Pope Francis garnered all kinds of attention with his statement on Thursday that the Church needs to begin focusing on mercy, rather than preaching about abortion, gay marriage and gay rights, and contraceptive methods.
In his interview with America Magazine, Francis said that the church’s “pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently.” They must instead look at these issues—gay marriage, abortion, etc.—in context. He gives the example of a woman who had an abortion in a failed marriage, but has since then moved on, happily remarried and had five children. He calls for a “new balance” within the church, one that focuses more on mercy and “salvation,” rather than these issues which are impossible to fully examine beyond the individual.
While Francis’ interview did not change church doctrine, it has certainly made many liberal Catholics hopeful, The New York Times reports. Conservative Catholics however, have taken immediately to the defensive. Reverend Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, stated “Nobody should try to use the words of the pope to minimize the urgent need to preach and teach about abortion.”
Photo courtesy of Tania Rego, Wikimedia Commons