Francis Sends out Smoke Signal for Vatican Reform

By Paolo Mastrolilli
Vatican Insider
June 13, 2013

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/inquiries-and-interviews/detail/articolo/gay-vaticano-vatican-25606/

Michael Novak

v“The U.S. Church has done a great deal to end the sex abuse plague; possibly too much. So I don’t think Pope Francis’ comment about the existence of a gay lobby was in reference to this problem. The key point here is the reform of the Curia. This is probably what his pontificate will be judged on.”

The philosopher Michael Novak is one of America’s most authoritative Catholic scholars and is currently in Italy to attend a celebration for the former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Mary Ann Glendon.

What is your opinion of Francis’ first moves as Pope?

“They seem very interesting and promising. His words and gestures have come as a positive surprise to faithful. But it was his choice of name that struck me the most. It is an unprecedented sign of the need for real reform and to look after the poor. Social doctrine is in fact another aspect that interests me a great deal.”

Do you think he is steering the Church in the right direction in as far as social doctrine is concerned?

“In recent decades the number of poor people in the world has dropped to about a million people, particularly because the China and India have turned their backs on socialism and have embraced economic practices that really favour growth, that is, innovation and enterprise. This is the right way to combat poverty. If Francis follows this path in his efforts to help the poor, encouraging them to use these tools to further themselves, his work will have a historic impact on humanity.”

In recent days, however, he spoke about internal problems in the Curia, including the existence of a “gay lobby”.

“The reform of the Holy See’s government is undoubtedly the toughest challenge the Pope faces and this is what his pontificate will be judged on. I think Francis wants to eliminate the risk of pressure groups of any kind, standing in the way of his plans.”

How did the U.S. react to his comments, bearing in mind that it is the country that has suffered the most as a result of the sex abuse scandal?

“I don’t think his mention of a gay lobby was in reference to this. The U.S. Church has done a great deal to put an end to the abuse, so much in fact, that some priests have been unfairly accused. We need to be watchful, but the Pope’s message was intended for the Curia.”