By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK
Pope Francis continues to grab headlines, not only by setting a new record for drawing the largest crowd in history, but also by his question and answer sessions on the planes to and from his pastoral visits.
On the plane to the Philippines, the Pope responded to questions about free speech and violent responses to it in light of the Charlie Hebdo massacre by using the example that, if someone insults his mother, that person should expect to get a punch in the face. Such colorful talk, once unheard of from a Pope, now hardly surprises us as much as it befuddles and sparks agitated musings and animated debate.
The Mass in Manila during Pope Francis’ trip in the Philippines may have drawn a total of seven million people and set a new record; John Paul II set the previous record, also in Manila. No doubt the large families he met during his travel inspired his thoughts on population control ideology as contrasted with the Church’s teaching on responsible parenthood.
Francis reiterated the clear teaching that excludes any recourse to contraception, an affirmation of the teaching of Paul VI in Humanae Vitae; that encyclical’s prophecies about the effects of separating the unitive and procreative aspects within the marital act have come abundantly and tragically true.
Resulting headlines read, “Responsible Parenthood Doesn’t Mean Birth Control.” The National Catholic Register reported, “Pope Francis backed Blessed Paul VI’s teaching against birth control and urged openness to life, but reminded couples that ‘responsible parenthood’ does not require them ‘to be like rabbits’ in order to be good Catholics.
“‘I believe that openness to life conditions the sacrament of matrimony. A man cannot give the sacrament to the woman, and the woman give it to him, if they are not in agreement on this point to be open to life,’ Pope Francis said.”
The fur flew as the rabbit comparison rubbed the pelts of some of the faithful the wrong way. The Pope used the example of a mother who had seven cesareans and was pregnant with an eighth child as an example of a situation when spacing or delaying birth through natural family planning might be advisable.
Ironic that the Pope on his return flight made a comment viewed by some as insulting to mothers after discouraging insults to mothers on the outbound flight of the same trip. My Tweet response to this turnabout was:
“A son of that mother of eight may be looking to have an unpleasant encounter with the man who suggested his mother is being like a rabbit.”
The Pope made up for that by commenting at the Wednesday general audience that families who have lots of children do not cause poverty. As reported by Catholic News Service. the main culprit, he said, is “an economic system that has removed the human person from its focus and has been replaced by the god of money.”
It gives me consolation and hope to see so many large families that welcome children as a true gift from God,” he said, referring to his recent trip.
As children become fewer and families become smaller, the dynamic within our parishes changes, depending upon the formation good or bad that went into the lives and experiences of the parents of those children. The presence of our families, such a blessing and sign of the Lord and His love as they fill our pews weekly whether big or small in size, is a significant factor and priority in parish family life.
Poor formation and resulting discomfort with some aspects of Catholic teaching can leave families wandering in a false search for worldly comfort, rather than resignation to the fact that Christ Himself is doing the right thing on the cross despite His discomfort. Likewise, discomfort in the life of faith may be a sign of the presence of Christ and His work of salvation.
A priest recently sent a note to families in order to place in context the experience of seeing other families flee from the message that the whole family should worship together on Sundays, to include non-Catholic or non-practicing spouses. I share his message here as a suggestion for priests and pastors. The letter first alludes to the sometimes toxic use of email in communities.
“I understand that sometimes you are included in private conversations that exclude the others who should be the persons addressed in view of the matters being discussed and that this happened recently via email.
“Sometimes in our work with others inappropriate things are done with email that spread negativity and backbiting contrary to the Christian message.
“Christ is uncomfortable as He saves us on the cross and an uncomfortable presence in our lives. Sometimes discomfort is the symptom of His demanding presence and love. I will never exclude any members of our families from the preaching of the Gospel. This is contrary to the life and message of Jesus Christ and the teaching of our Church. For that reason I will continue to invite and exhort families to come together to Mass for the most important celebration on the most important day of the week.
“Continue to do the good work in the Lord for your families which is a precious aspect of our life as the Body of Christ. In parish life the Lord helps us reach and convert some of our families and this must remain our positive focus despite contrary indicators and negative influences.”
Thank you for reading, and praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever.
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(Follow Father Cusick on Facebook at Reverendo Padre-Kevin Michael Cusick and on Twitter @MCITLFrAphorism. He blogs occasionally at APriestLife.blogspot.com and mcitl.blogspot.com. You can email him at mcitl.blogspot.com@gmail.com.)
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