Pope Francis is “trending in a woke direction”, US political commentator Brandon Tatum has warned.
He joined Mark Dolan on GBN America to discuss Francis giving a rare interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes.
Francis hit back at criticism he has been afforded for approving blessings for partners in same-sex marriages.
In a controversial remark, he said those with conservative beliefs “cling to something and do not want to see beyond that”, adding: “It is a suicidal attitude”.
Brandon Tatum says Pope Francis is taking the Church 'in a woke direction'
REUTERS / GBN AMERICA
Tatum heavily criticised the Pope on GBN America, who he says appears to be going “woke”.
“It seems as though he is trending in a woke direction”, he said.
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Pope Francis told CBS that the Gospel is for everyone, including all sinnersCBS
Brandon Tatum joined Mark Dolan on GBN America
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“There are some things he admitted to that conserves what the Catholic Church believe is true but he is swinging the pendulum.
“I would argue that in seven years, under his leadership, it’s going to go down a wrong path.
“Of course, there are safeguards in place with the bishops there and I don’t think the Pope can establish a faith position without consulting with them, but at the same time he is trending in the wrong direction and making the Church look bad.
“The oldest, most traditional and most conservative church comes out and says it’s ‘suicidal’ for conservative bishops to hold true the traditions which the Catholic Church embodies.
“I was so perplexed that the Pope would make statements like he is making, and it’s a shame he is going that way.
“He is taking little steps in that woke direction. He won’t fully say they will bless gay marriage, but they can bless gay people who are engaged and committed to a life of sin until death do they part.”
The Argentinian-born pontiff has been accused of creating ideological divisions in the church.
The Vatican said in December that priests could give a “blessing” to those in “irregular” relationships including same-sex relationships, as long as those blessings did not resemble a Catholic marriage rite.
Francis said in his interview that it’s important to take traditions “into account” but to avoid being “closed up inside a dogmatic box”.
“We could not divide the world into conservatives or non-conservatives and those are ideological divisions that are no good at all,” he added.