Readers React: Pope Francis and his message cross religious and political lines

Pope Francis waves to the crowd upon his arrival at St. Patrick's Church in Washington on Thursday, Sept. 24.

Sept. 29, 2015 5 AM PT

To the editor: Everyone should write their member of Congress and urge that the president continue to give his annual State of the Union speech in January and that every year the pope address a joint session of Congress in the fall. (“Francis calls on Congress to seek ‘common good,’” Sept. 25, “Pope speaks of grief, unity and duty,’’ Sept. 25)

The pope could address Congress and then the U.N. General Assembly the following week, giving humankind a “twofer” every year.

What an uplifting, refreshing visit this has been. Pope Francis, you rock.

Brad Gold, Los Angeles

To the editor: Francis called for a spirit of cooperation and unity in his speeches; divisive Republican obstructionists must have been gritting their teeth as they listened to him.

The pope stressed common-sense approaches to climate change, income inequality and immigration reform. The Republican Party is diametrically opposed to everything the pope talked about.

The GOP is the home of climate change deniers, has been blocking immigration reform for years and wants to shut down the government again.

What a crazy, upside-down world we live in.

Ron Lowe, Santa Monica

To the editor: Imagine a scenario in which the pope is kneeling and praying for God’s guidance. I can imagine God saying, “Women are equal human beings to men in all things and in all ways. Do not impede their spiritual growth by confining them to a menial role in my church.”

But I cannot imagine God saying, “Women are not equal in my church; they must remain in a subservient role.”

None of us would be here (including the pope and all of his cardinals and bishops) were it not that a woman gave birth to us. So how can a woman be one iota less than a man in the church’s eyes?

Robert Evans, Los Angeles

To the editor: The pope wants Congress to show compassion about the millions of illegal immigrants who came here — because they want to better their lives — without regard to the laws and borders of our sovereign nation.

I wonder why he didn’t address the real problem: the leaders of the countries these people are leaving. The source of the problem is where real changes need to occur — because the whole world can’t live here.

Jan MacMichael, South Pasadena

To the editor: How ironic that the consumer mania for Francis bobbleheads sends the opposite message intended by him.

If Americans want to be serious about climate change issues, they need to examine their own mindless consumerism, particularly for unneeded trinkets — e.g. bobbleheads — that consume natural resources and add to the production of greenhouse gases.

Bob Ladendorf, Los Angeles

To the editor: After reading newspapers, viewing news media and then listening to Francis’ addresses to Congress and the United Nations, it was disturbingly obvious that the pope has been unduly influenced by President Obama regarding the distribution of wealth, Obamacare, relations with Cuba, the bad Iran nuclear deal and climate change — which is a social, political and economic shame.

It was, however, heartening to hear the pope’s strong support of life at conception, traditional marriage, the family and America.

Daniel B. Jeffs, Apple Valley, Calif.

To the editor: Thank you for the informative Op-Ed “Where are the women?,” which really sums up my feelings as a non-Catholic observer of many years.

I have watched popes come and go as the rigid doctrines and dogmas of the church remain the same.

The problems I have with the church relate mainly to its treatment of women: half the population, but the ones who do all the grunt work but are not allowed to assume authority of any kind.

While I very much admire Francis — the only pope I have seen in years who is trying to make his church more accessible — the feeling I still get is that the church continues to fail women, both the women of the church and women all over the world negatively impacted by its medieval policies.

Linda Winters, Culver City

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