Cardinal George: Pope's Remarks Do Not Mean A Change In Policy

By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 23, 2013 9:45PM

Pope Francis I’s comments in a wide-ranging interview last week that the Roman Catholic Church “locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules” and acted “like bureaucrats or government officials” regarding hot-button issues like abortion, homosexuality and contraception was welcomed by Catholic who disagree with the Church on these matters. But don’t expect the Church to suddenly become more welcoming to gays or ease its stance on rubbers and morning-after pills any time soon.

Cardinal Francis George, in his first public statements since the pope’s interview was published, said the Archdiocese of Chicago won’t be planning any changes in policy soon, despite Francis’s “encouraging” tone.

“I think we should take it to heart as a reflection piece because that’s what it was,” George said Sunday after presiding over a Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass at Holy Name Cathedral. “We’ll see as we go along to not change policy but to change pastoral approach.”

George, a vocal and active opponent of marriage equality in Illinois, called the pope’s remarks “a good examination of conscience," but warned that some may be reading too much into Francis’ words. "I also think that he's coming from the viewpoint of a pastor who is close to the Lord and close to the people."

George said as he always has, "Everybody is welcome but not everything we do can be acceptable. Not everything I do, and not everything anybody else does."

“The church has to speak to the challenges to her teachings that are presented by the society," George added. "If a society is obsessed with those issues, then the church will respond. If the society doesn’t bring them up. The church won’t respond.”