When all is said and done, he is the persecuted one.
Some conservatives have argued that Francis, who constantly denounces walls and champions the building of bridges, has shut them out by ignoring their formal complaints that he is diluting church doctrine and leading the faithful astray. They argue that when even his top Cardinals present him with such criticism, Francis responds with pink slips.
But Francis claimed that he respected such critics. “This is loyal,” he said. “This is to love the church.”
He should name them, even (maybe?) talk to them — and not to dress them down in private.
What he didn’t appreciate, he said, were “little closed groups” who refuse to hear an answer to their critiques, or worse, who feigned allegiance by “throwing a stone and hiding the hand.”
“I don’t like it when the criticism is under the table and they smile and show their teeth,” he said. “And then there is a knife in the back.”
Oh the bastard children! When will they ever learn?
He suffers, like contradicted fathers the world over.
via Pope Francis: ‘I Pray There Are No Schisms’ – The New York Times
Blithe Spirit 