Media misrepresents Pope Francis interview

Editor,

The Jesuit magazine “America” published an interview with Pope Francis. During the 12,000-word interview, Pope Francis commented on artificial contraceptives, abortion and homosexuality. Pope Francis stated that the Catholic Church cannot talk about these issues all of the time. In regard to these subjects, he stated that the primary focus must be on respecting the dignity of the person and not on condemning the sinner.

These comments caught the media’s attention. They made it appear that Pope Francis is possibly changing the teaching of the Catholic Church on these often divisive issues. The media’s presentation of Pope Francis’ words is far from the truth.

All one has to do is examine the Catechism of the Catholic Church in order to understand Pope Francis’ words. The Catechism is 825 pages. The subjects of abortion, homosexuality and artificial contraceptives make up several pages of the Catechism. So obviously, these subjects are not talked about all the time. These subjects are presented within the overall context of the Christian religion.

The subject of Christian marriage makes up larger sections of the Catechism, especially in the sections on creation, where God made human beings as male and female, in the section on the sacrament of marriage and the section on the commandment “thou shall not commit adultery.” Within the overall context of God’s plan for marriage, the subjects of artificial contraceptives, abortion and homosexual acts are discussed and outright rejected as contrary to Jesus’ teachings on marriage.

Pope Francis is articulating that the church’s moral teachings on certain issues must be presented and understood within the larger context of God’s creation and Jesus’ Gospel. Only in this context do the church’s moral principles find their foundation.

Pope Francis stated that the primary focus of the church must be on the dignity of the person. This is an expression of Jesus’ attitude toward humanity, which was one of love, mercy and salvation. One of the greatest examples of this is Jesus’ actions toward the woman caught in adultery.

The scribes and Pharisees told Jesus that a woman caught in adultery must be stoned. Jesus replied, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7). After this, the people left without injuring the woman. Jesus concluded the incident with these words, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and from now on do not sin anymore.” (John 8:11).

The reason many people fail to understand Pope Francis and the Christian religion is because they fail to understand Jesus. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners by bringing them into union with God. God loves human beings and out of his love he offers mercy and forgiveness.

Here is the part of Jesus’ message that many people ignore: It is also out of love and concern for human dignity that he calls us to repentance and conversion, which is to stop sinning and to turn back to obedience to God.

Benjamin Sanchez
Daily Lobo reader