Liberal Catholics hope for shift on gay rights, priests, sex abuse

[cbayer]

http://www.freep.com/article/20130314/NEWS01/303140215/Liberal-Catholics-hope-for-shift-on-gay-rights-priests-sex-abuse

March 14, 2013

By Patricia Montemurri
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

For liberal Catholics, newly elected Pope Francis signals hope for change within the church.

"It sounds like to me he'll be open to the dialogue. He seems to have rapport with the people in his diocese," said retired Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, a well-known peace activist. "It seems to be the right direction."

Gumbleton said Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio brings to mind the papacy of John XXIII, which ushered in the Second Vatican Council, modernizing Catholic services and promoting the use of more laypeople in parish life.

Known for championing liberal causes in the church, Gumbleton has called for greater emphasis on gay rights and helping poor people. He urged state lawmakers to change laws to make it easier for sexual abuse victims to sue the Catholic Church. He also decried the Vatican's crackdown on American nuns, when a Vatican report said many U.S. sisters didn't do enough to promote church positions against abortion and gay marriage.

more at link

[Drale]

1. Not going to happen

the only shift you might see is this Pope might focus on helping the poor more.

[cbayer]

2. I think he might also shine some serious sunlight on things that

have been swept under the rug for far too long.

Change is glacier like when it comes to the RCC, I know, but it does happen and glaciers are melting pretty fast these days.

[skepticscott]

3. What things?

And what qualifies as "serious sunlight?