World over, people are looking at Pope Francis with a profound hope that the pontiff will bring about changes for the better functioning of the Catholic Church.Simplicity has been his operative word since assuming the highest office of Catholic Church.His approach to most issues were not cast in the traditional iron clad straight jacket mould characteristic of Catholic Church.His visit to Latin American countries-especially Cuba was watched with keen interest . But icing on the cake had been the visit to US.
Visits by Popes at different points of time have always been a matter of keen interest to the people of US.It was so this time also ,despite coinciding with visits of many other Heads of States including China Russia and India.Address of the Pope to the US Congress was a well guarded one ,following the norms typical of previous Popes.But what has triggered discussions on a large spectrum were those concerning the refugees,same sex marriages,and child abuse by Catholic Bishops and priests.
Refugees from Syria,and other middle east countries resulting from the atrocities of ISIS is a massive problem faced by European countries . US had been maintaining a stoic silence on the issue since it did not concern them.Refugees have no way to reach US from Middle East unless they are provided airlift or carried in vessels.European countries who were finding it extremely difficult to cope up with their existential issues are completely lost on what to do with the refugees . Even Germans who normally are refugee friendly threw up their hand due to the sheer numbers involved in the current context . Pope urged US to share the burden which is too heavy for Europe to cope with.The appeal has given a good publicity millage to pope ,but it is unlikely to change ground reality . The ongoing discussions in connection with the Presidential election of 2016 has at the centre stage immigration issue . Although Democratic party to which Obama belongs is for a more immigrant friendly policy , they are unable to extend that to the Syrian emigrants due to the Republican Party candidates rousing the conservative population in US on the issue of immigration.So the pronouncements of the pontiff can only serve as an image builder .
The next issue dealt with by Pope is on same sex marriages and liberalising divorce procedure of Catholic faithfuls.On same sex marriages , although Pope did not justify it , he deviated from the conventional view of downright condemning it . Reading between the lines he spoke, he seems to be favourably inclined to accept it as a reality and to look at the same sex oriented with compassion , as people afflicted by a decease rather than as sinners .But with regard to liberalising marriage annulments , he has been more forthcoming. He has given out his view that if divorce is inevitable , the procedure should not be cumbersome.On both these issues ,his stand is in line with the current realities.But the question is whether as the Shepperd of shepherds,is his duty limited to swimming with the current or to be the moral conscience keeper of the faithfuls.This has raised questions like "Is Pope Catholic?" He replied to the press who raised this issue with a mischievous smile "Should I repeat the Creed ?"He meant the Niccian Creed ,but certainly Catholic Church is redefining some part of their traditional views . It is being projected that the reforms are Pope Francis driven . I choose to believe that the need to reform the Church has brought Pope Francis to that coveted chair . Pope Benedict the first Pope to abdicate in recent history,did so because he was a hardliner for traditions and a conservative to boot and could not withstand the pressure for reforms.
Regarding the sexual abuse by clergy including some Bishops and attempt to conceal the abuse by some other Bishops,the Pope was at a difficult spot . First he tried to gloss over it by glorifying the Bishops who acted to contain the vice.But the dissenting voices were so strong that he had to make amends by issuing a statement condemning both who committed the atrocity and those who abetted it . He also found time to console some of the victims .
Probably as part of image building,the New york Arch Diocese released some impressive figures regarding their activity in the field of education.Out of 29000 students enrolled in their education institutions,69% live below poverty line ,Average cost per student is$7000 ,whereas average tuition fee paid by students is $5500,etc .This is certainly impressive if the published data is realistic and has no been mutilated.
Pope's visit to Cuba did not figure prominently in the media to the extent of US visit. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy . It was not usual for Popes to visit Cuba , forget about meeting Fidel Castro ,who has been branded as a Communist or at least a left sympathiser . By meeting both Raul and Fidel Castros , he has held out an olive branch to the left . He must have found that Capitalist countries are fast becoming a loosing ground for Catholic Church and hence the need to look elsewhere for ground support
Visits by Popes at different points of time have always been a matter of keen interest to the people of US.It was so this time also ,despite coinciding with visits of many other Heads of States including China Russia and India.Address of the Pope to the US Congress was a well guarded one ,following the norms typical of previous Popes.But what has triggered discussions on a large spectrum were those concerning the refugees,same sex marriages,and child abuse by Catholic Bishops and priests.
Refugees from Syria,and other middle east countries resulting from the atrocities of ISIS is a massive problem faced by European countries . US had been maintaining a stoic silence on the issue since it did not concern them.Refugees have no way to reach US from Middle East unless they are provided airlift or carried in vessels.European countries who were finding it extremely difficult to cope up with their existential issues are completely lost on what to do with the refugees . Even Germans who normally are refugee friendly threw up their hand due to the sheer numbers involved in the current context . Pope urged US to share the burden which is too heavy for Europe to cope with.The appeal has given a good publicity millage to pope ,but it is unlikely to change ground reality . The ongoing discussions in connection with the Presidential election of 2016 has at the centre stage immigration issue . Although Democratic party to which Obama belongs is for a more immigrant friendly policy , they are unable to extend that to the Syrian emigrants due to the Republican Party candidates rousing the conservative population in US on the issue of immigration.So the pronouncements of the pontiff can only serve as an image builder .
The next issue dealt with by Pope is on same sex marriages and liberalising divorce procedure of Catholic faithfuls.On same sex marriages , although Pope did not justify it , he deviated from the conventional view of downright condemning it . Reading between the lines he spoke, he seems to be favourably inclined to accept it as a reality and to look at the same sex oriented with compassion , as people afflicted by a decease rather than as sinners .But with regard to liberalising marriage annulments , he has been more forthcoming. He has given out his view that if divorce is inevitable , the procedure should not be cumbersome.On both these issues ,his stand is in line with the current realities.But the question is whether as the Shepperd of shepherds,is his duty limited to swimming with the current or to be the moral conscience keeper of the faithfuls.This has raised questions like "Is Pope Catholic?" He replied to the press who raised this issue with a mischievous smile "Should I repeat the Creed ?"He meant the Niccian Creed ,but certainly Catholic Church is redefining some part of their traditional views . It is being projected that the reforms are Pope Francis driven . I choose to believe that the need to reform the Church has brought Pope Francis to that coveted chair . Pope Benedict the first Pope to abdicate in recent history,did so because he was a hardliner for traditions and a conservative to boot and could not withstand the pressure for reforms.
Regarding the sexual abuse by clergy including some Bishops and attempt to conceal the abuse by some other Bishops,the Pope was at a difficult spot . First he tried to gloss over it by glorifying the Bishops who acted to contain the vice.But the dissenting voices were so strong that he had to make amends by issuing a statement condemning both who committed the atrocity and those who abetted it . He also found time to console some of the victims .
Probably as part of image building,the New york Arch Diocese released some impressive figures regarding their activity in the field of education.Out of 29000 students enrolled in their education institutions,69% live below poverty line ,Average cost per student is$7000 ,whereas average tuition fee paid by students is $5500,etc .This is certainly impressive if the published data is realistic and has no been mutilated.
Pope's visit to Cuba did not figure prominently in the media to the extent of US visit. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy . It was not usual for Popes to visit Cuba , forget about meeting Fidel Castro ,who has been branded as a Communist or at least a left sympathiser . By meeting both Raul and Fidel Castros , he has held out an olive branch to the left . He must have found that Capitalist countries are fast becoming a loosing ground for Catholic Church and hence the need to look elsewhere for ground support
