Pope Francis: Roman Catholic

“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.” – Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

Fair’s corollary: There are few reporters in the secular media who have a clue what the Catholic Church is about. Sub-corollary: There are no headline writers who have a clue.

If Bishop Sheen were alive today, he would be shaking his head, laughing and writing a commentary on the interpretations of this week’s magazine interview with the Holy Father. Here is a sampling of the headlines in the secular press: 

• Pope charts a new course for church – USA Today
• Pope Says Church Is ‘Obsessed’ With Gays, Abortion and Birth Control – New York Times
• Pope Francis: Church cannot be ‘obsessed’ with gays, other bans — Chicago Tribune
• Pope seeks to shift Catholic Church’s priority from dogma to mercy – Los Angeles Times
• Pope Francis: Catholic Church must focus beyond “small-minded rules” – CBS News
• Pope Francis signals remarkable shift in priorities for Catholics — Christian Science Monitor
• In interview, Pope Francis sets a new direction for the church – Washington Post
• Pope Francis: The Church needs to mellow out on abortion and gay issues – San Francisco Chronicle
• Pope Francis Moves Church Beyond Gays and Abortion — To People – Huffington Post
• Pope Francis takes church on a WWJD path – Kansas City Star
• Pope warns church could fall like a house of cards – Irish Independent
• Pope Francis’ ‘remarkable’ new vision for Catholic Church – NBC News

I have difficulty picking out my favorites, but the suggestions that the Pope has a “remarkable new vision” for the Church or that he is taking the Church on a “WWJD path” do have a sophomoric appeal.

It would be news were the Pope to say the Church would no longer be involved in trying to save souls. It would be news if he said he would encourage the Church to take a “WWJND path.” (What Would Jesus Not Do)

But having read the actual interview (and not the various interpretations) I come to the conclusion that the Holy Father is, indeed, a Roman Catholic. He is a humble soul who exudes love, forgiveness and charity. He clearly condemns sin while loving the sinner. That seems consistent with the person who started our Church.

Catholics of various persuasions are reading this week’s interview and finding the words that support their world view. I’m pleased to learn he likes Mozart and Caravaggio; I’m a fan of both. He didn’t mention McCoy Tyner or Oscar Peterson, but I can live with that.

I’m certainly no theologian, but I get the impression that he isn’t more a man of the heart than a man of rules. Jesus got the same criticism from synagogue leaders in his day.

As Catholics, we have an obligation to proclaim the gospel with courage, honesty and truth. We also have to do it in a way that brings people to the faith rather than driving them away. This is a delicate task that requires great balance.

Pope Francis just might succeed.