So now he's a liberal?

So I saw this gem posted on Facebook today:

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/pat-archbold/10-quotes-that-prove-the-pope-is-a-liberal

I'm not sure which I laughed more at, the leaps in logic and judgements of the article, or some of the quotes at the bottom.

There's been a lot of spin about Pope Francis' words and actions so far.  The traditionalists jumping in with a 'but' at the end of every sentance about how what he really means is [fill in the blank], and the main stream media in a frenzy that he is changing the church and making it more progressive, and radically altering what it means to be Catholic.

I'm going to refer to the crass wisdom of Christopher Titus on this one.

That's just Coke and Pepsi, same crap, different can...
Here's the thing: If you're so far left you actually believe that somebody owes you a job, citizenship and a heart transplant, you're mentally ill. If you're so far right that you actually believe that somebody who doesn't have a job and is not a citizen deserves to have their heart cut out and sold on eBay, and you get to keep 80 percent of the profit ` you're mentally ill.

I firmly believe that there is no room for political 'isms' in the Church, and I don't think there are any in Church teachings.  We don't judge our beliefs on the standards of political parties, who hunger only for power, or by the whim of the main stream media.  The pope isn't 'a liberal'... he's the Pope. 

The problem is that we are so polarized now to believe that if you are compassionate, concerned with the minorities and voiceless, or work to improve the environment you are far to the left.  If you like tradition, want to take change at a managed or thoughtful pace, and believe in building responsibility, you are far to the right.  The truth is Church teaching can't fit into either side, because neither side is the truth.  When Pope Francis washes the feet of incarcerated teenagers, and tells Catholics to be just and compassionate to all, especially the marginalized, he isn't being a liberal.  He is being the Pope and living the teachings of Christ.  Liberal political parties just tend to agree with him on that one.  When he celebrates Mass, and refuses to budge on the teachings of marriage and priesthood, held with deep theological reasons by the Church, he isn't being conservative.  A conservative political party might just happen to agree (although likely for entirely different reasons).

One of the things I love the most about Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is that they break the media fuelled polarization.  Together they represent the same Church, the same teachings, but have very different personalities and focusses.  They show that the Church isn't left or right, it isn't represented by the Republicans or Democrats, PCs or Liberals, or any other 'ism' or political movement.  The yin and yang of the Church are that we have traditions and laws, built up over millennia, but we are called to be focussed in compassion and love on all of our brothers and sisters, not just the ones who agree with us, make sense to us, or know the laws the best.

Our faith can't be contained by the left or the right because it is too big.  Our Church is too universal.  Pope Francis isn't a Liberal, he's a Catholic, and one who is challenging all of us to live our faith in a much more compassionate and loving way.