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The Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
‘Bog-standard patriarchal': McAleese says new Pope's first 100 days ‘anything but forward thinking'
MARY MCALEESE HAS strongly criticised Pope Leo XIV's first 100 days, saying his pontificate has been cautious, conservative, and 'anything but forward thinking.' In an article published in the UK's Catholic Tablet magazine last week, the former Irish president argued that Pope Leo has largely abandoned the more reform-minded elements of his predecessor Francis' papacy, reverting instead to conservative and patriarchal norms. 'Almost entirely gone already are the early signs of Francis' modesty – the plain dress, simple accommodation, and rejection of the summer residence at Castel Gandolfo,' she said. McAleese was particularly critical of Pope Leo's record on women and LGBTQ+ Catholics. She described him as a 'bog-standard patriarchal, patronising and prone to tokenism,' noting that he has inherited a theology of male-only priesthood and shows no inclination to challenge it. His stance on LGBTQ+ Catholics has faced previous criticisim – during his tenure as a bishop in Peru, Pope Leo opposed government plans to include gender teachings in schools and criticised discussions of sexual orientation with children as 'confusing.' In 2012, he expressed concern that Western culture promotes 'enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel,' specifically referencing abortion, the 'homosexual lifestyle,' and same-sex families. His stance on the Vatican's 2023 document Fiducia Supplicans, a Vatican guideline which permits nonliturgical blessings for same-sex couples, remains ambiguous, leaving interpretation to national bishops. Pope Leo's recent comments on marriage and abortion, McAleese said, could have been made by Benedict, John Paul II, Paul VI or Pius XI. Advertisement Pope Leo has also attempted to court MAGA supporters in the US, McAleese claimed, seeking financial support for the Church while simultaneously contesting aspects of the political movement's thinking. McAleese warned that this balancing act risks compromising reform, particularly on equality, human rights, and Church teaching on sexuality. She highlighted the appointment of Rev Thomas Hennen as Bishop of Baker, Oregon, a figure linked to Courage International, an organisation operating within Church teaching that regards homosexuality as 'intrinsically disordered.' 'This appointment and its accompanying spin is a worrying straw in the wind,' she wrote. While acknowledging that Pope Leo has continued Francis' advocacy for migrants, the poor, and care for the environment, McAleese said that his approach is advocacy 'with the volume turned down'. 'We appear to have pivoted dramatically from a sometimes narky showman to a shy, genial man, from an impulsive pope to a measured pope, from a Latin American pope to an American pope,' she said. McAleese also questioned whether this gentleness masks a reluctance to take on the entrenched, male-dominated structures of the Church. She pointed out that the Synod on Synodality, though promising at local levels, failed to deliver meaningful reform centrally, leaving Pope Leo at a critical crossroads. The Synod on Synodality is the Church's worldwide 'listening exercise,' meant to gather input from clergy and laypeople to shape reforms and church policy. 'Will he have the courage and faith to be an agent of change, or are we already looking at another filibuster pope – a very different personality from Francis but the same failure to embrace real change?' McAleese said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Could an African cardinal become the next pope? Don't rule it out.
As the Catholic Church's College of Cardinals enters the conclave to select the next leader of the church Wednesday, one of the most pressing questions is what part of the world that leader will come from. While Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines is considered to be a front-runner, known for his affable style and karaoke skills, there has been buzz about the possibility of an African pope. The Catholic population has exploded on the continent, and an estimated 20% of the world's Catholics live there. Gelasius, who reigned from 492-496, was the last pope who hailed from Africa. And there are Africans in today's College of Cardinals who are papabile (pope potentials). The selection of a new pope is always dramatic, but tensions arose this time even before the conclave began. There were reported leaks of conversations held at General Congregation, a meeting of the cardinals held prior to the conclave. According to unnamed sources to America Magazine, some cardinals complained about Pope Francis' papacy, especially regarding his involvement of the laity in the church. Some cardinals believe that the administration of church affairs should be held only by the ordained. These complaints come from cardinals and conservatives hoping to claw back some of the power to the West — Francis was from Argentina — for which they compiled a profile of cardinals they consider acceptable. These cardinals may have a hard time electing the kind of pope they want, though, because Francis appointed 108 of the 133 cardinals who'll be involved in selecting the next pope. There may be a lot of chatter about a conservative or liberal pope, but Francis has stacked the deck with cardinals from all over the world. While an African pope would be a historically stunning development, one of the drawbacks is that no African cardinal holds a major office in the Vatican. That said, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besengu of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cardinal Robert Sarah from Guinea and Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana are three candidates to watch. Besengu, the archbishop of Kinshasa, was appointed by Francis in 2019. At 65, he may be considered a bit too young to be pope. (Generally, electors don't like to pick someone that young as it can have a long-term effect on church polity and politics). As bishop in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Besengu stood up against President Joseph Kabila's attempts to push back elections, which bodes well for his willingness to push back against autocratic leaders. He is staunchly against homosexuality. When Francis issued a Fiducia Supplicans that allowed for same-sex blessings, Besengu followed with a statement that was explicitly opposed, stating along with some other cardinals who signed, that there'd be no same-sex blessings in Africa. Though Cardinal Robert Sarah from Guinea is papabile, his notoriety as a strict conservative make him something of a wedge candidate who'd potentially divide groups. Appointed at age 34 as the bishop of Conakry, the 79-year-old theological hard-liner became embroiled in scandal in January 2020 for a book, 'From the Depths of Our Hearts,' supposedly co-written by Sarah and Pope Benedict XVI. The problem was that the emeritus pope did not agree to co- author that book, and his name was dropped from the publication. Cardinal Peter Turkson, 76, archbishop of Cape Coast in Ghana, is also papabile. He was appointed as cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2003, which may make him amenable to those who want a pope who was not appointed by Francis. Turkson is the chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. He defended Francis' same-sex blessings decision and, unlike many clerics in Africa, is against the criminalization of homosexuality, putting him at odds with Ghana's bishops and Ghana's political establishment that has made it illegal to identify as an LGBTQ person. Turkson has also been at the forefront of speaking about climate change and the environment, which puts him in line with Francis on those issues. Anything is possible when considering who is papabile. But as the saying goes, you go into the conclave a pope, you come out a cardinal. In other words, don't assume anything. While it would bring great joy to not only the continent of Africa, but also to persons of African descent around the world, it may be difficult in this current conclave to elect a pope from Africa. While Francis shrewdly stacked the College of Cardinals, it may be hard to get consensus around candidates who are so divergent in opinions and skill sets. But for some among the African faithful, even having their cardinals considered is a win. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Francis held line on gender ideology, had welcoming posture to LGBT community
The late Pope Francis sought to make the Catholic Church more welcoming to transgender and LGBTQ people, often causing stir among traditional conservative Catholics, even as he remained a staunch critic of what he called "dangerous" gender ideology. While he maintained traditional Catholic teachings on gender and sexuality in official documents, the pontiff's actions often told a different, ambiguous story. "Being homosexual isn't a crime," Francis once said to The Associated Press in 2023. It was the first time a pope addressed the legal side of homosexual laws around the world, and LGBTQ activists praised him for it. Pope Francis Dines With Transgender Women For Vatican Luncheon Francis also called the criminalization of homosexuality "unjust," adding that some Catholic bishops in other countries may be proponents of outlawing it for cultural reasons. "These bishops have to have a process of conversion," he said. "Tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us." Read On The Fox News App Also in 2023, the controversial Vatican document Fiducia Supplicans — a declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) — issued guidance for priests to bless same-sex couples. The blessings are meant for individuals, not the union itself, according to Pope Francis. The document states that "one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation." "At the same time, one should not prevent or prohibit the Church's closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God's help through a simple blessing," it reads. Pope Francis: 'Gender Ideology' Is One Of The 'Most Dangerous Ideological Colonizations' Francis further raised concerns among conservatives when, in 2023, the Vatican ruled transgender people can be baptized and become godparents, provided their participation would not cause "confusion" or scandal. In March of that year, Pope Francis hosted a group of transgender women — many of whom are sex workers or migrants from Latin America — to a Vatican luncheon for the Catholic Church's "World Day of the Poor." The pontiff and the transgender women formed a close relationship after the pope came to their aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they were unable to work. They met monthly for VIP visits with the pope and received medicine, money and shampoo any day, according to The Associated Press. Pope Francis Warns Church Cannot Become 'Progressive' Or 'Conservative' 'Political Party' Meanwhile, Pope Francis called gender ideology "one of the most dangerous ideological colonizations" in a March 2023 interview with Argentinian newspaper La Nación. "All humanity is the tension of differences. It is to grow through the tension of differences," the pope said. "The question of gender is diluting the differences and making the world the same, all dull, all alike, and that is contrary to the human vocation." Click Here For The Fox News App The pontiff at the time attributed the increase in gender fluidity to well-meaning people who "do not distinguish what is respect for sexual diversity or diverse sexual preferences from what is already an anthropology of gender, which is extremely dangerous because it eliminates differences, and that erases humanity, the richness of humanity, both personal, cultural, and social, the diversities and the tensions between differences." Fox News Digital's Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this article source: Pope Francis held line on gender ideology, had welcoming posture to LGBT community
Fox News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Pope Francis held line on gender ideology, had welcoming posture to LGBT community
The late Pope Francis sought to make the Catholic Church more welcoming to transgender and LGBTQ people, often causing stir among traditional conservative Catholics, even as he remained a staunch critic of what he called "dangerous" gender ideology. While he maintained traditional Catholic teachings on gender and sexuality in official documents, the pontiff's actions often told a different, ambiguous story. "Being homosexual isn't a crime," Francis once said to the Associated Press in 2023. It was the first time a pope addressed the legal side of homosexual laws around the world, and LGBTQ activists praised him for it. Francis also called the criminalization of homosexuality "unjust," adding that some Catholic bishops in other countries may be proponents of outlawing it for cultural reasons. "These bishops have to have a process of conversion," he said. "Tenderness, please, as God has for each one of us." Also in 2023, the controversial Vatican document Fiducia Supplicans – a declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) – issued guidance for priests to bless same-sex couples. The blessings are meant for individuals, not the union itself, according to Pope Francis. The document states, "one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation." "At the same time, one should not prevent or prohibit the Church's closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God's help through a simple blessing," it reads. Francis further raised concerns among conservatives when, in 2023, the Vatican ruled transgender people can be baptized and become godparents, provided their participation would not cause "confusion" or scandal. In March of that year, Pope Francis hosted a group of transgender women — many of whom are sex workers or migrants from Latin America — to a Vatican luncheon for the Catholic Church's "World Day of the Poor." The pontiff and the transgender women formed a close relationship since the pope came to their aid during the COVID-19 pandemic, when they were unable to work. They met monthly for VIP visits with the pope and received medicine, money and shampoo any day, according to The Associated Press. Meanwhile, Pope Francis called gender ideology "one of the most dangerous ideological colonizations," in a March 2023 interview with Argentinian newspaper La Nación. "All humanity is the tension of differences. It is to grow through the tension of differences," the pope said. "The question of gender is diluting the differences and making the world the same, all dull, all alike, and that is contrary to the human vocation." The pontiff at the time attributed increase of gender fluidity to well-meaning people who "do not distinguish what is respect for sexual diversity or diverse sexual preferences from what is already an anthropology of gender, which is extremely dangerous because it eliminates differences, and that erases humanity, the richness of humanity, both personal, cultural, and social, the diversities and the tensions between differences."
