Is Pope Francis Really a Progressive Example?

[MineralMan]

123. What's kind of funny to me is that I've always claimed to be

a pragmatist. For that, I have been chastened mightily on DU. I am a pragmatist, and am interested in moving toward my goals, even if slowly, rather than moving away from them. Philosophically, I am a Socialist. Practically, I am a Democrat. So, I frequently argue for candidates and elected officials who are moving in a progressive direction, even if they are not moving fast enough, or are not moving hardly at all on particular issues.

Now, when I bring up some failings of this new Pope, who is receiving much praise for some things he has said regarding economic justice, I am suddenly told that I'm seeing things in black and white, even though I was very clearly not doing that in my opening post. I find it interesting to now be in the "purity" group, since nobody has ever said such a thing to me on DU.

I see progressivism as a goal, not an end state. It's just that, when I look at the Roman Catholic Church and its Popes, of whom I have seen several, I cannot see any real progressive movement coming from that sector. While I can say that Pope Francis is saying some things regarding economic justice, they are things that have been said by the RCC before, many times. I can also see that the Church is not moving at all on progressive issues that are very important to me. Words are good, but without action, they are without meaning as far as I am concerned.

I cannot see Pope Francis as a progressive. I see no movement in crucial issues, nor do I see him calling for such movement. I don't see the Roman Catholic Church divesting itself of its wealth, either, and distributing it in aid of social justice. I recently brought my mother-in-law home from a convalescent hospital after her most recent hospitalization. That place is owned by and operated by the local Archdiocese. They pay their aides and other staff the same crappy wages paid by most of such businesses here. It is not a living wage. That makes the Pope's words ring hollow in my ear.

I would welcome a progressive Pope. I'm not seeing one in Pope Francis, and for the reasons I stated in my OP.