By deploying his modest personality and inclusive rhetoric, he has created the impression of a much more open and inclusive Church without actually changing Church doctrine.
In his first two years, Francis, through the deployment of his modest personality and inclusive rhetoric, has skillfully created the impression of a much more open and tolerant Church without actually changing Church doctrine.
"The church is changing," Mr. Carter said.
But, on the upside, the institutions, including the church, are changing.
But the church's changing center of gravity is not yet fully reflected in the geographic distribution of its leaders.
If at that grassroots level the Catholic church is changing so distinctly, it would seem an appropriate time for the Vatican to follow suit.
In an interview afterward, Bishop McHugh said: "The makeup of the population of Long Island and therefore the Catholic church is changing by leaps and bounds.
And Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles said he would push to have the church consider changing centuries of policy barring priests from marrying and women from being ordained.
So the church is changing".
The church is changing because the world itself is changing.
