Posted: Oct. 6, 2023
It's been an incredible October for Pope Francis and his mission to create a more open, loving, and responsible church. The pope even just signaled a historic openness to blessings for same-sex partnerships – so it's no surprise that far-right Catholic leaders are doing everything they can to undermine him.
The pope also released a key letter on climate change on the feast day of his namesake St. Francis, taking "direct aim at climate change deniers."
Later that day, he opened a history-making, multi-year meeting on the future of the Catholic Church called a synod -- the very first official, Vatican-level church gathering where women and laypeople will have a vote.
Far-right Catholics feel threatened by Pope Francis's momentum. Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke -- the well-known leader of Pope Francis's global opposition, marked the synod's kickoff by releasing a letter five cardinals wrote to the Vatican this summer, aggressively and publicly pushing the pope on all their usual culture-war issues.
Pope Francis is trying to break down barriers and make the church a more inclusive institution. Let's tell Pope Francis's detractors to stop undermining his leadership and let the synod proceed.
Sign the petition:
Love thy neighbor.