What everyone seems to miss about Francis and Church teaching is that teaching has fossilized since the 19th century and been reduced to slogans and placards on all sides. He wants to tone it down so that the next generation can examine these matters with fresh eyes. Current Church teachings on morality are neither ancient as advertised, nor simple, nor central to the faith. The big question is not what Jesus said (a few words here and there) but what would he say in our overpopulated world which has a far better understanding of psychology and human frailty than early Christianity did. Put in a Protestant way: what would Jesus say, not what has the Vatican demanded? I grew up catholic but long ago wearied of hearing “the Church this,” and “The Church that.” Yes the Vatican has an obligation to keep the faith pure but moral concepts and church administration should change with understanding. The Middle Ages were hardly the high point of Christianity, only of clerical dominance of every aspect of life as though people live not for God but for the hierarchy.

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