PopeWatch: Cardinal Sarah
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.

Today’s modernist heresy is as bad as the Arian heresy of the early 4th century AD.
Bi-polar Pope?
He made strong remarks condemning a practice that should be condemned, being in line with Catholic doctrine.
While the pope used his closely watched annual address to primarily focus on ongoing conflicts around the globe, Francis also waded into the debates over surrogate motherhood, lambasting the practice as a “grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs.”
As a number of countries are considering various legislation on surrogacy due to its increased usage as a means to have children, the pope called for a universal ban on the practice, saying “a child is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract.”
From his January 8th meeting, basically a “State of the World” meeting.
Scripture mentions to take what is good and leave what isn’t.
Can a bad tree produce good fruit?
(Almost a bi polar personality.)
Philip-
Unless I am mistaken, the surrogate comments were just that – comments.
The persisting documents seem to run in the less encouraging vein.
By the way, I think the difference is intentional.
Understood Bruised Optimist.
Words only… at this point.
The Italian PM is taking solid steps to ban such activities. That’s what I heard last night on a Catholic radio program.
The bill passed in July of last year;
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/26/italian-parliament-approves-bill-criminalise-people-seeking-surrogacy-abroad
I would prefer he if he didn’t say “we are not opposing Pope Francis…” I understand why he said it (wise for the good Cardinal to watch his back)…however it’s confusing those sitting on the borderline who have not quite yet comprehended that PF is making a mess of his role as Pope.
Philip – agree PF is a hypocrite. Surrogacy is utilised by same-sex people seeking to have a child. Well, in the case of two men it’s the only way possible for them to bring a child into the world. If the Pope was serious about tackling surrogacy as a moral issue he would have called out same-sex couples seeking to have children, sperm donors and the IVF industry etc… he is only beating the “let’s not exploit poor women in third world countries drum” socialist drum.
Ezabelle.
The Vatican slapped so to speak the hand of the priest wearing the rainbow stole, giving his blessing last week.. in the Church.. near the altar. Two Lesbians.
So it’s happening as planned.
Give an outline to be followed.. ignore outline, or use pastoral decision and off we go.
If a soul is truly trying to fight the attraction or fight the sexual arousal associated to the attraction then please excuse me. Only the Lord knows hearts and the priest must discern the intent.
The blatant abuse of the blessings is on them and the scandal of misunderstanding the blessings and future errors to come will rest on them as well.
The requests for the
Pope’s blessings on parchment for the “couple” is poetic justice, imo.
What an unnecessary mess… or perfect ploy.
Same-sex partners need to start blessing each other and themselves.