POPE FRANCIS @ 6 MONTHS AND THE FAREWELL TO MONSIGNORS.............

As +Jorge Bergoglio. the former Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina who is now His Holiness Pope Francis arrives at the six month mark of his Pontificate of the Roman Catholic Church, his leadership and preaching thus far underscores a commitment for reforming and renewing the institutional Church to more faithfully and evenhandedly serve the People of God - particularly the poor, the marginalized, those with special needs,  the disenfranchised, and detached.  Pope Francis is also more than signaled his intention as the Vicar of Christ to make us as Catholic-Christians religious and spiritual cooperators including and with  all persons, whether they be Christians, non Christians, unbelievers, homosexuals, or atheists.  Dialogue and Mutual Respect for our common humanness, not self righteousness and ostracism are at the core of the Gospel values Pope Francis is leading us to embrace and solidify in our lives as members of the Body of Christ, the Church in the World.   Pope Francis is also calling for the abolition of Careerism in the Catholic Church that corrupts and diverts the mission and ministry of Catholic-Christianity for self aggrandizing gain instead of  the selfless service to God's People.  Kudos to Pope Francis for addressing the need to eradicate actions that preserve the prerogatives and privileges of the self seeking, but denigrate  and ignore the rights and opportunities of others within the Community of Believers and all others in the Family of Humankind.  Reports earlier this week this week in that light indicate Pope Francis has decided he will not confer the honorary title of Monsignor upon priests any longer.  Intended as a way of recognizing and rewarding the exceptional service of priests in the ministries they carry out, and usually conferred by the Pope upon the recommendation of a Bishop, the criteria for naming Monsignors can be subjective and unequal.  This is a change that will renew and refocus the Church, as not all those who have been appointed Monsignors are careerists; but Careerism is a likely cause for some priests to seek being named Monsignors.  May God continue to strengthen and sustain the  bridge building, reform dedicated, pastoral, spiritual, and administrative, Universal Church Leadership of Pope Francis and the courage of his convictions and vision for further authenticating the purposes and preference of the Catholic Cristian Church to promote and bring about the Greater Glory of God and the Common Good of ALL People.............Fr.  Troy David