I have been a avid fan of General George Patton for most of my adult life.
I first learned of the vulgar yet brilliant tactical commander of the American Third Army when I was in college seminary. My mentor at the time was a elderly curmudgeon, Father John Taugher, Vincentian Professor of Latin, whose wisdom and counsel guided me both before and after my Ordination.
What Father Taugher admired and shared with me about General Patton (and what I have attempted to emulate) was his disregard for the normal rules of decorum in his commitment to crush the German enemy at all costs.
It nearly cost him his rank.
If President Roosevelt had followed the advice of General Marshall and removed Patton from the front lines, it is very possible that today the world would be celebrating almost 80 years of Hitler’s thousand-year Reich.
Perhaps the most celebrated of all the anecdotes about Patton recalls his defeat over Romel in North Africa, when the General is quoted as saying, “Romel, you (ephithet deleted), I read your book!”
Well, I can’t say that I have read Pope Francis whole “book”, but I do believe that I have completed and digested his “first chapter” at least.
I think we can all agree that the Holy Father has a distinctive approach to Church dogma and doctrine.
Furthermore, I believe that through the past years of his Pontificate, Pope Francis, instead of acting as expositor and defender of these core teachings of the Church, selectively has applied them in his statements and actions without feeling the need to alter the teachings themselves.
The Pope has indicated on a number of occasions his belief that it is possible to be a member of the Church in good standing, while not abiding fully with all of the precepts of the institution.
Other Popes have acknowledged that every member of the Church is a sinner and will, in moments of weakness or frailty, fail to follow the moral teachings of the Gospel. When that happens, the faithful are both required and encouraged to repent and seek reconciliation (by way of Sacramental absolution) along with a firm intention to amend future choices to be in conformity with Church teaching.
Pope Francis is radically different in that he implies, by his words and gestures, that a lack of conformity with Church teaching is acceptable, requiring no change or improvement in behavior.
Most recently, Juan Carlos Cruz, a self-admitted gay victim of the sexual abuse scandal in Chile that has garnered worldwide attention, met and engaged in private conversations with the Pope.
Following the meeting, Cruz quoted Pope Francis as admitting that, if indeed Cruz is gay, that's how God made him and there's nothing wrong with that.
Church teaching clearly contradicts this.
But here’s how Pope Francis responds.
First, the Holy Father and the Vatican remain silent about Cruz’ claim of what the Pope said to him.
Second, that silence allows the Pope to effectively affirm teaching (by not contradicting Cruz’ statements), while applying Church teaching in a more merciful and less demanding pastoral response.
It's the same strategy Pope Francis has applied by not responding directly to those who have challenged his words or actions on any number of moral, theological or even liturgical traditions of Church teaching and practice.
Instead of seeking to change the underlying rules, which would risk divisiveness and even schism, Pope Francis is perfectly content it appears toshow that it is perfectly permissable for a Priest or layperson to diverge from Church precepts in the name of welcoming as many people as possible to the mercy of Christ.
That’s at least what I have garnered from watching and listen to the Holy Father these past many years...reading his book so to say.
Perhaps the Pope is hoping that, if he is successful in having the Church informally stop the harsh application of the moral precepts which derive from its teachings, perhaps it will be easier and less like to cause serious divisions to diverge from those teachings officially.
But, that requires a further reading of Pope Francis’ actions and strategy...perhaps the reading of the second chapter of his “book”.
I look forward such as the Pontificate of this remarkable Successor of Peters continues, for many years yet I pray!
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