Not an apologetic for Pope Francis or Gaudete et Exsultate.

I find it amusing that the Apostle Paul and church fathers like Jerome hurled more invective than Pope Francis does but those who whine about the latter do not seem to have a problem with the former.

Is it perhaps because as much as these folks love papal condemnations of things they do not like and papal condemnations aimed at other folks, they have a problem when they are the target or something they like is on the receiving end of a chastisement?

I am reminded of what St John of the Cross said once about these sorts of spiritual gluttons:

"You will find that many of these persons are very insistent with their spiritual masters to be granted that which they desire, extracting it from them almost by force; if they be refused it they become as peevish as children and go about in great displeasure, thinking that they are not serving God when they are not allowed to do that which they would. For they go about clinging to their own will and pleasure, which they treat as though it came from God; and immediately their directors take it from them, and try to subject them to the will of God, they become peevish, faint-hearted, and fall away. These persons think that their own satisfaction and pleasure are the satisfaction and service of God."

“Local Control” Must Not Be a Weapon Against Individual Rights

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A tip for #AlwaysTrump folks: if the president does or says something that you whined and complained about when Mr. Obama did or said it, have the guts to condemn the same stuff now unless you want to be viewed as a unprincipled hypocrite...

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A tip for #NeverTrump folks: if you support a position or policy but cannot give President Trump credit if he supports and/or seeks to implement the same position or policy you support, then you damage your own credibility.

Pope Francis' new Apostolic Exhortation In Gaudette ex Exultate

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I am amused in equal measure by those from #TeamRed who insist the president is innocent and there's nothing to the special prosecutor stuff and those from #TeamBlue who think every story that comes out on that stuff means "Muller is closer to arresting Trump."

Anything to sustain the particular gimmick desired it seems!