I admired, respected, and loved Blessed Pope John XXIII. He was my idea of a true leader of the Catholic Church. He was famous for ushering in the Second Vatican II Council-- hoping to bring fresh air into a church that badly needed it. Sadly, he didn't live to see his reforms instituted. And I don't believe that the two Popes who followed him tried or even wanted to institute them.
Pope Francis has declared him a saint based on his merits of opening the Second Vatican Council --thereby bypassing the traditionally required second miracle. Both he and John Paul II are expected to be canonised by the end of 2013.
I believe that Pope Francis seems to be of the same ilk as the roly poly John XXIII. For a certainty, his style is winning many hearts. I can't tell you the surprise and happiness I experienced when I found out that he had chosen the name Francis. I only pray that he will try to live up to the charismas and legacies of this beautiful and compassionate saint.
It seems to me that the Franciscan Order has not embraced Francis' love and concern for ALL God's creatures, which includes the animals. Whether Pope Francis will is yet to be seen, but I have genuine hope that he will.
FATHER HELMUT SCHULLER OF AUSTRIA COMES
TO CLEVELAND
This past week I was delighted to learn that Father Helmut Schuller of Austria had given a talk to 150 attentive but basically subdued listeners at the Cleveland City Club. I so admired him for doing this because, in my opinion, Cleveland is basically conservative in their views. However, this was his second talk in the area. The night before this, the 6 0-year- old priest had addressed 500 people in Independence, Ohio.
He was invited to a three-week, 15-city tour in the United States sponsored by 10 U.S. liberal Catholic reform groups, which included Lakewood-based FutureChurch. Sr. Chritine Schenk is the executive director of FutureChurch and she said she supports Schuller's message because it contains the same issues her group and the other liberal organizations believe in.
Schuller's message is called "The Catholic Tipping Point." The Austrian priest told the Cleveland City Club audience that while female priests, married priests, and same-sex marriage tolerance may not be compatible with the present Roman Catholic church's teachings, these reformations to church doctrine are possible solutions for the growing priest shortage.
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