Francis is attempting to bridge two pastoral approaches, evangelization and a preferential option for the poor, that have been at odds with each other in the Global South. But will he accomplish either?
Pope Francis turned heads with statements that suggest a course correction in the church’s attitude toward gays and women, but ultimately it’ll be what ministry, decision-making power, and moral authority women share that will answer the question.
While Francis’s visit to Brazil threatens to be overshadowed by his comments on gay priests uttered on the plane to Rome, it has generated an enormous outpouring of emotion and fervor. From the time…
William Stell is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Bordentown, NJ. He is an alumnus of Wheaton College (IL) and Princeton Theological Seminary. You can connect with him on Twitter: @wmstell.