Pope Accuses Church of Putting Too Much Focus on Gay Issues

In his first extensive interview since becoming Pope, Francis says the church should be a "home for all" and not "a small chapel."

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Looks like we may have a cool Pope on our hands. In his first extensive interview since filling those red Prada shoes six months ago, Pope Francis told Rev. Antonio Spadaro, editor-in-chief of La Civiltà Cattolic, that he faulted the church for becoming obsessed with preaching about gay marriage and other issues. He refreshingly states that the church should be a “home for all” and not a “small chapel focused on a limited agenda of moral teachings.” He continues:

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 … 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.

Now I think that’s worthy of a hearty “Amen!” Learn more about the interview in this piece published today in the New York Times.

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