The Pope’s 12,000-word interview in an Italian Jesuit journal, which heralds a change of tone in the Vatican’s approach to divisive doctrines, has been welcomed by the Archbishop as an exciting period for the Church.
Mgr Paul Cremona is not the only one to welcome the refreshing, frank message of Pope Francis to shake its obsession with teachings on abortion, contraception and gay marriage or risk facing the collapse of its entire moral edifice.
Since his election in March, the Argentine Pope has gained a reputation for surprising followers and giving the clergy and the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics plenty to ponder on.
The Sunday Times of Malta seeks reactions to Pope Francis’s message to steer clear of “small-minded rules”.
Paul Cremona – Archbishop
The Archbishop believes the Pope is directing the Church away from bioethical issues, which have been at the forefront of its teachings for the past 30 years, and urging it to focus on spreading the good news.
Stressing that the Pope is not condoning abortion, Mgr Cremona agrees the local Church too has become too obsessed with abortion, gay marriage and contraception, and recently got entangled in divorce debate.
All this distracted from the Church’s main focus – the Gospel.
Mgr Cremona is “positively surprised” by the way this Pope is revolutionising the Church, and as leader of Malta’s Church the message reinvigorates him too.
“The issues he’s emphasising are the teachings of Jesus Christ. He’s taking us back to the roots of Christianity. This is a very exciting period for the Church,” he says.
The Archbishop acknowledges that changing the way priests deliver the homily will not change overnight, but the most important thing is to have a shift in the right direction.
“We need to reach out to the people and get out there if they don’t come to us... priests need to be less condemning and deliver the message of mercy and hope.”
Mgr Charles Vella – Cana founder
For decades Mgr Vella has felt the same ways as Pope Francis – that the emphasis on
“small-minded
rules” is alienating many couples and individuals from the Church.
“The Pope wants to reach out to the millions of Catholics who drifted away from the Church because they could not adhere to some moral principles,” he says.
In this “fluid” society, he warns that many people consider Europe and the Western world as being post-Christian.
“In my humble opinion the Church is becoming ever more irrelevant to the younger generations and we need to heed the Pope’s warning that ‘unless we strike a balance, the Church’s moral edifice will fall like a pack of cards’.”
Mgr Vella’s “priestly heart” leapt with joy when he read the Pope’s interview, which he feels is genuinely concerned with healing wounds.
“In this interview he explains the reasons behind his actions and omissions... some of the things he said surprised me coming from a Pope.
“He comes out more liberal, creative, progressive and wanting to genuinely push boundaries from the traditional moralistic traditions.
“However, he declares, ‘I am a son of the Church’. For me he is Peter and through him the Church is a home for all.”
Martin Scicluna – commentator
Mr Scicluna believes the Pope is not only being very open-minded but is prepared to take on all sorts of conservative vested interests that have been holding the Vatican back for the past 50 years.
“I think it’s exciting news that he’s more willing to see that there are human problems attached to all the Church’s doctrine.”
The Pope, he adds, knows he is walking a tightrope but is wise enough to balance between the conservative and liberal elements within the Church.
“I think he’s indicating there’s got to be change and he’s going to make change... the Church has got to be more alert to the changing zeitgeist.
“It’s absolutely refreshing. He’s trying to give the Church a human face, while at the same time not straying from the doctrinal elements that are fundamental.
“He’s trying to show he understands the daily problems all of us have to face.”
Mr Scicluna feels it is exciting to observe that Pope Francis’s words appear to closely echo the controversial death-bed interview by charismatic Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini – also a Jesuit – more than a year ago.
Fr Rene Camilleri – theologian
Fr Camilleri is elated to witness the freshness in the Pope’s interview, but warns that the Pope’smessage should not be misinterpreted or misunderstood to be nullifying the Church’s doctrine.
“The Pope is making it clear that the Church’s mission is not to teach doctrine, nor to reaffirm its regulations; its biggest focus should be on outreach,” he says.
The Church, he feels, has to move out of the “narrow moralistic alley of what is right or wrong”, which prohibits it from being fresh.
Fr Camilleri is reassured and comforted by the Pope’s message, especially since he was often reprimanded by venturing to echo similar sentiments in the past.
The Pope, he feels, is directing the Church towards the real issues: those suffering from unemployment, a loss of dignity, and those who have a thirst for God but find the church’s doors closed because of their marriage breakdown.
“[This is] when you see the mentality of the Church tribunal and the way it insists in its rigour that continues to crush those facing a trauma.
“We still face situations where some parish priests are still battling the issue of whether to baptise the baby of a single mother...”
Fr Camilleri feels it is time for the Church to grow up and this means coming to terms with reality or lose its relevance.
“It’s useless trying to turn back the clock... we’re living in 2013 and we need to be in search of God’s footprints in our culture. We need to have the right attitude to discern what is going on.”
Gabi Calleja – Malta Gay Rights Movement coordinator
Ms Calleja interprets the Pope’s message to shake its obsession with teachings on abortion, contraception and homosexuality as a move towards recognising there are more important issues affecting humanity.
“Poverty, corruption and war are by far more problematic and have a more far-reaching effect on the lives of people which the Church should be more concerned with,” she says.
The message of Pope Francis veers from Pope Benedict XVI’s previous harsh condemnation on homosexuality, a shift that is not lost on MGRM.
“We are a human-rights based organisation concerned with social and legal equality. However, in as much as such statements lead to greater acceptance by the Church of LGBT Catholics, then of course we welcome such a change in emphasis.”
Does MGRM feel the Pope is opening up the Church to gay people or merely glossing over the issue?
“I think we will have to wait and see whether the Pope’s stance will be reflected in the Church’s politics; in how bishops react in countries where laws advancing LGBT equality are proposed; and in how Vatican representatives position themselves on human rights issues brought before institutions such as the UN Human Rights Council.”
In the Pope’s own words...
Moral issues
"We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods... the teaching of the Church is clear and I am a son of the Church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time"
Torture chamber
"The confessional is not a torture chamber, but the place in which the Lord’s mercy motivates us to do better"
Uncertainty is good
"If a person says he met God with total certainty and is not touched by a margin of uncertainty, then this is not good... if one has the answers to all the questions, that is proof God is not with him"
House of cards
"We have to find a new balance otherwise the moral edifice of the Church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel"
I’m a sinner
"I can say that I am a bit astute, that I can adapt to circumstances, but it is also true I am a bit naïve... but the best summary, the one that comes from the inside and I feel more true is this: I am a sinner who the Lord has looked upon"
Real change
"I believe that we always need time to lay the foundations for real, effective change. And this is the time for discernment"
A genuine sermon
"A beautiful homily, a genuine sermon must begin with the first proclamation of salvation... it comes before the moral and religious imperatives. Today, sometimes it seems the opposite order is prevailing"
Field hospital
"I see the Church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol... you have to heal his wounds. Then we talk about everything else"
Reaching out
"Let us try to be a Church that steps outside itself and go to those who do not attend Mass, to those who have quit or are indifferent... if properly understood and assessed can lead to a return"
Nest of mediocrity
"The Church with which we should be thinking is the home of all, not a small chapel that can only hold a small group of selected people. We must not reduce the bosom of the universal Church to a nest protecting our mediocrity"