Pope notes resistance to reform but moves ahead

[inanna]

Source: Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis convened his cardinal advisers to chart the reform of the Vatican bureaucracy Tuesday after acknowledging resistance to his changes but saying he welcomes the debate and is nevertheless undeterred.

It's the seventh time the group of nine cardinals, representing five continents and the Vatican, have met to plot a revamp of the Vatican administration, which Francis has said needs to be overhauled to make it more efficient and responsive to today's church.

<snip>

Already, Francis has created a Secretariat for the Economy to oversee all Vatican finances and make them more efficient, transparent and accountable to international standards. Proposals for streamlining the bureaucracy include merging a handful of pontifical councils responsible for laity, families, migrants and health care workers, as well as justice issues and charity, into two congregations for laity and charity.

Francis has also made a handful of eyebrow-raising personnel moves, replacing the arch-conservative supreme court justice Cardinal Leo Burke and recently removing the head of the Swiss Guards.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c93a474a8f944372a249382776de8850/pope-notes-resistance-reform-moves-ahead

[sarge43]

1. Frank, hire a food taster. n/t

[NBachers]

3. I second that motion!

[hedgehog]

9. All kidding aside, the vitriol coming from Right Wing Catholic Blogs

is absolutely depressing.

[sarge43]

10. I wasn't entirely joking nt

[riversedge]

2. umm. sounds like Pres Obama--moving ahead against

the obstructive forces in Congress

[me b zola]

4. I m very happy with the progress that he has made

Tremendous progress actually, considering how much need for change there is in the Catholic Church.

Many of us are still awaiting justice from the Church for their role in the baby trade. Hopefully this will be addressed as well.

[Beacool]

5. Definitely the best Pope in my lifetime.

I only wish that the cardinals had chosen him in 2005 instead of Benedict (Francis was their second choice). How much more he could have accomplished by now.

[Hekate]

6. Hope he still does his own cooking. Long may he live. nt

[Posteritatis]

8. Given this guy, I wouldn't be surprised.

If I remember correctly he hasn't actually moved into the papal apartments yet, finding them too ostentatious. I don't know if he's still actually in the hotel he was staying in for the conclave, but I know he was there for awhile after his election.

[hifiguy]

7. Best pope since John XXIII.

And as an atheist I am not in the habit of praising popes. Francis deserves genuine credit for the steps he has taken, though he does have quite a way to go on some other issues. Still, movement in the right direction is a good thing,