An Aborted Message

He was walking alongside a populated road just outside the city limits of Atlanta. As the cars passed he smiled and waved. This young African American man was well dressed---in a shirt, tie, slacks and leather shoes. And prominently displayed on his chest was a large placard which read Jesus loves you.

Last week as I approached the corner of 22^nd Street and 2^nd Avenue in Manhattan I could not help but notice a woman standing in plain view. Her antiquated nun’s habit eerily reminded me of a burqa. The only visible flesh was her sullen face and her clenched hands. Her voice was silent. She held a large placard just like the young black man’s; but her message was very different. It read Stop Abortion Now.

I admit to having a little g-crush on the new pope. And by g-crush I do not mean a girl-crush but rather a God-crush. I think Pope Francis is pretty remarkable—and unlike his predecessor(s) I suspect he may truly be infallible. I suspect God may be whispering in his ear—his view is that enlightened—it is nearly Zen.

And if his past remarks on homosexuality were not brazen enough, he now has ruffled some other die-hard Catholic feathers. He has taken the stance that the church needs to stand away from small minded rules and not take such a narrow approach to social issues. He speaks of a new balance—not allowing the issues of homosexuality, contraception and abortion to dominate the church and overshadow its purpose. He speaks of mercy and love rather than judgment and punishment.

And I can honestly say that when I saw that smiling young man on the roadside wave at me with his words Jesus loves you, I was elated—elevated--touched. I was reminded of the joy in faith. I was reminded of the core of Christianity. I felt embraced. I wanted to create my own sign and walk with him.

But all I felt when I saw that nun on the corner was anger—rejection—incarceration. I thought Who are you to judge me? Who are you to demand of me things you have no right to ask? I thought Why do you believe that guilt is inspirational and why would I ever follow you?

She clearly did not get the pope’s memo.

Because Pope Francis has the right message. His invitation has no finite reply. He has the pulse and heart of his people: open arms trump folded arms across the chest.