Polyannas Are NOT Helping!

There's a fair amount of "damage control" occurring in regards to the La Repubblica interview.  Last week Raymond Arroyo hosted Robert Royal and Father Joseph Fessio; the latter two had different perspectives on the Holy Father's words.  Father Fessio is himself a Jesuit so he brings that perspective to the table.  The discussion revolves around the Pope's previous interview, but I find the comments apropos.

In the video below the relevant section starts at 18:46.  At around the 24:00 mark, Father brings up the example of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) and illustrates how Our Lord engaged the woman in conversation.  He seems to imply that is the strategy of Pope Francis with these interviews.  If such is the case, I think that's flawed.  Our Lord was engaged in a one-on-one conversation.  These broadcast interviews, by dint of the intended promulgation of these, cannot be likened to the one-on-one conversation. Rather we're talking of a one-to-millions proclamation, with these "millions" coming from a myriad of cultures, perspectives, etc.  One size does not fit all.  Isn't it rather ironic that in his attempt to address the interviewer "where he's at" that the Holy Father loses sight of all the other millions of people and their situations?   Does the phrase "can't see the forest for the sake of one tree" have relevance here?

Breaking - Pope To Canonize Darth Vader

Of course the headline is ludicrous.  Equally ludicrous is the notion that the Holy Father has ever given the green light to condom usage.  Read this analogy from Inside Catholic.

For a more in-depth analysis at what might have contributed to the unnecessary (and mainstream-media-contrived) hubbub, please read this piece by Father Joseph Fessio, as posted by my colleague Last Papist Standing.  He delves into some of the translation issues.  During that interview, the Pope was apparently speaking in his native German.  Then it was translated into Italian and then English.  He also delves into matters of moral philosophy.  That is an area in which my knowledge is quite weak, and I daresay that is the case for even many good Catholics today (back when schools actually taught the Faith and didn't play with "gender-blind housing", Catholics actually knew their faith, but that is its own rant).

Some of my friends are quite flummoxed over this matter.  I think this is a result of being so hurt and frustrated at the very real betrayals inflicted by so many of our bishops.  However, I beg you all to calm your frayed nerves and read these posts.  Janet Smith did an excellent job; I linked to her last Sunday and I suggest another look at that.