying them to be progressive, at the very least he is calling for the Catholic Church, and its followers to change its ideals. Though to some it may seem that Pope Francis does not mean what he’s saying, at least he’s saying it. Yesterday I read that the Vatican is stripping a priest of his duties after he openly came out as homosexual.
I remembered the conversation from before and realized maybe it’s all smoke and mirrors. Maybe nothing has truly changed.
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