The Pope, not so progressive after all?
It turns out that Pope Francis visited Kim Davis on his historic trip to America last week and their secret tete-a-tete has raised more than a few eyebrows.
Kim Davis is the county clerk from Kentucky who was recently jailed for refusing to provide marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the US. Their meeting in the Vatican Embassy was orchestrated by a Church official, happened in private and lasted 15 minutes. According to Davis’ lawyer, Pope Francis encouraged her to “stay strong” in her fight to discriminate against homosexual couples.
This is quite different to his public, seemingly non-plussed stance towards gay marriage. It is reported that he told U.S. bishops during this trip that they should stop complaining about it and focus their attention elsewhere.
With his call to action on climate change, his attempt to secure a pardon for the Georgia prisoner who was executed last night and his urging for compassion towards immigration, Pope Francis emerged from the trip with his progressive credentials intact.
This meeting changes that. The fact that it took place in private, that the Vatican initially refused to confirm or deny whether it took place, and that he was apparently encouraging of Davis’ anti-same-sex marriage, pierces a decent hole through that facade.
It is disappointing to accept that Pope Francis may not be the progressive religious leader we might like him to be. It is disappointing to accept that he has a killer PR strategy to create the illusion of being progressive. It is disappointing that in public he appeared to be compassionate on the issue of same-sex marriage but in private praised the courage of Kim Davis.
Is all of this disappointing? Absolutely. But is it surprising? Hardly. The Pope is Catholic. He is the head honcho of the CATHOLIC CHURCH. Is it really surprising that the man at the helm of an organisation which categorically rejects same-sex marriage, doesn’t actually support it?
It isn’t.
As disappointing as that is, it’s a reminder. The Pope might be more socially progressive on some subjects, but probably not on same sex marriage. And while same-sex marriage has a lot of supporters, some of them in high places, the Pope isn’t one of them.
On leaving America on Sunday, Pope Francis was asked whether he supports individuals, including government officials, who claim religious liberty as a reason to disobey the law.
“I can’t have in mind all the cases that can exist about conscientious objection, but, yes, I can say that conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right. It is a right. And if a person does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right.”
The Archbishop of Hobart Julian Porteus is due to test the legal status of conscientious objectors here in Australia in the coming weeks.
He is going to dispute a complaint to Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commission on the ground of religious freedom. The complaint relates to a booklet the Catholic Church distributed which supports traditional marriage which is alleged to offend and humiliate gay, lesbian and transgender Australians. It will be a significant decision for free speech, religious freedom and anti-discrimination legislation in Australia.
As an aside, on the subject of conscientious objectors, particularly those within the Catholic Church, does anyone ever object to issuing a marriage certificate to an individual who has been divorced? Does anyone ever deny wedding cakes or invitations or flower arrangements to men or women who are heading down the aisle for the second or third time?
I haven’t read of that happening. Why is it that remarrying after divorce is accepted, even within the Catholic Church, but same-sex marriage isn’t?
Are you surprised that the “progressive Pope” met with Kim Davies?
Top Comments
I think people in the media and the general public misinterpret just how progressive Pope Francis is.
At his core, Pope Francis is an extremely compassionate man. When he speaks, this is what comes across. He calls us to have compassion and tolerance for all sorts of people. He points out that this is what Jesus practiced. He associated with lepers, tax-collectors, prostitutes and samaritans.
The Pope says that we should have compassion for gay people. “If someone is gay and searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” says the pope. "Tell
me: when God looks at a gay person,
does he endorse the existence of this person
with love, or reject and condemn this
person?" We must always consider the
person. Here we enter into the mystery of
the human being.
He has great compassion and is possibly open to civil unions, but marriage will always be reserved as a holy union between a man and a woman open to the opportunity of creating new life. For the Catholic church, this will never change.
Why are you (or anyone) surprised that Pope Francis turns out to be very Catholic? The Holy Father has been misrepresented in secular media who insist on twisting his words, highlighting particular comments out of context or putting a secular meaning on the things he says. The pope is a compassionate man & prefers to emphasise the mercy of God, but that doesn't mean that he has 'liberal' views on issues God & the Church view as sinful, or harmful to human beings. Being concerned about climate change & poverty flows from Catholic social justice ideals and is nothing new. The earth & it's riches were provided by God for everyone, not to be stripped bare for future generations & the proceeds hoarded by the wealthy 1%. And as far as the Church is concerned, sexual sin is sexual sin, no matter what variety it comes in - the only licit sex in the CC or indeed Christianity is between a man & a woman within a sacramental marriage. And the Holy Father has never said anything to the contrary. All he said was God's mercy is for everyone - which it is.