The Kissing Pope
One of the novelties in morality of Pope Wojtyla was to frequently kiss young women. In the picture above he seems quite involved with his action. Never before had any Pope acted publicly in this way.
On the contrary, Catholic Morals was always very strict regarding intimacy between ecclesiastics and women. In his book Homo Apostolicus [The Apostolic Man] giving orientation to ecclesiastics, St. Alphonsus de Ligouri stresses that great care should be taken regarding familiarity with women. He quotes St. Thomas Aquinas, saying:
"The licit carnal affection is always dangerous, if not pernicious. When conversing with a woman who is receiving spiritual direction, however much it might seem pure in the beginning, as it becomes more familiar, the first motive weakens and purity is stained"
(St. Alphonse of Ligouri, Homo Apostolicus, Paris: Mechilinae, 1832, vol. 3, p. 156, quoting St. Thomas, Opusculae 6, Per famil.)
Pope Wojtyla, however, publicly transgressed this traditional precept of Catholic Morals in such a way as to establish the contrary.
Was he giving free reign to his affection?
Was he fulfilling an item on the progressivist agenda?
Internet photo
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