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Pope Francis calls for power to move away from Vatican
Pope Francis has called for power in the Catholic Church to be devolved away from the Vatican, in the first major work he has written in the role.
Pope Francis
In his "apostolic exhortation", Pope Francis said he preferred a Church that was "bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security".
The document Evangelii Gaudium or "The Joy of the Gospel", suggests major changes are on the way, with Francis noting that the Church has to get over an attitude that says: "We have always done it this way."
However, the document reiterates the Church's opposition to the ordination of female priests, saying this is "not a question open to discussion".
The document also touches on inter-faith relations, urging Christians to "embrace with affection and respect Muslim immigrants to our countries in the same way that we hope and ask to be received and respected in countries of Islamic tradition".
Last month Pope Francis held his first meeting with a special group of cardinals to consider ways to reform the Vatican bureaucracy after saying in a newspaper interview that the Vatican had become too self-interested and needed to be inclusive.
"Excessive centralisation, rather than proving helpful, complicates the Church's life and her missionary outreach," he says in the latest document.
He also says he does not believe that the papacy "should be expected to offer a definitive or complete word on every question which affects the Church and the world".
This month the Vatican launched an unprecedented survey of the views of lay Catholics on modern family life and sexual ethics.
The document does restate the Church's opposition to abortion but concedes that "it is also true that we have done little to adequately accompany women in very difficult situations,... especially when the life developing within them is the result of rape or a situation of extreme poverty".
"Who can remain unmoved before such painful situations?" he asks.
Pope Francis also expands on his concerns about economic inequality. "Today we also have to say "thou shalt not" to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills," he says, going on to castigate the "new idolatry of money".
"I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the state of society, the people, the lives of the poor!" he goes on.
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The Pope's strong words highlight the extent of the present economic crisis which has been compounded by the vitiating of the democratic process throughout the last twenty- thirty years by certain individuals or groups taking over or forming political parties in several countries abusing the latest professional techniques and expertise of public relations to "manufacture" popular consent and win elections with a specific agenda of de-regulating markets for the advantage of a small minority while the great majority is left to fend for itself. Berlusconigate comes to mind and illustrates this.Such a process cannot go on indefinitely and regulation of the political process to safeguard that democracy does not degenerate into oligarchy is now a matter of top priority if we wish to avert economic collapse
Priscilla Darmenia •
The Pope is correct to ask Christians to respect Muslims coming to their countries, however it is not the same when Christians go to Muslim countries.
Christians never destroyed mosques and killed Muslims however Muslims did destroy churches and killed Christians. -
And I thought that both Christians and Muslims all consider Abraham as their father and thus are brothers. -
How can the same God send a message through Moses that “thou shall not kill” and an opposing message to Mohammed?
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Mark my words. This Pope will be the fillip that will attract back many ex/non believers. He is a revolution all by himself.
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His Holiness Pope Francis comes from a South American country. When the Americas were discovered by European navigators they were colonized by European nations thus inheriting a Christian way of life which they still do up to this day. Had he come from from a North African country he would know, as one is certain that he does, that Christians can never be received and respected in countries of Islamic tradition. Christian churches are being attacked and burnt in such countries.
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That is the only condition the secular world is asking you to concede to abortion in the case of rape especially minors and in the case where there may be a loose of life by the pregant mother. This is the abortion law as has been passed in Ireland which defends the women basic human rights of justice over their own persons.
