It's Not The Pope's Church !

When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."
Peter said to him in reply,  "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."  He said, "Come."  Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

I have always been rather conservative in my thinking except when I was young.  Today I am mystified with the news that is coming out of Vatican City.  The Pope and his posse are coming out against the conservatives in the United State. The so called conservatives are the ones that are championing the cause of traditional Catholic teachings and why a pope or any other cleric should be against the things we have been taught from early age on is mystifying to me.  

I grew up and grew old through the reigns of Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and finally Francis I.  

Although before I was born, Pius XII was held hostage during World War II when the fascists occupied Rome. But that did not stop him from helping thousands of Jewish men, women, and children escape the horror of the Holocaust.   John XXIII opened the windows of the church and let the wind of the Spirit renew the Church even though some of the reforms were misunderstood. Paul VI followed who fleshed out some of the reforms and who helped strengthen the Church.  John Paul the First. died too quickly to leave much of a mark because of his reign. John Paul II brought down communism and was a Pope of the People.  Benedict XVI had more credits to his name when he was prefect of the Congregation of the Faith where his sharp mind clearly brought Catholic teachings so that they could be understood more easily.  For some reason, supposedly for health, he abdicated and we elected Francis I. 

When Francis was elected he broke the mold of what being the Pope meant.  He declined to live in the Apostolic Palace preferring a hotel room in Vatican City instead.  He condemned shows of wealth by the clergy and took up the cause of the poor. He disliked limousines and when he flew to South Korea, he waved to the people from the back of a black Kia Soul!  Francis does have a tendency to talk off of the cuff too much and he fails to recognize, maybe by design, that what he says carries the weight of his office even when he is not speaking from the Chair of Peter.  

The current calamity is an attack on conservative Catholics in the United States.  Francis does not like it when people disagree with him.  He may be a humble man, but he tends to be an imperial pope even though he does not dress the part. I am confused with this man.  He is doing so much good in the Vatican, making finances more transparent and coming out against the mafia which has had a stranglehold on the people for hundreds of years.  He embodies many good things but I do have an unease about the man.  He seems to want to undo centuries old teachings about marriage and divorce, but he does not say so, as a matter of fact, he says nothing about it and lets others do the talking about it.  His rule has stirred up some confusion in the pews and he says nothing to bring light to important subjects.  We hear that there is a gay influence that penetrates to this highest ranks of the Curia and Francis does nothing, at least publicly, about that. 

As I said, Francis confuses me.  But I live my life with a few constants that will never change.  First and foremost, I believe that no pope, not even Francis, owns the Catholic Church.  The Church belongs to and is headed by Jesus as its King and Ruler.  I also believe that Francis will never teach error because no pope ever has and no pope ever will because Jesus promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against HIS church. And God help me, I truly believe that where Peter is, there is the Church.