Here at Lustralboy we have, in the past, been quick to condemn the rampant homophobia shown by previous incumbents of the Papacy.  So when we sense a welcome wind of change, even if, so far, it's only a light breeze, we would be remiss in failing to draw it to your attention.

So, just as we cheered the departure of the previous Pope, Benedict, so we now look more hopefully on the pronouncements of current Pope Francis. Last week he said the Catholic Church has become obsessed with preaching about abortion, gay people, gay marriage and contraception and needs to become more merciful. Here's some of what he said last week.

Signs of hope.

Pope Francis

"The church's pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently, We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel".

Instead, he said, the Catholic Church must work to heal the wounds of its faithful and seek out those who have been excluded or have fallen away. His remarks could generate dismay among clergy in the United States who have already expressed disappointment that Francis has not pressed Church teaching on abortion, contraception and homosexuality.

Oh dear. Here's what he's up against.

President Bill Donohue

1.September 20th. The President of the US Catholic League, Bill Donohue, seeks to absolve molesting priets by claiming they are not paedophiles but simply gay. 

Archbishop Timothy Broglio

2.September 19th. US Archbishop Timothy Broglio insists that Catholic military chaplains cannot perform or endorse same-sex weddings.

Archbishop Christopher Prowse

3.September 19th. Christopher Prowse, the incoming Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, has called for a moratorium on the passage of any new laws on same-sex marriage in Australia.

Archbishop John Nienstedt

4.September 12th. John Nienstedt, the Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis has claimed that Satan, the “Father of Lies,” is the source of sodomy and marriage equality.

Ex-Cardinal Keith O’Brien

5.August 32rd. Disgraced Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who in March this year admitted sexual misconduct, also blocked an investigation into sexual and physical abuse at a school, during his time at the Catholic Church in Scotland.

Lustralboy says a heartfelt: Good luck, Francis! We feel you're going to need it.