Pope Francis digs at Vatican's narcissistic nature, calls for change

[Billy Jingo]

Pope Francis digs at Vatican's narcissistic nature, calls for change



Pope Francis, using strong language to condemn a “Vatican-centric view” of the Roman Catholic Church, says that church leaders have too often been narcissists, “flattered and sickeningly excited by their courtiers.”

Extending his departure in style from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, Francis vowed in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica that he would do everything in his power to change that view.

“The church is or should go back to being a community of God’s people, and priests, pastors and bishops who have the care of souls, are at the service of the people of God,” he said.

The pope suggested that the church should rethink the relationship between its leaders and the faithful.

“Leaders of the Church have often been Narcissus, flattered and sickeningly excited by their courtiers. The court is the leprosy of the papacy,” he said.

Asked what he meant by “the court,” Francis said that he did not mean the Curia — the officials who govern the church from Vatican City — but something more like the quartermaster’s office in an army, which provides clothing and equipment to troops.

“It is Vatican-centric,” he said. “It sees and looks after the interests of the Vatican, which are still, for the most part, temporal interests. This Vatican-centric view neglects the world around us. I do not share this view and I'll do everything I can to change it.”

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I am of the opinion that the Roman Catholic Church may have selected a Christian to be the Pope.

[phillygirl]

I like him. I realize he may very well be a socialist, but I like him.

2 weeks ago I was at Mass in Maryland and the priest told us all to take our seats after Mass was ended. It was time to discuss the Wilmington Diocese's Capital Campaign and the parish's obligation. My home down there is in a very small town...about 600 people total. I counted and there were about 50 people at Mass, the second seating which I assume is more popular than the first (I usually go to the first service, and it is indeed a smaller audience). Assuming it's 50 at each service, and assuming the actual congregation is 3 times the number that regularly attends, that still only 300 people in the parish (and that's people, not families). The Diocese expects this parish to raise $114,000, of which the Diocese will give back to the parish 40% of it...if they meet their "goal". If they don't meet their goal, then the Diocese will take the first $67 k and and the parish will get only what is left, if any. If they bring in less than the 67%, they will "owe" the Diocese the remainder until it is paid back.

Most of the people in this town are watermen and other working class people. An older woman in front of me looked so shocked when she heard the amount I thought she was going to vomit.

I've been wanting to join the parish for some time. Since I'm not an official member, I did not have to pick up my "packet", nor do I have an obligation to contribute. I'm so angry at the Diocese for this attitude. These people don't have the kind of money to simply write a check for a $1000 or so to meet their burden.

I think it is the first time that I have truly been angry with the Church. I won't leave it, but I won't give the Wilmington Archdiocese any contribution either.

I have to say that the priest didn't have his heart in it when he spoke to the congregation about it. I could see that he felt terrible about asking for it. I have no problem supporting this parish, I do have a problem supporting the Diocese.

[Gingersnap]

I don't know if this issue is part of your funding problem but out here there's been a lot of quasi-forcible fundraising because of illegal immigration. Most of the immigrants are nominally Catholic and they use Catholic services heavily but most don't come from cultures that see church financing as a responsibility of the average person. They are used to situations in which the Church receives special consideration from governments or has wealthy patrons or both.

Since there are loads of half empty churches around, they don't go through the process where they raise money from the community to build their "own" churches (as the Irish, Italians, Poles, etc. did). I think this lack of community sacrifice and determination kind of distances people from the realities of costs. It's a financial problem for the Church.

What the answer is, I don't know since it seems like I meet a lot of lapsed Catholics but not a lot of returned Catholics who might offset this problem.

[Bob Loblaw 3.0]

Pardon me, just checking here to see if reftagger works in this area again

John 3:16-17



But since I'm here I might as well throw in my two cents on what I think of the new pope (as if anyone cares). I like most of what he says, maybe all of it - if I'd take the time to read all his source materials, rather than the media's "synopsis" versions that can be misleading.

[phillygirl]

Pardon me, just checking here to see if reftagger works in this area again

John 3:16-17



But since I'm here I might as well throw in my two cents on what I think of the new pope (as if anyone cares). I like most of what he says, maybe all of it - if I'd take the time to read all his source materials, rather than the media's "synopsis" versions that can be misleading.

Absolutely.

[Administrator]

Pardon me, just checking here to see if reftagger works in this area again

John 3:16-17

No, but I'd be delighted if you could remember where that came from. I've lost all that data and need to find it again in order to re-install it.

I think it was LOGO or something like that, but I googled around for it today and I couldn't find it anywhere. Clearly I'm not looking in the right place.


Oh, and I'm about to try to put in the latest tapatalk, and since I know you use your phone a lot for navigating the site, I'd like to ask your help in telling me whether it's doing what it's supposed to or not.

[Billy Jingo]

I like him. I realize he may very well be a socialist, but I like him.

2 weeks ago I was at Mass in Maryland and the priest told us all to take our seats after Mass was ended. It was time to discuss the Wilmington Diocese's Capital Campaign and the parish's obligation. My home down there is in a very small town...about 600 people total. I counted and there were about 50 people at Mass, the second seating which I assume is more popular than the first (I usually go to the first service, and it is indeed a smaller audience). Assuming it's 50 at each service, and assuming the actual congregation is 3 times the number that regularly attends, that still only 300 people in the parish (and that's people, not families). The Diocese expects this parish to raise $114,000, of which the Diocese will give back to the parish 40% of it...if they meet their "goal". If they don't meet their goal, then the Diocese will take the first $67 k and and the parish will get only what is left, if any. If they bring in less than the 67%, they will "owe" the Diocese the remainder until it is paid back.

Most of the people in this town are watermen and other working class people. An older woman in front of me looked so shocked when she heard the amount I thought she was going to vomit.

I've been wanting to join the parish for some time. Since I'm not an official member, I did not have to pick up my "packet", nor do I have an obligation to contribute. I'm so angry at the Diocese for this attitude. These people don't have the kind of money to simply write a check for a $1000 or so to meet their burden.

I think it is the first time that I have truly been angry with the Church. I won't leave it, but I won't give the Wilmington Archdiocese any contribution either.

I have to say that the priest didn't have his heart in it when he spoke to the congregation about it. I could see that he felt terrible about asking for it. I have no problem supporting this parish, I do have a problem supporting the Diocese.

Our diocese is knee deep in schism and has been for the past few years and will probably continue to be for the next few years. If things don't work out for us (our church had a setback with the Texas Supreme Court recently), we have discussed converting to Catholicism. This guy makes that decision much easier.

[phillygirl]

I don't know if this issue is part of your funding problem but out here there's been a lot of quasi-forcible fundraising because of illegal immigration. Most of the immigrants are nominally Catholic and they use Catholic services heavily but most don't come from cultures that see church financing as a responsibility of the average person. They are used to situations in which the Church receives special consideration from governments or has wealthy patrons or both.

Since there are loads of half empty churches around, they don't go through the process where they raise money from the community to build their "own" churches (as the Irish, Italians, Poles, etc. did). I think this lack of community sacrifice and determination kind of distances people from the realities of costs. It's a financial problem for the Church.

What the answer is, I don't know since it seems like I meet a lot of lapsed Catholics but not a lot of returned Catholics who might offset this problem.

It's a result of the scandals settlement. Because of a $77million payout, there are no funds left in reserve for the pensions of the teachers.

[Bob Loblaw 3.0]

No, but I'd be delighted if you could remember where that came from. I've lost all that data and need to find it again in order to re-install it.

I think it was LOGO or something like that, but I googled around for it today and I couldn't find it anywhere. Clearly I'm not looking in the right place.

https://www.logos.com/reftagger

Oh, and I'm about to try to put in the latest tapatalk, and since I know you use your phone a lot for navigating the site, I'd like to ask your help in telling me whether it's doing what it's supposed to or not.

Sure... just let me know when, I haven't used it for ages, so I'll have to reinstall it.

[Administrator]

https://www.logos.com/reftagger

Lovely! Thank you! I'll work on installing it tonight.

[Bob Loblaw 3.0]

Awesome! Thanks!