Habemus papam!

By Tom Quiner

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina.

Now, Pope Francis I.

Here’s an interesting insight into the new pope, according to Christian screenwriter, Barbara Nicolosi:

“As Cardinal, Bergoglio became known for personal humility, doctrinal conservatism and a commitment to social justice. A simple lifestyle has contributed to his reputation for humility. He lives in a small apartment, rather than in the palatial bishop’s residence. He gave up his chauffeured limousine in favor of public transportation, and he reportedly cooks his own meals.”

Our prayers go out to the new Holy See.

12 Comments

  1. Bob Vance on March 13, 2013 at 3:28 pm

    Humility is something I think we all can improve on. It sounds like they made a good choice.

    Congratulations.



    • Karen Quiner on March 14, 2013 at 10:26 am

      The left wants us all equally dependent on big government. The church, yours and mine, wants us all totally dependent on Christ and each other. The problem with socialism is that it makes the Government our God and takes away our freedom. When the government coerces us into giving away our goods to take care of the poor, that goes against the teaching of Christ.

      Jesus “SUGGESTED” that that rich man “SELL” all his goods and “GIVE” it to the poor. He left the man with a free will.

      The Democrats used to be the party that supported life. They have changed. They are no longer supportive of life. You mark my words, it won’t be too long before there will be a growing support for euthanasia, then that will lead to killing off the profoundly impaired, either physically or mentally, and then the “mercy” killing of the very old.

      If the tables turn, and the republicans favored abortion and all of the other anti-life abominations, I would become democrat.

      I have started to cringe at the label Conservative to describe myself, although I tend to vote conservatively on all issues. I am trying to change my thinking to describe myself, even to myself, as a “disciple of Christ.” It is, after all, the only thing that really matters.

      With that in mind, and change of attitude, I am sure that it will challenge some of my political views. I am open to that. I am a long way from being perfected yet.

      Peace,
      Karen



  2. doctorjohn on March 13, 2013 at 4:28 pm

    I’m a devout Orthodox Christian and it bothers me when anyone in the Church or in politics (hard to tell the difference sometimes) talks about Social Justice.

    Social Justice is the opposite of Individual Liberty.

    The Holy Catholic Church had no Pope until 1054 when one of the five co-equal Bishops in Christ’s Church (the one in Rome) excommunicated four fifths of the Christians in the world and the Roman Catholic Church was born.

    That original church still exists as the 2nd largest denomination in the world today; second only to the Roman Church.

    And finally getting past some of the language barriers the Orthodox Church is now growing in America too.

    The Orthodox Church was Christ’s Church in the World until 1054 and is therefore pre-denominational.



    • quinersdiner on March 13, 2013 at 8:39 pm

      Dear DoctorJohn,

      Thanks for stopping in. It is always good to hear from new people, even if we disagree.

      I would like to make a few points.

      1. For starters, we need to acknowledge that we are on the same team, not against each other, and a brother and sister in Christ. The Roman Church has great respect for our Orthodox brethren.

      2. Peter was the first Pope. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church.”

      3. Yes, there have been some Popes who did some bad things. Any church is populated by men and women who are sinners. That is why we need Christ. I 100% guarantee you that you have them in your church as well. The miracle of the Catholic church, yours and mine, is that it survives Catholics. But the Church is bigger than the people who populate it. The Church is the mystical body of Christ.

      4. I am stunned that any Christian would say that social justice is the opposite of individual liberty. Tom and I are both pretty conservative politically, but believe there is a way to be conservative and still be concerned about social justice. I don’t know how you can read the New Testament, and aspire to be a better Christian, and not be concerned about social justice. Jesus was all about that. We simply differ with our liberal friends on how to accomplish justice, not whether it should be a goal.

      I almost didn’t respond because this doesn’t feel like the day for it. This is a day of rejoicing for those of us in the Roman Church.

      But I respect anyone who takes their religion seriously and I thank you for stopping by.

      God Bless you,
      Your sister in Christ,
      Karen Quiner



      • doctorjohn on March 13, 2013 at 10:18 pm

        Social Justice in the eye of the Progressive means equality of outcome and that my friend is Socialism. (the opposite of Individual Liberty)

        Every Conservative needs to understand that when the LEFT wants this or that……… “for the children”, “for the poor”, “for some minority”, “for the needy” or some other subset of Americans; they are not being compassionate.

        They are driving wedges between Americans in a form of Social Warfare aimed at more government control.

        I’m glad you allowed this dialog because as Christians we are “United in Christ” no matter who’s facts you want to accept about the Roman Church.

        I’m hoping the new Latino Pope is politically Conservative and can bring the Latin world along in understanding the evil of the Progressive Movement in America.

        The Schism in 1054 led to a lot of change; not all of it good as the original Church has off shoots today represented by over 26,000 denominations.

        Some of them with doctrine hard to recognize as traditional (Orthodox) Christianity.

        THANKS AGAIN

        LET US KEEP THE DIALOG GOING

        I DON’T UNDERSTAND HOW ANYONE WHO CONSIDERS THEMSELVES A CHRISTIAN COULD, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, VOTE FOR ANY POLITICIAN WHO SUPPORTS “ABORTION RIGHTS”.

        AND THOSE WHO DID…NEED BE CONFRONTED WITH THEIR HYPOCRISY.



      • Karen Quiner on March 14, 2013 at 7:54 am

        The Roman Catholic Church is for social justice but firmly against socialism. They are not necessarily the same things. It all comes down to your definition of justice.

        We both think that we are members of the original church that traces back to Peter, but that is an argument that is very old and not one we are going to agree on. In the interest of Christian unity, let’s just put that argument aside. We will not agree and I don’t see that it is a necessary argument.

        I also, so not understand any Christian voting for abortion rights. It is the great evil of our age.

        On another note, I had to write under Tom’s name yesterday because the system wouldn’t allow me to write under mine for some reason.

        May God Bless your day.



        • doctorjohn on March 14, 2013 at 10:04 am

          Our discussion about Social Justice shines light on a simple fact.

          That fact is that the LEFT controls the dialog and we need to change that.

          You and I have compassion for the unfortunate in our society but that is not what the LEFT means by Social Justice.

          As I said, they mean equality of outcome and redistribution is their way to achieve it.

          How could one in good conscience vote against something couched in terms like “for the children”?

          Incrementally giving up small portions of individual liberty over the past 100 years for unconstitutional things like “social security” or the “you name it federal program” for the needy, the poor, the elderly or some racial or sexual minority is what has America in such a mess today.

          It’s called the Progressive Movement and it is constantly leading us away from our Constitution.

          The Leftists will only be satisfied when everyone is EQUALLY DEPENDENT on BIG GOVERNMENT.

          Even you, a Conservative Catholic who is paying attention can be deceived by the language, so what happens to the compassionate Christian who isn’t keeping up with politics?

          Social Justice from the mouth of a LEFTIST………just sounds good.

          You don’t really think those people care about individuals like you and I do.

          If they did they would be liberty loving CONSERVATIVES.



          • quinersdiner on March 14, 2013 at 10:18 am

            You are correct, the Left has a different definition of “social justice” than the Church does. At my parish, social conservatives and social liberals cannot co-exist on the same committees. The “social justice” committee is dominated by liberals who in many cases reject Church teachings on Life, contraception, and Marriage. This has necessitated the forming of a new Respect Life committee to advance these issues to our parish. The Church has always been against socialism because, as you suggest, it inevitably whittles away rights and choice as it breeds dependence on the state. The church becomes the god of the people at the expense of vibrant Catholicism, as we’ve seen in Europe. Thanks for writing.



          • doctorjohn on March 14, 2013 at 12:28 pm

            The Catholic Church will be lost if parishes like the one described in this conversation allow the social justice group to take over committees and give the impression that abortion and homosexuality etc. are okay options which is what it sound like your parish is doing.

            That kind of political correctness will destroy the lives of the young or otherwise impressionable from a salvation point of view.

            Any of my fellow parishioners who publicly indicate favor for politicians who favor “CHOICE” (doesn’t that sound good) related to abortion or gay marriage etc. get put on the spot by me.

            How can you profess Christianity and support killing babies no matter how righteously it is presented?

            The Roman Catholic Church at times appears to be bending over backwards to be Protestant.

            With 26,000 Christian denominations and growing one can find about any perversion of Christ’s word you want to rally around.

            The Roman Church may be the first denomination and made some pretty fundamental changes in Christ’s Church when it came into existance (eg. The Apostle’s Creed) but they need to stand up against this Social Justice stuff.

            Not the time to be politically correct in the Church or the Church will become the church.



    • Karen Quiner on March 14, 2013 at 1:40 pm

      The group is not taking over the church. It is one voice. We have a very active pro-life group at our parish.

      The Roman Catholic Church is not bending over backwards to be protestant. It is a very big church and there are people in the church who profess views that go against Church teaching, but the Church herself has stood firm on abortion, traditional marriage, euthanasia, and a host of other key issues of the day. Our new pope will do the same.

      I bet if I did a little research, I could find some bad stuff in the Orthodox Catholic church as well. I am sure I would, because it is populated and will always be populated by sinful people. Just like in the Roman Catholic Church. But what would that accomplish?

      You and I are both members of the Catholic church. We both profess Jesus Christ as Lord, that he died, rose from the dead, came to save us from our sins, and continues to be with us, body, soul, and divinity in the Holy Eucharist. We both have the seven Sacraments.(Mysteries)

      We are in a group studying the Catechism of the Catholic church. I was impressed by the respect given to our Orthodox Brethren.

      I think it would be counterproductive to get into a tit for tat on who is the “true” church. I doubt if Christ would want that.



      • doctorjohn on March 14, 2013 at 2:39 pm

        I’m not arguing with you.

        There is an awful lot of TOLERANCE in all churches including yours, mine and all the Protestant Churches.

        That’s what I meant by:

        “That kind of political correctness will destroy the lives of the young or otherwise impressionable from a salvation point of view”.

        Some things are just WRONG and should not be viewed as an optional viewpoint within Christ’s Church.

        As a young man I experienced two United Methodist ministers who did not believe in the Deity of Christ.

        This led me to study the Bible and early Christian history to prove to myself they were wrong and I became a more devout Christian.

        But what if I had not had a good foundation from my parents growing up?

        The ‘Arius Heresy’ could have interfered with my salvation.

        Some things we can’t just be tolerant about.



    • Karen Quiner on March 14, 2013 at 3:25 pm

      “Some things are just WRONG and should not be viewed as an optional viewpoint within Christ’s Church.”

      AMEN! I agree.

      All we can do is lovingly point out the error of their ways. I am not personally going to show their backside my boot. Our goal is to change hearts. With love. Always with love.

      Christ will win. Christ’s truth has already one. We just don’t see it yet.