Jason Horowitz

I think that the important way to see this and the important way Francis saw this is that the church is much bigger than Europe and the United States. The future of the church, if you look around, is in Africa, it is in Asia. And if you make these big changes, right, you are going to lose a lot of people.

I think that the important way to see this and the important way Francis saw this is that the church is much bigger than Europe and the United States. The future of the church, if you look around, is in Africa, it is in Asia. And if you make these big changes, right, you are going to lose a lot of people.

So on LGBTQ Catholics, right, which was a major issue, especially for people in the United States and Europe. He opened the church, right? He let people in, but he wouldn't change the rules. Maybe because in Africa, homosexuality amongst Catholics is viewed very, very negatively.

So on LGBTQ Catholics, right, which was a major issue, especially for people in the United States and Europe. He opened the church, right? He let people in, but he wouldn't change the rules. Maybe because in Africa, homosexuality amongst Catholics is viewed very, very negatively.

What Europe or the United States would view as progress would be viewed as a deal breaker for the place that actually has people and has the future of the church, right? So I think if there was a conservative argument that Francis came to understand or accept was that the unity of the church was extremely important.

What Europe or the United States would view as progress would be viewed as a deal breaker for the place that actually has people and has the future of the church, right? So I think if there was a conservative argument that Francis came to understand or accept was that the unity of the church was extremely important.

And maybe he didn't want to be the guy who destroyed the whole thing over, you know, what might in a way be an interest group, you know, a Western liberal interest group. And I think really what he believes is that he believes that the church is going to be around a long time.

And maybe he didn't want to be the guy who destroyed the whole thing over, you know, what might in a way be an interest group, you know, a Western liberal interest group. And I think really what he believes is that he believes that the church is going to be around a long time.

And what he did is he opened up these debates and he wants the church to reach a sort of consensus on these things so that it can move together. Now that's really hard, right? Because the world's a big place with lots of different views and lots of different Catholics. He thinks differently. But I think that he thinks to make those big changes to doctrine and to law is

And what he did is he opened up these debates and he wants the church to reach a sort of consensus on these things so that it can move together. Now that's really hard, right? Because the world's a big place with lots of different views and lots of different Catholics. He thinks differently. But I think that he thinks to make those big changes to doctrine and to law is

You want everyone to be on board, or at least a consensus that you feel like you're not going to break the church apart.

You want everyone to be on board, or at least a consensus that you feel like you're not going to break the church apart.

I think you're right that he's got a very tricky balancing act, right? I think for Francis, it's not just about being relevant, which he desperately wants the church to be relevant in the lives of Catholics all around the world, but it's not just about being relevant in the fastest growing places or the places where the future of the church is.

I think you're right that he's got a very tricky balancing act, right? I think for Francis, it's not just about being relevant, which he desperately wants the church to be relevant in the lives of Catholics all around the world, but it's not just about being relevant in the fastest growing places or the places where the future of the church is.

I think for Francis, he also wants to make sure that the Catholics in Europe and the United States are still part of this giant mission. But I think what he has little patience for, and I think this is where he ran into trouble with some of the American conservatives, is what he views as ideological or politically motivated dissent.

I think for Francis, he also wants to make sure that the Catholics in Europe and the United States are still part of this giant mission. But I think what he has little patience for, and I think this is where he ran into trouble with some of the American conservatives, is what he views as ideological or politically motivated dissent.

I think when he senses that the motivation behind this has more to do with power, more to do with the word he uses, which he hates more than anything, is clericalism, the idea that a priest is higher than his flock, it turns him off immediately. And I think that's what he was trying to sort of rid the church of.

I think when he senses that the motivation behind this has more to do with power, more to do with the word he uses, which he hates more than anything, is clericalism, the idea that a priest is higher than his flock, it turns him off immediately. And I think that's what he was trying to sort of rid the church of.

Yeah, I agree with you. I think in many ways he's sort of the pope of great expectations that are never fulfilled on either side. And that doesn't mean, though, that he didn't do anything, right? I think that even though he doesn't change the rules that many liberals were hoping for and that he doesn't break the place, which is what many conservatives were worried about,

Yeah, I agree with you. I think in many ways he's sort of the pope of great expectations that are never fulfilled on either side. And that doesn't mean, though, that he didn't do anything, right? I think that even though he doesn't change the rules that many liberals were hoping for and that he doesn't break the place, which is what many conservatives were worried about,