Pope Francis Confirms Marriage Can Only Be Between One Man and One Woman. Crickets from Fr. James Martin?

This was a pleasant surprise, eh?

By virtue of its very definition, marriage can only be between a man and a woman, Pope Francis has said in a new book-length interview. “We cannot change it. This is the nature of things,”

His statements on abortions were equally strong. This is certainly an improvement from the lousy articulation of moral theology we're accustomed to! I wonder what the wake up call was? Crickets from Fr. James Martin.

I checked to see if the gays at the National Catholic Reporter had anything to say about it, and was immediately greeted by this photographic indictment on what's wrong with the presbyterate. Good grief. I hope they don't send that motley crew of screwball theologians to the borders. Any lucid Catholic Mexican would clutch their children and run for their lives. The excommunicated gay group "new ways ministry" and DignityUSA, Wearechurch, Global Network of Rainbow Catholics all raised objections. Judging by the picture of Pope Francis giving the stinkeye, it would appear he's in the doghouse. This clarification follows the removal of five images of same sex couples in the parish prep booklet for World Meeting of Families in Dublin. Images of heterosexual couples replaced the images of gay couples.

Sadly it appears that both Archbishop Martin and Bishop Leahy have been pushed aside by the traditional conservative wing which opposes the very necessary reforms which Pope Francis is trying to introduce.

If its one thing the bishops can be relied upon, they're pushovers when it comes to exposing their spiritual malpractice. Kudos to LifeSiteNews. The following text was also removed:

“While the Church upholds the ideal of marriage as a permanent commitment between a man and a woman, other unions exist which provide mutual support to the couple. Pope Francis encourages us never to exclude but to accompany these couples also, with love, care and support.”

Maybe the Pope is tired of being the posterboy for approving mortal sin? Maybe he had a visit from someone above? Maybe it's our prayers waking him up to the consequences of his own carelessness and praising and appointing heretics? Whatever's happening, it sure is a refreshing change. Prayers ascending.