8.158. Didn’t Pope Francis say not to obsess over abortion, gay marriage, and contraception? Shouldn’t the Church focus more on mercy and inclusion instead?
Yes—on March 17, 2013, during his early days as head of the post-Vatican II Church, Antipope Francis stated in an interview with La Civiltà Cattolica that the Church must “not be obsessed with abortion, gay marriage, and contraception.” He argued that the Church should instead focus on “the essentials,” implying that these life-and-death moral issues are secondary to inclusion, accompaniment, and pastoral sensitivity.
This statement reflects a profound betrayal of Catholic moral theology. These sins—abortion (murder), sodomy (a sin crying to Heaven), and contraception (intrinsically evil)—are not fringe concerns. They are among the gravest offenses against natural and divine law, and the Church has always treated them with appropriate seriousness. To suggest that focusing on these sins is an “obsession” is to mock the moral clarity of the saints, undermine the duty of pastors, and encourage silence in the face of public scandal.
Furthermore, this statement reveals the true spirit of Vatican II: a church more concerned with being liked by the world than faithful to God. It is no coincidence that Francis made this remark shortly after ascending to the papal image—he was signaling to the world that the new “church” would not condemn sin, but rather accompany it.
In contrast, the pre-Vatican II Catholic Church consistently condemned these sins, preached against them forcefully, and required faithful Catholics to speak out, even at the cost of popularity, persecution, or death.
| Category | Traditional Catholic Teaching | Francis / Vatican II Mentality | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus on Moral Issues | Grave sins must be denounced clearly and frequently | Focusing on such sins is seen as “obsessive” and off-putting | This softens sin and misleads souls about eternal consequences |
| Approach to Sinners | Call to repentance and amendment of life | “Accompany” without judgment or doctrinal emphasis | Refusal to admonish the sinner is spiritual neglect |
| Abortion | Murder of the innocent; always and everywhere evil | Treated as one concern among many social issues | Undermines Church’s prophetic witness to the sanctity of life |
| Homosexuality | “One of the four sins that cry to Heaven for vengeance” | Sin is downplayed; persons are affirmed “as they are” | Silence emboldens the culture of sodomy and scandal |
| Contraception | Intrinsically evil (Pius XI, *Casti Connubii*) | Rarely condemned; often ignored in “pastoral” contexts | Leads to moral collapse and rebellion against God's law |
| Mercy | Conditional upon repentance and return to truth | Unconditional acceptance without change | False mercy comforts sinners while abandoning their souls |
| Fruits | Sanctity, clarity, martyrdom, moral renewal | Confusion, silence, public scandal, apostasy | “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16) |
Summary:
Francis’s claim that the Church must not “obsess” over abortion, gay marriage, and contraception is not humility—it is cowardice disguised as compassion. It is a refusal to preach what Christ and His Church have always commanded: “Go, and sin no more.” These moral issues are not optional—they are non-negotiable battlegrounds between the culture of life and the culture of death.
The pre-Vatican II Church knew this. She condemned error with clarity, preached penance, and saved souls by naming sin plainly. In contrast, the Vatican II church seeks popularity, avoids judgment, and leaves sinners in their sins—all in the name of “pastoral care.”
True mercy does not ignore mortal sin. True mercy calls the sinner to repentance, with love rooted in truth. Anything else is not mercy—it is betrayal.
“Cry out, cease not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their wicked doings.”