Pope Francis: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?

"History condemns him. 

It shows him to be opposed to all innovation in the Church 

and above all, during the dictatorship, 

it shows he was very cozy with the military," 

Fortunato Mallimacci

former dean of social sciences at the Universidad de Buenos Aires

I chose to lead with the above photo of the new pope, rather than this one:

The reason being, that we, the human community, are possibly being sold the best public relations con job since 'The Emperor's New Clothes.' The difference being, 'The Emperor's New Clothes' was honestly marketed as a fable. Pope Francis is being marketed as the genuine jovial, joking, smiling lover of the world's poor. 

I actually don't doubt he loves poor people, and that he has a true pastor's heart for their suffering. 

But a major problem exits: The new pope's historical collusion with fascist regimes that screw the poor, and in the case of his native Argentina, slaughtered thousands under his watch over the Catholic Church. Whether he stood by in silence, or actually assisted the junta, is still up for historical judgement. 

What is clear is that Francis silenced his own 'liberation theology' priests, and opposed 'liberation theology' that advocates standing in solidarity with poor. In addition to these troubling questions is the new Pope's staunch and continuing support for the most reactionary elements of catholic theology and dogma, including suppression of human rights for women and the gay community, and fellow catholics who express and defend different points of view. He continues to defend mandatory celibacy for priests, despite empirical evidence that such policy has led to an unfathomable breeding ground for sexual abuse.

Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador was assassinated by the military junta in 1980. He too, professed love for the poor, and stood with them. Unlike Pope Francis, he also stood in direct opposition to the government killing his brothers and sisters, and paid for it with his own life...at the very same time Pope Francis seemingly got on well with the same sort of government doing the same things. 

I do hope Pope Francis shows us a new side of a converted soul, a commitment to social justice that goes beyond kissing the feet of the the poor, to courageous opposition of the governments and economic system that screw the poor. 

In the meantime, Pope Francis, you owe the world a few answers.

zjm