Pope Francis didn’t hold back when discussing his dismay at the attitude of certain conservative American Catholics.
Francis made his comments in a private meeting with Portuguese members of his Jesuit religious order while visiting Lisbon in early August. The Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica, which is vetted by the Vatican secretariat of state, published a transcript of the dialogue Monday.
In this meeting, the Pope blasted the “backwardness” of some within the US Catholic Church, saying they have swapped out faith with ideology and that a correct understanding of Catholic doctrine allows for gradual change over time.
Francis’ comments were an explicit acknowledgment of the progressive and conservative factions within the American church, with the latter faction having long taken uncompromising positions on issues of abortion and gay marriage.
The 86-year-old Argentine said there was “a very strong, organized, reactionary attitude” in the US church, which he called “backward.” He warned that such an attitude leads to an erroneous climate of closure.
In turn, many conservative Catholics in the US have long been critics of the Pope, mostly for his emphasis on social justice issues while also calling him heretical for his opening to let divorced and civilly remarried Catholics receive the sacraments. The Pope’s comments were sparked by a Portuguese Jesuit saying he came across many anti-Francis Catholics during his year in America (including many Jesuits), and that it troubled him greatly.
