Pope Skips Sign of the Cross

     Heresy aside Pope Francis has just caused a major and unsettling change to Major League Baseball. By eschewing the Sign of the Cross the pope has jeopardized the careers and souls of baseball players who generally make the Sign of the Cross as they enter the batter’s box. The players make this gesture as a symbol of their Faith and in deference.

     Pope Francis has decided that the Sign of the Cross is passe. He simply raises one finger as he makes any benediction or invocation. The indication is that he doesn’t wish to offend people of other faiths by burdening them with a Catholic gesture. Be that as it may – what about the ball player? He now gets to raise only one finger as he steps up to the plate. This can be misinterpreted. The umpire or the catcher may take offense at this gesture, not knowing what it means, and can misinterpret it as meaning something offensive. (Heaven forbid the batter forgets and displays the wrong finger !)

     This latest anti-Christian attitude of Pope Francis is just another of a long line of actions or inactions that are at odds with the true role of the successor to St. Peter. This is just the latest in a series of denials or diminutions of Jesus, his Holy Name and his directives. If a pope doesn’t acknowledge Jesus then he is not a true follower of Christ nor a proper occupant of St. Peter’s throne. As stated in Mark 8:38 For he that shall be ashamed of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful generation: the Son of man also will be ashamed of him, when he shall come in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

     A key papal ally of Francis is the cardinal of Chicago. This is cardinal Cupich who gave the welcoming oration at the DNC while the Planned Parenthood van killed 25 fetuses outside the convention hall. That speech was noted by a complete absence of the name of Jesus. Instead Cupich invoked a sort of ‘spirit in the sky’, nameless god – one who apparently had no problem with an anti-child, anti-family organization. So we have a pope ashamed of the Sign of the Cross, a cardinal ashamed of the name of Jesus who gives tacit approval to a party whose morals are such that many have said they are difficult to countenance as Christians. A party whose former leader not only approved of abortions but worked to enhance their availability and whom the pope said was fine to receive Communion. So if you are divorced; no Communion. But promote access to abortions and you’re okay.

Glenn

Email: gcmitan@aol.com