Detroit Catholic archbishop leads anti-abortion march and praises pope's comments
Detroit Catholic Archbishop Allen Vigneron leads an anti-abortion prayer vigil on Sept. 21, 2013 from the 8 Mile Road median in front of a women's clinic in Eastpointe. / Patricia Montemurri/Detroit Free Press.
As he led an anti-abortion march Saturday, Detroit Catholic
Archbishop Allen Vigneron praised the protesters and Pope Francis’
startling comments this week on abortion and gay marriage, saying they
signal the new pontiff is shifting the church’s tone on divisive issues.
Vigneron emphasized that Francis’ published comments this week do not change the church’s teachings against abortion, gay marriage and other issues. In an interview with the Free Press, Vigneron said Francis’ conversational and down-to-earth pastoral style have “simply caught people’s attention in a new way.”
In comments published Thursday, Francis said the church shouldn’t be “obsessed” with issues such as gay marriage, abortion and contraception. Pope Francis also said the church should not “interfere spiritually” in the lives of gays and lesbians.
“What he’s caught people’s attention with is the Gospel truth,” said Vigneron from Saturday’s event, scheduled long before Pope Francis’ comments. “If he’s able to get through better with his style of presentation, I thank God for that.”
Liberal Catholics were encouraged by Francis’ comments, which included: “I have never been a right-winger.” On Friday, as if to counter any perceptions that the Catholic church would change its teachings, the pope gave his strongest speech against abortion since taking office in March, telling Catholic doctors that abortion is part of a “throwaway culture.”
Vigneron said the pope wants church leaders to emphasize mercy, and inclusion.
“It’s not going to change the truths that we stand for,” Vigneron said. “I think the Holy Father has reminded us that we have to always place these teachings within the context of God’s mercy. And if people haven’t heard us clearly enough on that, we’ll have to look and see if we can do a better job.”
The new pope’s views, said Vigneron, are shaped by “the sensibility of a pastor and especially someone who’s heard a lot of confessions,” as a priest and bishop in Argentina.
“I have no doubt that the Holy Father believes the doctrines of the church,” said Vigneron. “I’m happy with his leadership.”
Vigneron defended controversial and widely-criticized comments he made in April that Catholics who support gay marriage, against church teaching, should not receive the sacrament of communion at mass. Catholic teaching welcomes gay people, but says they are “intrinsically disordered.”
“I don’t think they were hurtful,” said Vigneron. “I think they were straightforward. There’s nothing hurtful in telling people the truth,” said Vigneron, referring to Catholic teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman to bear children.
“And the truth is that... the teaching of the church about marriage is God’s way for us to flourish,” said Vigneron. “That’s what I want people to know.”
Vigneron, who has led the six-county Archdiocese of Detroit since 2009, had long been scheduled to lead a mass Saturday at Detroit’s Assumption Grotto church for the anti-abortion group, Helpers of God’s Precious Infants of Michigan.
At the mass, Vigneron told about 200 anti-abortion activists that they were part of the “field hospital” referred to by Pope Francis, who said Catholics must be like doctors on the battle field, treating spiritual wounds without passing judgment.
After the mass, Vigneron led a march from St. Veronica’s church in Eastpointe to two women’s clinics on 8 Mile Road, one in Detroit and one in Eastpointe. The group stood on the median in front of each clinic, while Vigneron led a recitation of the Rosary prayer.
Vigneron emphasized that Francis’ published comments this week do not change the church’s teachings against abortion, gay marriage and other issues. In an interview with the Free Press, Vigneron said Francis’ conversational and down-to-earth pastoral style have “simply caught people’s attention in a new way.”
In comments published Thursday, Francis said the church shouldn’t be “obsessed” with issues such as gay marriage, abortion and contraception. Pope Francis also said the church should not “interfere spiritually” in the lives of gays and lesbians.
“What he’s caught people’s attention with is the Gospel truth,” said Vigneron from Saturday’s event, scheduled long before Pope Francis’ comments. “If he’s able to get through better with his style of presentation, I thank God for that.”
Liberal Catholics were encouraged by Francis’ comments, which included: “I have never been a right-winger.” On Friday, as if to counter any perceptions that the Catholic church would change its teachings, the pope gave his strongest speech against abortion since taking office in March, telling Catholic doctors that abortion is part of a “throwaway culture.”
Vigneron said the pope wants church leaders to emphasize mercy, and inclusion.
“It’s not going to change the truths that we stand for,” Vigneron said. “I think the Holy Father has reminded us that we have to always place these teachings within the context of God’s mercy. And if people haven’t heard us clearly enough on that, we’ll have to look and see if we can do a better job.”
The new pope’s views, said Vigneron, are shaped by “the sensibility of a pastor and especially someone who’s heard a lot of confessions,” as a priest and bishop in Argentina.
“I have no doubt that the Holy Father believes the doctrines of the church,” said Vigneron. “I’m happy with his leadership.”
Vigneron defended controversial and widely-criticized comments he made in April that Catholics who support gay marriage, against church teaching, should not receive the sacrament of communion at mass. Catholic teaching welcomes gay people, but says they are “intrinsically disordered.”
“I don’t think they were hurtful,” said Vigneron. “I think they were straightforward. There’s nothing hurtful in telling people the truth,” said Vigneron, referring to Catholic teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman to bear children.
“And the truth is that... the teaching of the church about marriage is God’s way for us to flourish,” said Vigneron. “That’s what I want people to know.”
Vigneron, who has led the six-county Archdiocese of Detroit since 2009, had long been scheduled to lead a mass Saturday at Detroit’s Assumption Grotto church for the anti-abortion group, Helpers of God’s Precious Infants of Michigan.
At the mass, Vigneron told about 200 anti-abortion activists that they were part of the “field hospital” referred to by Pope Francis, who said Catholics must be like doctors on the battle field, treating spiritual wounds without passing judgment.
After the mass, Vigneron led a march from St. Veronica’s church in Eastpointe to two women’s clinics on 8 Mile Road, one in Detroit and one in Eastpointe. The group stood on the median in front of each clinic, while Vigneron led a recitation of the Rosary prayer.
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