Is Pope Francis a Liberal and Liturgical Wreckovator?

Because a few friends and readers have expressed reservations about Pope Francis, I wanted to circle back and talk about falling in love with his charisms and gifts butressed against concerns being raised about Our Sacred Liturgy and conjecture about what exactly it is he'll reform, if anything.

After years of experiencing the modus operandi of the crew in the Boston Chancery let's call it "PPP" (the protection of perverts and perversion) and after a decade of experiencing the modus operandi at the highest levels of the Roman Curia, let's call it the "PPPP" (the protection of protectors of perverts and perversion), while watching Pope Francis, I find myself in the familiar territory of "Note to Self:  "Be careful what you ask for".

I want you to think about something for a minute.

So here we are in Boston under a regime that, literally, is bringing in the agenda of homoerotica and the PPP's in the Boston Archdiocese submits, with great confidence, the following comment:

"You're kidding yourself if you think anyone in the Boston hierarchy gives a whit about you & your thoughts about the Church. You are derided at the highest levels. You'd be better off visiting a soup kitchen & leaving the Church to God & those whom he's chosen to run it. Your "paper trail" is off no interest to anyone who matters. "

Priests rolling out the agenda of perversion of minds and souls of our children have great confidence they are protected under Cardinal O'Malley - and in fact, all the way to Rome. They are absolutely correct.

Even when some of those priests were perverting the minds of children and once they were groomed, raping them, the PPPPs in Roman Curia currently are as brazen as ever.

Over the last fifteen years, we have solicited the assistance of very powerful lay people, priests and Bishops across the United States. I say this with the deepest affection: The Romans are an odd lot.

There is some kind of pomp that forbears and forbids whistleblowing, discipline and cleaning out corruption. I hesitate to use this word, but it's the only word I can think of that is suitable: It operates like a cult. A cult that penalizes those who reports criminal activities or civil and spiritual misfeasance and malfeasance.

It's got to go.

We want these priests removed. Sent for spiritual counseling and if they are redeemable, returned to ministry. If they remain defiant, permanently sidelined, where they are no longer a danger to the salvation of souls. We want any lay person who contradicts Church teaching or forbids it to be taught to Catholic children in side of our own schools to be removed. We don't want any more asinine template letters sent on behalf of the Cardinal thanking us for expressing our concerns and telling us they're "watching" the situation.

 The era of watching the Cardinal watching his priests abuse and defile souls is over.  Gonzo. But ten years later, they are not willing to let go of it. In my opinion, from what we have experienced here in Boston, the cult mentality only entrenched itself further. It is much worse than it was before the newspapers unraveled its fruit.

What we want is a system that protects our children. Where complaints are not just watched but acted upon. We want a fire set to dismissive template letters. We want letters telling us the dangerous priest or person has been relieved of their duties and we are all free to teach anything and everything in the Catechism. Wherever and whenever we wish to do so.

I've watched Pope Francis over the course of the last few days. I've watched his discomfort with the ornate dressings of the royalty of the papacy. It does concern me. But I cannot imagine a humble man being thrown into that and finding his balance between accepting his own transparency in the expressions of reverencing the majestic royalty of Christ Our King. I'm praying he finds it and sooner rather than later.

 But truth be told, if he never finds it, if this is the price we pay to eliminate the mentality of the cult, it is a bargain I am more than willing to live with through this papacy.

I've read and heard concerns over the Liturgy with the puppets in the bleachers.   These kinds of sophomoric antics do a terrible disservice to those present.  We are transported in time to Golotha.  Imagine the Apostles bringing puppets and hopping around like around the crucifixion of Christ as giddy as Cheech and Chong afer smokin a big blunt. It is appalling to those who are mystically present at Christ's Crucifixion.

I've read concerns that he does not genuflect at Consecration.  The man is 76 years old.  Twenty years his junior, my knees, my back, my balance - I can't do it without holding onto something and even with support, it is a spectacle trying to get up.   I don't buy into these as signs he lacks intimacy and respect for the Holy Sacrifice.

The culture in Argentina is jiggy and it is more than possible and even likely, he did not know about the puppets in the bleachers. They probably came from some parish "youth minister" on a bus into the stadium - without anyone knowing beforehand.

He deserves the benefit of the doubt because I see his spirituality and ministry embraces the culture he is in.  I understand and affirm the concerns, but doubt we'll be seeing these things in his Petrine ministry - though this remains to be seen.

I observed his interactions with the crazy journalists who suffer from malicious religious bigotry and generate such across the globe with the moonbat commentary and lies. After persuading them to report the truth, he told them he loved them all.   It brings me to tears. Still.

I watched him today, hop out of the popemobile to bless a cripple man who had been lowered through the roof. Faith and love like this, intimacy -- I have greatly missed, and I am overjoyed to see its return.

In town, there is a local hairdresser who scandalizes residents with his advertisements outside of his salon that promote SSA, promiscuity. He openly and loudly speaks of drugs, booze and sex inside of the salon. Outside of his salon this week, the sign welcomes Pope Francis and says 'love your pope'.

I speak to friends and colleagues who are bitter, broken, resistant to Church teaching, and I see their intrigue and even admiration.

And I am loving it.

But all of this does not mean I have surrended the trust the antics of the cult have broken.

As my grandmother used to say - the proof is in the pudding.

I want to see for myself who he appoints. I want to see for myself what happens when we whistleblow. I want to see for myself what happens when we have to go over the heads of the corrupt in our Chanceries to remove priests and persons who are a danger to souls.   I want to see for myself whether we start to see our Latin Rite treated with passive-aggressive antics.  I want to see if our inheritance is sullied with sophomoric wreckovation.

Until I see where he's going, I'm resting in the love, mercy and praying for and with the man.  With joy.