Saturday, October 12, 2013

Egan's column

Timothy Egan has an interesting op-ed in the NYT about Pope Francis. It's called "Lapsed, but listening". Yes, it's yet another column praising Francis but this is no sychophant's homily. (In other words, he's not brown-nosing the pope.) It's realistic and paints an accurate portrait of the Roman Catholic church at this moment in time. This church really really needed a pope like Francis.

Check it out. Even if you're wildly atheistic (like me), I don't think you'll find fault with what he says. He's just stating the facts, m'am. And he's also right about one sad thing: Francis is not a young whipper-snapper. There's only so much he can do in the years that remain to him. Let's hope (if he keeps being sensible, anyway) that he's one of those guys who is nimble and quick-witted until he's 100 years old.

And yes, I do know that Francis is the head of a religion that is based on lies. There is no god. That's a fact that will never change. Nevertheless, he's doing something startling. The horrid anti-gay language of the church has already softened since he was crowned king of the priests. That's progress, no matter how you look at it. I can't help but be pleased.

I know it could all change in an instant. But for now, Francis isn't too bad. Can we at least agree on that?