Bishop Barron on Pope Francis and Mercy

[@sandraz3953]

Thank GOODNESS Fr. Barron cleared this up so beautifully and on point. I was feeling very discouraged by some of the messages of mercy failing to acknowledged the very crucial role of repentance, even by priests on FB. Calling one another to live in repentance is and act of love, not hate, if you believe in the transforming power of God and in eternal life!!

[@mlrafiki]

I really needed to hear this today. Thank you, Bishop Barron!

[@jbetteridge23]

Another profound video Father; truly a breath of fresh air from this overwhelming state of modern life we find ourselves in. God bless.

[@PinkLadie007]

Excellent, Bishop Barron. I love how you articulate things I can't quite explain myself. This video is spot on! By the way, Pope Benedict will always be my favorite Pope. God bless him.

[@lydiagoldsmith4759]

I pray for Bishop Barron and his mission every night. May God continue to bless him and his team. He is GREAT! The good he is doing cannot be underestimated.

[@Funny4450]

Bishop Robert Barron is responsible for the revitalization of my Catholic faith; I clicked the TV remote one day and saw this priest being show in locations all over the world (for the CATHOLICIM program, on PBS), and I was riveted. I'm a practicing, cradle Catholic, also, born a year before the Bishop. I love the guy. He's changed my life.

[@silviavelazquez3371]

Gracias Padre Barron, gracias!

[@Matt-vx3ow]

A month of waiting for a new video has finally paid off. Thank you!

[@mikael7613]

Thank you Bishop. You are truly a Prince of the Church. God Bless you

[@jorgecampos5223]

"Deus Caritas est". My Very Dear Bishop Robert Barron, when I listen to you, I feel overwhelmed with God´s mercy. God the Holy Spirit shows me this love. Your words are full of hope, I have not only the feeling but the profound conviction that after a very long time of seeking love and truth, finally everything makes sense when I listen to you. I am united with you in the perfect love: "Caritas", which does not come from "sentimental human love", but the one that comes from the Holy Spirit. I pray and beg: Holy Spirit build me, Holy Spirit educate me, Holy Spirit shape me, Holy Spirit sanctify me, Holy Spirit Christify me, with the Authority of God Father almighty. Amen. I love St Thomas Aquinas. I can affirm he is my model and best mentor. But I must make clear, I love other saints in exactly the very same level and category as well, like St John Paul II, because I have his spiritual DNA, as well as St Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer. Its amazing God´s Providence. Amen.

[@VinylToVideo]

An orthodox commentary. Thank you, Your Grace.

[@northwoods_larss7648]

Speaking as a confessional Lutheran, I find your talks to be very enlightening, Father. :)

[@sundevilification]

I really needed to hear this. It solved a lot of problems when working with the homeless and with people who are paid to help them. On God's terms. They are not understanding that. I do. This gives me the backing necessary to not be in charge, but to always be in command. Thanks Father and Jesus. Amen.

[@Fam494]

I like that Bishop Robert Barron is telling about Pope Francis!

[@Winterdog6]

Thank you Bishop Barron, for giving me an easy way to explain the issue of Mercy to the middle schoolers in our youth ministry

[@cfazuero2]

Thank for clarifying. Now it is more clear for me now.

[@triconcert]

brilliant! thanks for shedding more light Fr Barron.

[@gamemaster515]

Dan bader loves you and always shares yours videos in our religion class

[@charlesmorgan3033]

Thank you for clearing this up for me. All welcome on Jesus' terms Amen.

[@fernandolaguarda]

"[T]he Church is a Church of the poor in spirit and of sinners seeking forgiveness, not simply of the righteous and the holy, but rather of those who are righteous and holy precisely when they feel themselves poor sinners."

[@dwdetroit1]

I'm grateful for the Churches history and teachings. I wandered away decades ago but found my way back as I searched for the truth. I'm struck by all the negative, nasty comments here. I found joy and peace in the church because I got on my knees and asked God for wisdom about how to be close to him; especially in death. He did. But, not in some magical moment. I simply read everything I could on every teaching of the church. I took nothing for granted (still don't). I found myself in a small group of men with a similar desire; what is the truth. If those that are writing the negative comments would consider that our culture today only serves to feed their own ego and the ego is counter to God's plan for you; joy in this world and life with him after this one. In all the comments I saw how prideful these negative comments are; I'm right, your wrong; positional thinking not a position open to learning. Instead, they might consider that pride might be good in baking a good cake but not in finding God's plan for themselves. Joy is a gift of the virtues. I like to say; "No Jesus, No Joy" and "Know Jesus, Know Joy". You won't find joy looking in ward or listening to your own mind. The challenge is to set your ego aside and instead be open to what you might hear. I did this by challenging everything the church taught, I went out to prove what it taught to be wrong and made authors of the saints prove the point I was wrong. I wanted to find an inconsistency in it's teaching. I read the early church fathers, popes, saints, present day writers (I like Catholic.com) for trusted information. I read the bible cover to cover twice (not sure that's the best theologically but it sure worked for me, maybe not you). I have great hope for those making the negative comments because you've found a good source in following Fr. Barron; you're searching keep it up. Don't listen to what people say because they'll lead you astray with their own ego (especially those in the church who are misinformed). Follow the saints who lived for Christ, they understood humanity in a way that's totally applicable today. Catholic is a great gift to those willing to listen. I'll pray for those negative comments that on your knees asking for God's mercy, put yourself humbly before God; quite your mind so that you might here is voice. I offer all my love and admiration for all those in the search, may he show you his mercy and may you become saints. Oh, for those making positive comments, remember to speak always in charity because the virtue of charity wins all hearts, keep up the good work.

[@tfernn]

THANK YOU

[@ralphmamea7397]

Thanks bishop for teaching l learned a lot from you

[@robertbarker8358]

Bishop Barron, at the close of the Synod, the Pope said the following:"The Synod experience also made us better realize that the TRUE defenders of doctrine are not those who uphold its letter, but its spirit; not ideas but people; not formulae but the gratuitousness of God’s love and forgiveness." (caps added) You seem to have a special devotion/love for St. Thomas More, I wonder what you think he would have to say about that statement?

[@federicogandolfi8104]

Wow thanks a lot. I mean wow! I mean thanks! So so perfectly and simply explained. Greetings from South Sudan

[@ealreb]

This video explains very well, what Pope Francis says about Mercy. It gave me a whole new perspective.

[@jastinjingco]

Thank you Bishop Barron for this very interesting video. I hope that you'll make a video about the upcoming International Eucharistic Congress.

[@helmyabdullah1962]

I attended the daily Morning Mass at the Carmelite Monastery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in my town today at 6:15 AM . The Mass lasted just 30 minutes till 6:45 AM . I joined the queue to partake the Sacred Host but since I'm a Non-Believer , I folded my arms and told the Cathecist that "I'm a Non-Believer" he politely wave me off with his right hand . I decided to attend after I watched the trailer regarding the Sainthood of the late Mother Theresa in CNN . I attended on my own will .

[@etrnlygr8tful87]

Are you still a "non believer"?

[@helmyabdullah1962]

etrnlygr8tful Unfortunately , yes . I'm still beset by the feelings of doubt and fear . Doubt because i fear Christianity or Catholicism is a false teaching . Fear because if my family and the religious authority find out that I accept Jesus , I might be persecuted . Also fear of being in eternal damnation and to be caste into the Lake of fire if I deny Jesus . Any word of advice from you or from anyone regarding this matter ? Last Wednesday this Catholic priest offers to baptize me secretly and that i will not be issued with that Church membership card and if I die , the Church will allow me to be buried according to my present religious tradition . I'm a Muslim for your information .

[@sistermpm]

This is a brief but concise clarification of the link between sin in all its reality, and God's love as shown by his mercy.

[@billybagbom]

Your commentary on Pope Francis is always, by far, the most balanced and insightful that I encounter in the media, whether Christian (including Catholic) or nonChristian. Thanks. The Holy Father should perhaps consider appointing you to his PR staff.

[@walterhigo7658]

Glad to hear you explain this father Barron, but I'd wish spoke persons at the vatican would do the same sometimes. Today, more than ever before, people in the public eye need to be careful with the words they choose. It is humanly imposible to choose the precise words every single time at any given moment, but it is always possible to CLARIFY things.

[@robonios9111]

Auxiliary Bishop Barron, I always watch your videos and understanding your comments and arguments has strengthened my faith. Living in Europe, the controversy of Krzystof Charamsa has created more headlines than that of the Synod under session. I imagine that you'll want to wait for the end of the Synod, but could you please comment on this issue. Thank you and God bless.

[@RinaldoDegliAlbizzi]

Awesome, Bishop Barron!

[@redman958]

and yes, the greatest evangelist in the Church today and in modern history says things like, "the bomb" 0:18.

[@sithersproductions]

+Chris Canning the greatest evangelist today is christopher hitchens to the cult of humanism

[@filthyswit]

+sithersproductions Hitch is dead. And your cult is no better than any other cult.

[@EveKeneinan]

+filthyswit Hitch's brother is alive and well. And also smarter than Chris.

[@filthyswit]

Eve Keneinan I guess if you agree with him then he must be smarter.

[@sithersproductions]

filthyswit i dont belong to any cult what you on about

[@reneleow]

TQ Bishop Robert

[@theoldpilgrimway9129]

Love and truth go together. Love finds place of truth 1 Cor 13:6

[@larryjung8062]

Seemingly Pope Francis needs to clarify his statements better.

[@lillianelsey8350]

Thank you for you imagery of the Church as a field hospital and mercy. I will need to relisten and reflect.

[@kasiawasilewska2229]

Thank You, I love pope Francis.

[@kha58]

About time Francis have mercy for Catholics too and priests not just for non Christians.

[@nemtall]

Bishop Barron you would be a great POPE ,hope you get that chance.

[@gracesng9929]

GOD = LOVE= DIVINE MERCY =BLOOD AND WATER FR HEART OF JESUS in atonemeñt for our. Sins

[@rachealbrimberry8918]

My (Episcopal) Aunt, who had never asked me anything about the Church, suddenly was asking my opinion about the Pope, whom she could not stop lionizing. However, I had to qualify some of the Pope's statement, in kind of the same manner Bishop Barron just did, because she (and others)are defining what the Pope says in their own context, not in Christ's (and the Church's) context. Also, like that statement "The Pope of Conversion" and if you don't mind, I'd like to borrow it. Thanks; great comments.

[@Mechy2003]

awesome!

[@AlanSLH97]

Hello Fr. Robert first of all I want to thank you for your ministry, as an 18 year old freshmen in college I have learned a lot from your videos. I was recently watching a video of how you started your path to priesthood. You mention egodrama and theodrama, but I am still a little confused. For example if a person says or thinks " I want to be a priest", is that considered egodrama? How can you tell if an idea a person has of what vocation they should pursue is truly coming from God? Thanks.

[@pablovelasquez83]

My thoughts on that are, do these thoughts come from a place of genuine generosity for the other(ie, the body of Christ), or is the root of the ambition coming from a place of selfishness and self glory seeking. If it's the latter, I feel that you're likely to loose steam and motivation to persevere in the priesthood, or become a lukewarm one.

[@tonydarcy1606]

+Alan Soto Surely, as a young man, you have better things to do with your life than devote them to worshiping a fictional being ? Bishop Barron is very persuasive, and good at his job, but he doesn't persuade me.

[@AlanSLH97]

+Tony D'Arcy Your surely are right, it would be ridiculous to waste my time worshiping a fictional being. That is exactly what I do not do. I do not worship a being, because God is not a "being". As Thomas Aquinas said "God is the sheer act of to be itself." ( I learned that from Bishop Barron by the way) Yes, Bishop Barron is very good at his job because he speaks the truth, but to say he is very persuasive I do not know. I think he is much more than just "persuasive" he is a very intelligent man who has devoted most of his life to God and church teachings. If he does not persuade you, then maybe you have not heard many of his arguments, or if you have, have not understood them with an open heart and mind. Have a nice day :)

[@tonydarcy1606]

+Alan Soto Hi Alan, yes Bishop Barron is very well educated, intelligent and persuasive at his job. But that doesn't make him right. For your sake I hope you can see through the fog of confusion which the RCC generates around itself. Bishop Barron assumes the existence of the supernatural, which is something I don't do.

[@pablovelasquez83]

+Tony D'Arcy I can't convince you that you should give God a chance. In fact this can devolve into an unproductive exchange of the kind that I have seen so many times before. The only thing I can offer is my own personal experience. I have seen Truth, in fact tasted, and it is a person, which has brought my life to new meaning. For me it is truer and more real than anything else, and as such, it only makes sense that I would be motivated to act and move forth with my life based on what I assert as most real, as I'm sure you and any sane person does. That's me, take it for what you want. I'm still searching to become closer to truth, and I hope that you are as well. Regardless of whether it matters to you or not, count on my prayers for you on this matter.

[@virginiaarellanocardenas2795]

Jesus is always present in his church by the power of the Holy Spirit and the call is made to all. His sheep will follow and whoever is not meant to be with Jesus now and in eternity is condemn said he, Jesus. It is not a call for rebellion, but for love and God is love. This is clear for everyone to come to the table of the Lord, but we must humbly prepare recognizing that we are slaves to our sins and not until we receive mercy from God is when our sins are forgotten and we are cleanse in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus. Amen.

[@eachetconner]

Dear Bishop Barron, I noticed that in most of your videos you always present yourself with a bookshelf in the background. Can you give us a list of some of your favorite books? I saw some interesting titles on display, including "Pagans and Christians," Churchill's "Last Lion," and what looked like some of the volumes from Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," but I couldn't be sure. I'd love to know what you read and what you would recommend from your collection. Thanks!

[@salon201]

+Eric Conner He has already done a video talking about his favorite books, type "father barron favorite books" and you should get it.

[@eachetconner]

+Carlos Ramirez Thank you! I have seen him speak about C.S. Lewis and Tolkien and commentate on other authors, but I don't think I have ever seen his video on favorite books. Thanks for the recommendation.

[@JoeVanniRangel]

Where have you been?

[@Elcheh]

Thank you father for yet another enlightening video. I'm a Melkite Catholic and I have a question for you. I have read your books "Catholicism" and "Thomas Aquinas spiritual master", and I didn't understand the "we don't know if there's anyone in hell or not" and doesn't that banalize sin? It's like saying that there's a possibility that Hitler is in Heavens... Besides, didn't Vatican II banalize sin by saying that Atheists and other can go to Heavens? What's the point of believing in Christ and Christianity, if we're all going to Heavens eventually? Thank you

[@MCS1993]

Gracias

[@5heynen5]

Your Excellency, would you comment on Pope Francis' speech to the the synod fathers where he says "It was also about laying closed hearts, which bare the closed hearts which frequently hide even behind the Church’s teachings or good intentions, in order to sit in the chair of Moses and judge, sometimes with superiority and superficiality, difficult cases and wounded families." Who is the Pope referring to?

[@fernandolaguarda]

"The true defenders of doctrine are not those who uphold its letter, but its spirit; not ideas but people; not formulae but the gratuitousness of God’s love and forgiveness."

[@Fetrovsky]

Eminence, just a quick comment. The whole purpose of the Church is mercy. She was established by Almighty God to bring salvation to sinners, so that we could live in the love of God for all eternity. Without sin, we would not need mercy, or the Church as an institution, and we would simply be people who live in the love of God and complete innocence (as before the fall we were). Finally, as you said, mercy implies sin; so, mercy has two steps: the merciful offering of forgiveness, which is unilaterally done by God, and the merciful granting of forgiveness, which is done by God once you have acknowledged your sin and decided to accept God's offering. I guess my comment can be synthesized in: The Church is not newly merciful, and it is not changing to be more merciful; the Church is God's mercy for us. So, to say that the Church was not merciful and now is (or is trying to be) is to deeply misunderstand both the nature and the history of the Church.

[@winnsutanto3133]

+Daniel Jesús Valencia Sánchez . Brother Daniel. God is indeed a God of love and mercy, but He is also a God of Justice and a God of righteousness. God indeed loves and is merciful toward the sinners, but He also hates sins and is angry with sinners. I do not say it , the Bible does.

[@jonneekohler9743]

the productive people missed the wall to wall coverage of the Pope in USA and Cuba, and the English only folks need translation of his Spanish or Italian homilies. we Need a comprehensive DVD with the coverage from EWTN and MSNBC and CNN and Cspan also... Plus the camera behind him so we could see what he was looking at. Please Please at least test market the Movie

[@kierandoherty8080]

If no one goes to Hell (there is a reasonable chance all men are saved) as you clearly stated Bishop, then sin doesn't matter and we don't need God's Mercy and the Devil is just wasting his time.

[@markdaniels1730]

There is a BIG difference between "no one goes to hell" and "there is a reasonable chance all men are saved BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS DID ON THE CROSS". It's dishonest to critique Bishop Barron's HOPEFUL Universalism by overlooking the reason and ground for that hope.

[@kierandoherty8080]

OK I accept your criticism about extending the the expression “reasonable hope all men are saved” to “no one goes to hell” Does the following sound reasonable to you therefore. It’s reasonable to say that the path to salvation is wide and the path to damnation is narrow. It’s reasonable to say to enter Heaven we must pass through the wide gate. It’s reasonable to say the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima was talking nonsense when she gave indications to young children totally contrary to our Wise and Learned Bishop. It’s reasonable to say that the Sensus Fidelum is in total conflict with this and other statements of Bishop Barron. At the end of each decade of the Rosary when we pray the Fatima prayer given us by Our Mother it’s reasonable to say it’s a bit of unnecessary alarmism generated by the Mother of God.

[@markdaniels1730]

@@kierandoherty8080 All these questions are addressed here: www.wordonfire.org/hope/

[@kierandoherty8080]

You must be joking Mr Theological ( what an intelligent name , makes me feel so stupid) Going to that site for clarification of the truth is just laughable 😂 The truth of the Gospel is actually quite straight forward “ a child could understand it” and it does not take a degree in theology or big words to explain it clearly without confusion. As Einstein said “ if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough” When Jesus, and the saints of the Church finished Their sermons, people were not left confused and in need of a website to clear up the confusion. Admittedly a lot of them were not happy which is why Jesus and His true disciples often ended up been persecuted or killed. However Bishop Barron need not worry about that because the world and learned people think so well of Him ( whoops 😬 just remembered, is that a bad thing? )

[@markdaniels1730]

@@kierandoherty8080 First you ask questions, then you dismiss the answers to your questions as "laughable" simply because they happen to be in a website (???). If you think there is no need for clarification or theological reflection then why did you even bother asking questions in the first place? If the the truth is in fact so simple “a child could understand it” (which is not what Jesus said, by the way, He was talking about children in their simple and loving nature being closer to the Kingdom of God than adults) then you should just rant and rave about Bishop Barron being a heretic and damn him to hell and be on your way like every other closed minded fundamentalist... no need for questions if that's going to be your attitude.

[@Dr.RoshanW]

It is easy to sit here and comment... Being Pope is not easy... He is not the Pope of just the Catholics but the world..

[@billcummings6958]

because that's what you desire

[@stevepearson8841]

Bishop Barron, I don't hear the Pope saying he wants to bring sinners in fro their sins.

[@DanielAlexander07]

its on 4:24

[@suzon969]

very interesting

[@joaquingimenez6152]

Great video! Please, spanish subtitules for spanish speakers. We want understand Fr Barron in the full depth.Thank you

[@chadbierman8058]

I have a question, Bishop Robert Barron. I'm wondering, because God is love, and not mercy, I'm wondering what St. Faustina was talking about when she spoke of God as love and mercy itself. I don't want to sound sassy asking though. Thank you so much Bishop Barron, God bless you, and Peace be with you! ☮🙏🏽👍🏼😇!

[@colonelweird]

It's strange how conservative Catholics like Bishop Barron insist on taking it on themselves to fill in the blanks in what the pope didn't say, but, according to them, he should have said. They think that when the pope talks about mercy, what he's REALLY saying is, You're all a bunch of filthy sinners, but listen, if you change your evil ways, God won't hold it against you. I think maybe that's missing the point. The good bishop seems to think the gospel of mercy is about changing people from sinning to not-sinning. But as I read him, the pope is saying the gospel of mercy is about the unspeakable of love of God coming to us in the midst of a world permeated by sin, with sin understood not primarily as personal moral failure, but as the basic condition of life in this world, a permeating miasma of death and futility. And if that's NOT what the pope means, well, the pope is just as wrong as Bishop Barron.

[@im-8897]

+Frank McManus Yes, the Pope indeed says that we are all sinners. Follow him on a daily basis, not only when he appears in the big media. What he says is crystal clear.

[@TheChongo51]

Not only what he says is crystal clear, but you have no idea what you're writing about .

[@Yolduranduran]

The church does not change it's teachings according to each pope. I find that non catholics just cannot understand and even Carholics cant.

[@dilut222]

Dear Bishop Barren, I would respectfully disagree that Mercy implies sin. I would agree within particular contexts but not in a general sense. I come from a different tradition, so I also wouldn't agree to say that God is love or mercy but rather The Loving, The Merciful. As to my first point, Mercy generally does not assume sin. A deer after giving birth will lift her hoof instead of haphazardly stomping on her offspring. A snake or turtle will make a hole to put their eggs in and cover it with sand to guard it from predators. These examples imply Mercy without sin. A mother's instinct to protect her child is Mercy without the implication of sin. Therefore, I do not believe that mercy in itself generally implies sin. Now, these examples being from creation, exemplifies the Merciful nature in which God has created us. He, Himself being the Most Merciful. He has given us life, faculties, means and sustenance in a measured way without any need anything in return.

[@dilut222]

This also implies Love and Majesty. Therefore God is The Loving, The Majestic and The Most Merciful. Our existence highlights these attributes. You as a theologian most likely knows this. My response is a response of semantics. But since our dialogue may be limited to comments, I figured I'd make a clarification. I love your work. I find it very interesting and engaging. May God bless you.

[@stcolreplover]

Bishop Barron, another good video that is very informing, however I wish you would have commented on the current situation with the synod on the family. It is my understanding that there are those in the hierarchy of the church that want open up communion to those who are divorced and remarried all in the name of "mercy". However I believe rightly so, that other (the faithful) bishops are against this as it allow the Holy Eucharist to those in mortal sin. I am worried that all this mercy talk will be abused and that the Holy Father will change Church dogma and therefore go against the Deposit of the Faith. This will totally undermine the infallibility of the Pope, and ergo also the Catholic Church. This is causing me a crisis of faith , and I am losing sleep over it. Please Bishop Barron I would like your thoughts on this or anyone who can bring some clarity to this?

[@CoryTheRaven]

+stcolreplover I'm confused... So you're only allowed to have the Eucharist if you don't admit to being a sinner?

[@DetectiveThursday]

+CoryTheRaven not necessarily , but one should be free of mortal sin at the time of receiving communion, hence, the importance of going to confession before receiving the sacrament. The act of communion is one of declaring you are fully in line with the Christ, the church, and their teachings. Sadly, many in the modern west have forgotten or choose to ignore this. As Paul says, those who do do "eat and drink judgement upon themselves"

[@CoryTheRaven]

+Detective Thursday Ooooh, okay. I thought the Eucharist was a Sacrament, but you're saying it's basically like the "Believer's Baptism" that Evangelicals do... A big showy display done as a kind of virtue-signalling to other Christians. "Hey, look at me, look at how pious I am!"

[@DetectiveThursday]

+CoryTheRaven that is not at all what I said.

[@CoryTheRaven]

+Detective Thursday Sure it is: "The act of communion is one of declaring you are fully in line with the Christ, the church, and their teachings." You're saying that it is a declaration, a human-generated act performed for other humans, and not a Sacrament.

[@wolf17500]

This time you didn`t convince me.

[@scottchi666]

I'm not catholic but overall good video thank you Father for addressing sin.....homosexuals have been marginalized by society and the church. when Paul says we're dead spiritually he means dead

[@rodrigogarcia1208]

In other words, there are true mercy an false mercy. You Bishop talk about true mercy but Pope Francisto doesn´t. It's very clear that he refers to false mercy.

[@tadwhitty7325]

+Rodrigo garcía well, lets read what Jesus said "Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

[@rodrigogarcia1208]

It's not a judgment it's to see the reality, the truth. It's the same case when you know that yourself have sin, you don`t judge yourself. But you know you have sin and because you know you have sin, you confess and repend. If you say I must not judge nobody, not even me, so evrething is ok, you sin another time.

[@friskydingo9166]

I'm optimistic about the Holy Father, but not so much about some of his cardinals.

[@friskydingo9166]

+Alicia Rossano Yes, and the reason's name is Reinhard Marx (or Kasper, or Cupich, or half the synod fathers).

[@friskydingo9166]

Agreed! I know I don't do enough of it.

[@QuisutDeusmpc]

+Frisky Dingo The reportage I read suggested the synodal vote came down 65 to 35 percent against the Kasper proposal - which puts it more like 30-40%. However, it is important to remember the Church in various countries faces different cultural, societal, and political situations wherever it is, that must be met in a pastorally sensitive way to bring the people from where they are at, to where the Church is. For example, many of the tribes in Africa are polygamous and yet Catholic. To bring them from where they are to where the Church is may not necessarily happen by simply quoting a text from the Catechism. That might be a multi-generational cultural-societal shift in patterns of living by thousands of people, so I wouldn't look at it in some monolithic way and say to yourself, "35% of the world's bishops are heretics". It is a rather complicated issue. The synod is attempting to look at how the Church may draw alongside those people in difficult situations and lead them to conversion.

[@friskydingo9166]

The difference is African bishops don't call for a dumbing down of belief; some Western bishops are doing just that. Meeting people where they are is required, but it should not be co-opted with a soft-option. Cardinal Marx seems to think that Christ carried a pillow, not a cross, to Calvary.

[@QuisutDeusmpc]

Frisky Dingo Yes, they are. However, hasn't it historically been northern Europe, where dissent and opposition to the Church have been frequently found (I am thinking here of the 'bar bar', Martin Luther, the Reformation)?

[@tomgreene8480]

The Pope represents a particular revelation of what the Church should be trying to portray...Christ is the source of mercy ..not the Pope...the Pope does not emphasise sin ...rather healing...mercy implies forgiveness for sin....Christ has overcome the world ....get with it?? Christ puts an end to sin and death (frequent in Eucharistic prefaces)...he taketh away the sins of the world.

[@Anna-ef4dv]

I love Pope Francis. But he is rather more conservative than lay people think. He is beautiful, loving and he had real pastoral experience of work among men and women and vhiy who are really poor.

[@dominicpiscopo7915]

Bobby Dillon please remember the devil is master deceiver n your living proof of this

[@DanielAlexander07]

What's the name of that painting of Satan????

[@Matt-vx3ow]

+Daniel Alexander "Satan, Sin, and Death (A Scene from Milton's 'Paradise Lost')" by William Hogarth

[@tonydarcy1606]

For all of Pope Francis' "springtime moment" it still seems to me the RCC is in love with "sin". The RCC also apparently accepts the theory of evolution, (what choice did they have ?), in which case there was never an Adam nor Eve and the whole concept of "original sin" goes down the Swannee? Step forward ye doughty theologians and show me to be wrong !

[@alanbourbeau4493]

What do I think of Pope Francis? Well he inspires us to follow Christ. And I happen to be in Italy. This coming week, I'll be seeing him at the Papal Audience. He mentioned that Atheists can enter Heaven as long they perform a good deed.

[@ellahope6494]

Folks I was raised in a Baptist home, years later when shown truth I entered Catholic Faith, in 1995. The norvus ordor New Church has allowed protestant songs, no sacred Catholic music, change of liturgy, sacraments, turning priest around and the Host in hand, is all protestant. I have seen been in to many Catholic Churches no dress code or respect, noise talking no confession priest talks to parishioners before mass and after. I have been to more then one protestant sect. It is in Catholic faith it has died ed so sad. The apostasy is here. Catholics I told me when I came in Jew or who ever would go to heaven that is not the teaching of Jesus given to apostles. This is wrong. I have left. I go to the traditional Latin Mass

[@billcummings6958]

Augustin ok -but morality doesn't need a god

[@TheChongo51]

You have no idea what you're talking about. Are you a philosopher? Im very certain you are not.

[@billcummings6958]

here's an issue -morality is not

[@SeanLawlorNelson]

"The Year of Mercy" and Pope Francis harboring Syrian refugees and reaching out to the marginalized, all while maintaining impressive dignity, is some thing to be celebrated, Bishop Barron. Are conservative voices also important in the church? Yes, of course, but the Catholic Church does not benefit from a civil war.

[@itslifeisall]

Perhaps your feeling that he "does not represent a revolution in the church" and rejection of that perception by others reveals a failure to appreciate the depth of his message, which for some, is so clearly demonstrated simply by how Pope Francis lives his life and the authenticity with which he engages others. This has little to do with the "Church", but everything to do with the central pillars upon which Christ's teachings stand. Love, mercy, humility, compassion and acceptance. Many preach such things, rarer are those who truly recognize it and rarer still those who live it.

[@tomblicharski5632]

Now that the slate has been cleaned and you have the world's attention, the question is what are you going to do? Are you going to admit the truth or are you going to stand resolute in your mission to eternally screw the Weak and the Defenseless and lie about it? Are you still going to use your power and manipulate the truth to end up with some sort of profit as you have always done? Are you going to skip over all the crimes you've committed and act as victims to the world so you can suck in millions of donation money to turn the situation into a profit?

[@seanmalczewski1998]

Did not age well

[@semperxian]

i respect and admire the Pope a lot for living at the St Martha House, carrying his own bag, riding in the compact cars, and especially for the amount of time he spends greeting people and touching them in the crowds. i also like how he discusses the devil. the thing that makes me uneasy is how people react to him, seemingly because of the fact that he declines to mention certain things. I like how often he discusses poverty and war but I do think he should discuss trans/homosexuality--especially gay marriage--and abortion more often. The fact that he doesn't leads certain ignorant people to believe that the Church is changing its teachings about these things. The implications of allowing a divorced and remarried person to receive Communion also makes me uneasy. The truth of the indissolubility of marriage needs to be affirmed and taught more than ever these days, and instead it will be undermined by this possible pastoral change. One thing I would also like to see is a greater emphasis on the teachings of St John Paul II who was, as we all know, the Pope of Divine Mercy. Pope Francis has cited him in discussing women's ordination. We should also cling to him as a source of wisdom regarding everything mentioned above.

[@CoryTheRaven]

+Xian One thing I think has to be remembered is that Pope Francis isn't an American. The hot-button issues in the United States are not the hot-button issues globally. There is probably a really good reason why the Pope hasn't really said a whole lot about gay marriage and transgenderism: it is MINISCULE in its importance. Like, yes, gay and transgender rights are super important to gay and transgender people, but in a world where BILLIONS of people live in poverty as a direct consequence of First World greed and excess, where we are destroying the capacity of this planet to support life, where militant Islamism is rampaging across the Middle East and atheism is swallowing up the West, in all of this, the fact that you don't like Caitlyn Jenner being all over the news DOESN'T MATTER. It SO COMPLETELY doesn't matter that one might be forgiven for thinking that only reason somebody wants to bring it up is to obfuscate the real issues (which is exactly the purpose it serves in US politics)... "Why does the Pope always have to talk about war and stuff, when the really important issues are a statistically insignificant number of people who want to surgically change their gender to feel better about themselves?" It's about having a sense of proportion.

[@semperxian]

CoryTheRaven i'm glad he talks about the poor and war and the environment, he definitely should, but i think he should talk about homo/trans-sexual influence and abortion more than he does because it is also needed, not just in the US but in western europe and parts of latin america as well. his two predecessors did. he has mentioned gender theory a few times which is good because that is also something that catholics need to be more aware of. and yes statistically they are a small number, but the number of people who think about them and the issue of their "rights" or the attitude towards them/their condition in society is very large, it includes almost everyone. the supreme court ruling affects everyone because it affects the nature of the collective society. i understand he doesn't wish to alienate people who may enter into conversion, but i think overall it hurts the Church to be so silent and causes confusion. as i said, there are people in those places who think or hope the Church is "changing" its ideas about these things, which is not true. and it's a dangerous thing when people, especially catholics themselves, think the Church believes something it doesn't.

[@CoryTheRaven]

Xian On the contrary, it is the Catholic Church's apparent (not actual, but apparent) silence on actually important issues that has damaged the credibility of the Catholic Church (well, that and the sex abuse scandal). Part of the reason gay rights have been recognized under secular law is that homosexuality does not actually cause any harm to anyone or anything. Harping on something that does not cause harm while staying silent on things that do damages moral credibility. It's not just "nice" that Pope Francis is addressing war, poverty, and environmental degradation: those are the three MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THE HUMAN RACE. They don't get any more important than those three issues. And it's not just a question of the media optics of it. The growing poverty in the world is an actual, real, moral and spiritual (and economic) problem. The destruction of the Earth's capacity to support life as we know it is an actual, real, moral and spiritual (and economic) problem. And so on. A couple of guys getting married and not feeling bad about it is not a problem. Not even remotely.

[@semperxian]

CoryTheRaven you're dead wrong, it IS a problem, a big problem in the USA but also in many other countries. a catholic cannot in good conscience be in favor of contraception, gay relationships, or gay marriage. as i have said twice already, war/poverty/environment are important issues but there are other important issues that ALSO must not be ignored--abortion of course but also the collective/common attitude in certain countries towards homosexuality, trans-sexuality, gender theory, contraception. the trend of moral relativism that Benedict XVI and Francis have rightly warned us about are the cause of these things. many countries are headed in the wrong direction regarding these things and the Church must continue to speak about them, and they will. That does NOT mean the Church should NOT speak about war, poverty, and the environment! I have said from the beginning this is a good and essential thing...we seem to agree on that. You seem to think the bishops and priests shouldn't even mention homosexuality, and possibly even contraception and abortion? ...in this case they would be ignoring catholic doctrine and that it is the opposite of their mission. less than 3 yrs before becoming pope francis, regarding recognition of "gay marriage", the cardinal rightly said: "In the coming weeks, the Argentine people will face a situation whose outcome can seriously harm the family…At stake is the identity and survival of the family: father, mother and children. At stake are the lives of many children who will be discriminated against in advance, and deprived of their human development given by a father and a mother and willed by God. At stake is the total rejection of God’s law engraved in our hearts.” . . .“Let us not be naive: this is not simply a political struggle, but it is an attempt to destroy God’s plan. It is not just a bill (a mere instrument) but a ‘move’ of the father of lies who seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God.” . . .“today the country, in this particular situation, needs the special assistance of the Holy Spirit to bring the light of truth on to the darkness of error, it need this advocate to defend us from being enchanted by many fallacies that are tried at all costs to justify this bill and to confuse and deceive the people of good will.” . . .“I invoke the Lord to send his Spirit on senators who will be voting, that they do not act in error or out of expediency, but according to what the natural law and the law of God shows them” ...“that the Lord visit, strengthen and console them. Pray for the senators to do good for their country.”

[@CoryTheRaven]

Xian I said nothing about abortion or contraception (I don't have to... we agree that abortion is wrong and the Catholic Church agrees that contraception is okay in principle, just quibbling over what kinds it arbitrarily will or will not allow). The issue is this notion that it's merely "nice" to address war, poverty, and environmental abuse while a non-issue like homosexuality is totally serious. It is actually an obfuscatory measure... Complaining about a harmless act like gay marriage only acts to serve the power elites who benefit from war, poverty, and environmental abuse, for whom that debate over gay rights is bread and circuses.

[@EmanuelFrancoMaNu]

Please, don't try to explain pope Francis, he does not fit into Thomistic categories of sin and grace... There is more than one theology and Francis is beyond those reasoning tangles.

[@johannesnicolaas]

"I say this as a defender of pope Benedict"..... This is of course exactly the reason you have to spin away the radical qualities of pope Francis.

[@scottchi666]

its not a battlefield..its a cemetery the unregenerated person is DEAD I sins and tresspasses

[@Fetrovsky]

+Scott Weinmann You are quite right, except that we are still wandering about. More like zombies. We are spiritually dead when in mortal sin, but we're not buried in Hell yet (and hopefully won't end up there). The other problem with what you said, is that you don't have to wait for mortal sin to look for God's mercy. As St. John said: "all sin is iniquity, but not all sin is unto death": meaning, if you're deeply wounded (or just wounded) by venial sin, you would still do well to go to a confessional and receive the absolution which will be accompanied with the graces to resist temptation better.

[@psallen5099]

Most of the time I have not idea what is Pope Francis talking about. When Jesus forgave the woman that was going to be stoned he said, "go and sin no more". To me that is saying that he expects her to change her behavior and reform her conduct. As a father of two children I can tell you that if you just show children mercy whenever they do something wrong and never hold them accountable with discipline and correction to the point where they change their behavior the kid will grow up to be a monster.

[@billcummings6958]

put your theism in the pulpit

[@freeelectron7160]

Not to put too fine a point on this, but there is this saying that "Actions speak louder than words." I am still looking everywhere for your actions that out-way Pope Francis' ...even a little bit. Pope Francis is bringing my/our religion into the 21st Century...never has there been so many followers. Again..who are you?

[@lain1129]

Well, if the Pope won't say it, I suppose I will. *ahem* There's nothing wrong with homosexual activity.