Salon has jumped the shark, then doubled down. [1] Nothing new here.

But they are shocked, shocked, by finding out that the Pope is Catholic. They see progressive Peronism and think that they are cool. But they forget that the Pope knows Peronism, for he lived through it, and that politics is not the only filter in this world.

The most immediate question is, How could he do such a thing? Isn’t this the smiling, tolerant pope who has spoken out against climate change, against income inequality and ravages of unchecked capitalism, who has talked about protecting the earth and respecting the poor? Isn’t he – American progressives are asking – one of us?

But the Davis affair serves as a pretty strong reminder that the Anglo-American tradition of the liberal left and the lineage of Catholic social justice the pope represents – a life shaped by Latin America and its gender politics, and by a millennia-old church – are very different. The great Mexican poet Octavio Paz wrote that while the United States was founded in the spirit of the Reformation, his nation was born during Spain’s Counter-Reformation, at a time when the church had “petrified” itself. Argentina, where Francis spent most of his pre-papal career, is not Mexico, but it’s still closer to that reactionary tradition than most North American and British lefties realize.

So let’s just remind ourselves, whatever the Pope’s economic liberalism – his vow of poverty and taking the name of a saint beloved by environmentalists, his sensible little Fiat – he still represents one of the most sexually conservative institutions in the developed world. He preaches love for individual gay people, but concurs with the church’s position that homosexuality is wrong. He opposes abortion. He’s spoken about the importance of women in Catholicism, but seems unlikely to budge allowing women to be ordained or to have a real role in church hierarchy.

Now, the SJW may not have abolished freedom of religion in the USA, but they have tried to regulate it to the point that it is asphyxiating. They want everything to be appropriate, oh their terms. They cannot tolerate the idea that a Kentucky clerk has a conscience and practiced civil disobedience: nor can they understand this Pope — but that is a challenge the Romans have. Mundabor is trenchant (May a thousand blessings be upon him, including his discovery of Calvin), but I wonder if he is a bit too cynical

We are informed that the heroic Kim Davis (may the Lord give her one thousand blessings, among them the grace to convert to Catholicism) has consented to meet Pope Francis. As a consequence, the neocon camp is trying to persuade us that Francis is a Catholic tough guy (no, he is neither), and some liberals are venting disappointment at the Gay Pope meeting with a “homophobic” woman.

I think both sides are wrong, and the logic of the meeting is to be sought in one word:Jesuitism.

I have observed many times that Francis has the habit of doing something Catholic on a Monday morning so he can appease the simple and go on being a full-fledged heretic the rest of the week. The visit to the tomb of Pius X, the vague references to the “family”, and the “concessions” to the SSPX, whom he certainly fears, are all part of this forma mentis.

Like Manzonis Don Abbondio, Francis is always eager to let the side he works against know that there is nothing personal, and if they had been stronger he would have supported them instead. Alas, he has to be with the winner; but he is also afraid of the loser, so there…

The Kim Davis episode is the latest illuminating episode. If Francis had wanted to send a strong message he would have met Kim Davis in front of several hundred journalists, and would have addressed words of approval and encouragement to her, coram populo.

I thought it was us Prods who hated and despised the Jesuits. Apparently I am wrong.

Regardless, we have one thing in our favour. Our enemy is stupid. It pains me to say this, but I must. Although Schadenfreude is indeed pleasurable, we must warn our enemies, and pray that they repent. They may listen.

Even though listening and repenting will indeed be a miracle: the Holy Spirit does work within the world, and to him miracles of faith are routine.

And him no government can rule against or regulate.
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1. No, I’m not going to link to a Salon article accusing Vox and Milo of hatery when they told a pedophile he was evil. Salon’s editors are moronic for putting that up: the site lost credibility in nanoseconds. Defund it, guys.