The Porsche Guy

I am writing this in a manner not to offend my Catholic friends but I feel that the remarks that Francis has made about abortion, contraception and gay marriage are damning and damaging to the church and the morality of the nation. I do not believe in Catholic doctrine, everyone knows that. I've kept my peace...but this time Francis has opened up a can of 'abortion' worms. I saw the interview this morning with Dolan and thought....I wonder how long it will take to see this on the sidewalk? Hours....only HOURS. 

Has Francis backed away from abortion, contraception and gay marriage? Truth and perception are two totally different things. The media believes that Francis has loosened up while conservative Catholics say "it's not what it looks like". I think it is. Here's why:

PERCEPTION: On the sidewalk today, a 60ish year old man in a Porsche Carrera convertible stopped on a very busy street around lunch time to tell us that "The Pope said abortion is okay!" and something to the effect that we don't have to 'do this' anymore. Porsche Guy assumed we were Catholic drones that would do anything the Pope said and now we're off the hook. Let me be clear: Even IF I were Catholic, I would not succumb to incorrect doctrine or a bad pope....but some would. Unfortunately, we've heard it with our own ears.

Anyway, I responded with 'it wasn't true what the Pope said'. Porsche Guy said, AND I QUOTE: "Tough shit, the Pope said so!" and races off. Coward. He should have parked that Porsche JUNK and chat awhile. I wonder why no one does when they have the fortitude to tell us off...anyway...

“It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time. The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently.....We have to find a new balance,” the pope continued, “otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.” Read the rest here.

Disjointed...dogmatic...not equivalent...new balance. This stinks of the same noncommittal attitude of the Gospel as Joel Osteen. I will say the one thing Francis is correct about is that the church WILL fall like a house of cards with this kind of attitude on sin.

Francis also said: "We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible," he said. "The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time." I disagree...if you do not address sin, you run with papal scissors. Basic human morality and salvation is at stake ALL THE TIME.

TRUTH: Francis just threw a wrench into solid doctrine because of his Jesuit roots. Don't look so surprised, this was coming and it isn't over yet; the implication is clear that Francis is zeroing in on the circumstance NOT the sin. That is not biblical but it is popular:

"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." Romans 1:28-32

It's bad enough that Evangelicals and Protestants waver and hide with abortion and gay marriage, and now this? Francis opened the door to the 'drive by' we received today. I sure hope Francis doesn't start traveling with 'Nuns on the Bus'; they are the epitome of social justice while forsaking the unborn, among other things. My family are liberal Catholics that have all kinds of opinions with no action,just like the Porsche Guy. I used to be one of them.

Cowards...all hat, no cowboy.

BUT the truth will prevail, Jesus is coming again regardless of me, Francis or Porsche Guy. The truth is valuable and it's FREE:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6

[COMMENTS: If you are led to make a comment on Catholic doctrine, please back it up with Scripture.]