Who cares about Pope Francis’ blessings?

Ten years ago, when the white smoke that announced his election had not yet dissipated, Pope Francis refused to condemn homosexual couples, in what was viewed as a radical shift from the Catholic Church’s homophobic doctrine. A decade later, the same pope has gone one step further and agreed to bless same-sex couples who request it. They say that the Vatican is opening up, but the doors must be so heavy, and the hinges so rusty, that in 10 years they have only opened a crack.

I would tell them not to force themselves to open doors that have been closed for so many centuries, lest a current of modernity creep in and the entire curia die of secular pneumonia. Furthermore, this pope does not need to condescend to homosexuals or to women who have abortions or to abused children: he has already won over a good part of the left who, in theory, defends the rights of these groups.

I never fail to be surprised by the joy with which each Vatican concession is received and how little their clearly homophobic positions, opposition to the reproductive rights of women and protection of pedophile clerics, are attacked. Francis has deactivated the secular anticlericalism of the left even in countries like Argentina and Chile, where the right to abortion was won only recently and is already in serious danger of annihilation. Uttering blasphemies against the papacy is today typical of right-wing gentlemen who long for more traditional rigors.

I understand the confusion of the most hardcore Catholics, but not that of the secular left that now genuflects before the pontifical skirts. That Francis has a soft spot for the poor and those who suffer, and that hardened bishops do not like the pope, are two facts that are as evident as they are insufficient to justify such progressive fervor. The damage that the Church continues to cause with its position on prophylaxis and sexual morality and with its cover-up of abusers far exceeds the benefits that are being applauded. Instead of waiting for gestures and changes — always ridiculous and inane — secular coherence requires treating the opinions of the Church like those of any man who says things under the protection of freedom of expression. So he wants to bless us? Well, bless or curse whatever you like, and we will carry on doing whatever we want and keep working to ensure that your morals and values do not threaten our freedoms.

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