Some of your flock are angry with you
Dear Pope Francis,
Many Catholics are grateful that you have turned the attention of the church to the New Testament and the words of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, many of your leaders in the United States wanted to focus on the negative, not the positive, in Jesus' words.
My favorite passage in the New Testament is the Sermon on the Mount: Matthew, Chapter 5. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven … "
Your focus on the poor and the meek who "shall inherit the earth" has disconcerted the leaders of the church here in America. They really do not enjoy listening to these verses. They enjoy being antagonists who are not inclusive.
The sermon on the mount can, interestingly enough, be found on the web page of the U.S. Conference of Bishops. However, if this was an old bible, the readers would have to eliminate the dust from those pages. They do not like this, and they virulently dislike your emphasis on Jesus as the leader of all people.
http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5
http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5
How dare you tell them to avoid having a chauffeur. How dare you tell them that they have not been carrying to the word of God to their flock. How dare you live in a small apartment while they live in mansions.
Unfortunately, these bishops and cardinals have been elevated to their posts by the previous two popes for one reason: their ideology. If they were right-wing conservatives, they were welcomed with open arms by Paul II and Benedict XVI. If they were moderate or the slightest bit to the left in terms of ideology, their names did not make the list in the Vatican (unfortunately, we ended up with one of them in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese).
Therefore, these members of the hierarchy are bristling behind closed doors about you and your example. This has really rankled them.
You appear to be cleaning house in the Vatican, particularly in the financial areas. Hopefully, you can do that in North America. Here is a solution: Ask each bishop/cardinal in the United States to submit to you a signed letter of resignation. You can pick and choose, but you can move those who are upset with you to other venues of service. Suggestions could include Haiti, Guatemala, or your home area, Argentina. If they truly want to serve the lord, they can accept the assignment. If not, the retirement homes are ready for them -- just in case they do not have a mansion ready like the bishop in Newark http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/newark_archbishops_future_retirement_home_valued_at_800g_undergoing_a_500g_addition.html).
You appear to be cleaning house in the Vatican, particularly in the financial areas. Hopefully, you can do that in North America. Here is a solution: Ask each bishop/cardinal in the United States to submit to you a signed letter of resignation. You can pick and choose, but you can move those who are upset with you to other venues of service. Suggestions could include Haiti, Guatemala, or your home area, Argentina. If they truly want to serve the lord, they can accept the assignment. If not, the retirement homes are ready for them -- just in case they do not have a mansion ready like the bishop in Newark http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2014/02/newark_archbishops_future_retirement_home_valued_at_800g_undergoing_a_500g_addition.html).
Many younger priests have the right amount of humility to follow your word. You will have no difficulty elevating them regardless of their ideology.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/13/us/us-bishops-seek-to-match-vatican-in-shifting-tone.html?src=recg&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=U.S.&action=keypress®ion=FixedRight&pgtype=article
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