"The facts, ma'am, just the facts." This quote from the old television series, Dragnet is something that some of us would say used to apply to the "News" we got from television and newspaper "reporting" that provided information about what had happened or was happening in a variety of fields (ie. sports, politics, crime etc.). Sometimes at the end of a television newscast the anchor or someone else would give a short editorial or commentary on something that made the news.
Sadly (or some would say tragically) we seem to get commentary, opinions, and slants that are anything but "the facts." The way we approach the media when it comes to items they "report" on needs to be guarded in every instance especially, I would say, when it comes to religious stories. The story that came out a few weeks ago that Pope Francis was showing an openness to gay marriages is an example of conclusions being drawn that are not reflective of our pope's beliefs and that of the Catholic Church when it comes to this subject. What I would strongly recommend is that we don't react to the media or even some bishops of the church who sadly are quick to speak negatively about the pope in this and in many other instances. The Vatican has recently asked papal representatives to share with bishops some clarifications regarding comments on civil unions. It indicates that Pope Francis' comments on gay civil unions were taken out of context in a documentary that spliced together parts of an old interview. Pope Francis since he has been pope and long before in his position as archbishop of Buenos Aires has STRONGLY opposed moves to allow same sex marriage while he has spoken on the right of people in civil unions to be covered legally.
I encourage us all to be careful about where we receive "Church News." I would recommend that we all read from such publications as the Arkansas Catholic. I invite you to "Google" Arkansas Catholic and see how to get a paper or digital version of this award winning publication. Our pope has not said anything in his teaching role that would indicate ANY change of teaching when it comes to marriage as being defined as being between one man and one woman. THAT is truly a fact that cannot be disputed!
Sadly (or some would say tragically) we seem to get commentary, opinions, and slants that are anything but "the facts." The way we approach the media when it comes to items they "report" on needs to be guarded in every instance especially, I would say, when it comes to religious stories. The story that came out a few weeks ago that Pope Francis was showing an openness to gay marriages is an example of conclusions being drawn that are not reflective of our pope's beliefs and that of the Catholic Church when it comes to this subject. What I would strongly recommend is that we don't react to the media or even some bishops of the church who sadly are quick to speak negatively about the pope in this and in many other instances. The Vatican has recently asked papal representatives to share with bishops some clarifications regarding comments on civil unions. It indicates that Pope Francis' comments on gay civil unions were taken out of context in a documentary that spliced together parts of an old interview. Pope Francis since he has been pope and long before in his position as archbishop of Buenos Aires has STRONGLY opposed moves to allow same sex marriage while he has spoken on the right of people in civil unions to be covered legally.
I encourage us all to be careful about where we receive "Church News." I would recommend that we all read from such publications as the Arkansas Catholic. I invite you to "Google" Arkansas Catholic and see how to get a paper or digital version of this award winning publication. Our pope has not said anything in his teaching role that would indicate ANY change of teaching when it comes to marriage as being defined as being between one man and one woman. THAT is truly a fact that cannot be disputed!