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November 26th, 2013
10:21 AM ET
Pope Francis: No more business as usualBy Daniel Burke, Belief Blog Co-editor (CNN) - Pope Francis on Tuesday called for big changes in the Roman Catholic Church - including at the very top - saying the church needs to rethink rules and customs that are no longer widely understood or effective for evangelizing. "I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security," the Pope said in a major new statement. "I do not want a Church concerned with being at the center and then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures," Francis added. The Pope's address, called an "apostolic exhortation," is part mission statement, part pep talk for the world's 1.5 billion Catholics. Francis' bold language and sweeping call for change are likely to surprise even those who've grown accustomed to his unconventional papacy. "Not everyone will like this document," said the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and author in New York. "For it poses a fierce challenge to the status quo." And it's not just a verbal challenge, the Pope said on Tuesday. "I want to emphasize that what I am trying to express here has a programmatic significance and important consequences." Since his election in March, Pope Francis, the first pontiff to hail from Latin America, has made headlines by decrying the iniquities of modern capitalism, embracing the poor and people with disabilities and reaching out to gays and lesbians. At the same time, the 77-year-old pontiff has sought to to awaken a spirit of joy and compassion in the church, scolding Catholic "sourpusses" who hunt down rule-breakers and calling out a "tomb psychology" that "slowly transforms Christians into mummies in a museum." "An evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!" the Pope said. Officially known in Latin as "Evangelii Gaudium" (The Joy of the Gospel), the 85-page statement released on Tuesday is the first official document written entirely by Pope Francis. (An earlier document was co-written by Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.) Although Francis sprinkles the statement with citations of previous popes and Catholic luminaries like St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine, the new pontiff makes a bold call for the church to rethink even long-held traditions. "In her ongoing discernment, the Church can also come to see that certain customs not directly connected to the heart of the Gospel, even some which have deep historical roots, are no longer properly understood and appreciated," the Pope said. "Some of these customs may be beautiful, but they no longer serve as means of communicating the Gospel. We should not be afraid to re-examine them. At the same time, the Church has rules or precepts which may have been quite effective in their time, but no longer have the same usefulness for directing and shaping people’s lives." Such statements mark a sharp break from Benedict XVI, a more tradition-bound pope who focused on cleaning up cobwebs of unorthodoxy in the church. By contrast, in "Evangelii" Francis repeats his calls for Catholics to stop "obsessing" about culture war issues and to focus more on spreading the Gospel, especially to the poor and marginalized. READ MORE: The Pope’s bold new vision The outside world, particularly its economic inequalities, didn't escape Francis' notice either. In a section of "Evangelii" entitled "some challenges to today's world," he sharply criticized what he called an "idolatry of money" and "the inequality that spawns violence." The Pope also blasted "trickle-down economics," saying the theory "expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power." “Meanwhile,” Francis said, “the excluded are still waiting.” But the bulk of Francis' statement addresses the church, which, he said, should not be afraid to "get its shoes soiled by the mud of the street." The Pope also hinted that he wants to see an end to the so-called "wafer wars," in which Catholic politicians who support abortion rights are denied Holy Communion. His comments could also be taken as another sign that he plans to reform church rules that prevent divorced Catholics from receiving the Eucharist. "Everyone can share in some way in the life of the Church; everyone can be part of the community, nor should the doors of the sacraments be closed for simply any reason," Francis said. "The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak." Even so, Francis reiterated the church's stand against abortion, defending it against critics who call such arguments "ideological, obscurantist and conservative." "Precisely because this involves the internal consistency of our message about the value of the human person, the Church cannot be expected to change her position on this question," Francis said. The Pope also reiterated previous rejections on ordaining women, saying the topic is "not open for discussion." But that doesn't mean the church values men more than women, he said. "We need to create still broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church," the Pope said. Francis also said he expects other parts of the church to change, and called on Catholics to be unafraid of trying new things. "More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving." Francis didn't mention specific reforms, but he suggested that it could include changes at the very top of the church. "Since I am called to put into practice what I ask of others, I too must think about a conversion of the papacy," he said. READ MORE: Pope Francis: Church can't 'interfere' with gays The church's centralization, where all roads lead to Rome, and the "we've always done it this way" type of thinking have hindered Catholics' ability to minister to local people in far-flung places, Francis suggested. "I invite everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelization in their respective communities," the Pope said. Martin, the Jesuit priest and author, said he could not recall ever "reading a papal document that was so thought-provoking, surprising and invigorating." "The document’s main message is that Catholics should be unafraid of new ways of proclaiming the Gospel and new ways of thinking about the church." MORE ON CNN: The disfigured man in popular photos talks about the Pope's embrace |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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A socialist Pope. Ugh, how disgusting.
I don't think you know what socialism is.
We get to hear what this stooge pope is doing? Hey I have a better idea, the world can evolve around that pointless church.
If you actually pay attention to what this man does, rather than what he says when he's in the spotlight, you see he's not have as "sweet" or "understanding" as everyone thinks.
That is blasformy jim please take it back!
No more business as usual
Our revenue is dropping and we gotta keep paying the children we've buggered
Something's gotta give
Yeah, right. Send me a note when they stop praying to images of mortal men.
Are you talking about asking for Saint's intersessions? Because if so, what Catholics do is similar to talking to a deceased relative and using a family photo for remembrance.
Nooo
This is the worst Pope ever, this is what the Catholics get for making a Nazi sympathizer the Pope. This man is destroying the reputation of the Church, one fulfilled foot fetish washing at a time.
I love Pope Francis. I can finally go back to practice my faith as a Catholic. I am looking forward to all the changes that will happen in the Catholic church to streamline with current times. Some teachings and practices have become obsolete to the point that they do not apply to our society today. I am really excited to see the upcoming changes.
Before changes come the pope must first apologize to God for killing Jesus. And that is the message for him from God today.
Who are you to speak for God?
His prophet from ZION. And Zion is not in Israel. And no one from Israel must say he/she knows where Zion Is. So be careful now ok?
Random nut. There's no doubt a few hundred out there, all sure god is talking to them, claiming to be prophets, like so many before.
Ben – anyone can claim to be a prophet. I am a prophet. There you go. Easy, peasy.
You fool! The mafia has been controlling the Vatican for decade and it's why you can only use cash at the Vatican. With great intentions, Francis won't be able to change a thing. And no, the Vatican folks won't stop touching themselves. Once you understand the reality, you'll realize that god's existence is irrelevant, if there were one.
It seems like Pope Francis would do even more if he could, if his hands weren't still somewhat tied by his religion and those who influence him.
The Pope must acknowledge to God that the church and his priests killed Jesus. God is waiting for an apology from them. And that is his job today, forget about all the other rubbish.
Ben, please take your meds.
The catholic church is the same immoral and criminal organization it has been for centuries.
All I have to say is that NOTHING better happen to Pope Francis. It seems every time someone gets into a leadership role and makes changes for the good of the PEOPLE, something happens to them. Either they die of a "mysterious death", assassinated or whatever. i.e. Lincoln, Kennedy, Pope John Paul the first. Be careful Vatican, we are watching you. We need someone like Frances to lead our Catholic Faith. Let him be.
"Every time"?
Please name three examples, and provide proof of foul play.
I was raised Catholic, but now I consider myself an atheist. I originally left the Church because of how I viewed Benedict XVI's actions as being malicious. And while I'm not going to come back to Catholicism or any sort of spiritual beliefs in general, I do appreciate that the Pope is trying to bring the Church into the 21st century and actually give Catholics the right to be who they are or who they want to be. For the most part any way. It's a nice gesture.
It is better to move to the left than to continue to allow far right wing prelatures with no oversight or accountability to hold the Church hostage.
Gotta love this guy. But pleeeeeese use the "Pope mobile" and stay safe.
The fact that they use a Pope mobile shows they really don't have faith in their god's plan.
All atheists lie and are stupid
You left out that we are 'poopie heads' 🙁
so childish. pray for yourself. lol.
ALL atheists were made by God for His purpose. Do not condemn them. Have you ever lied?