Pope Francis Criticizes Politicized US Catholic Church

Pope Francis expressed his concern over a "reactionary" Catholic Church in the United States, where he believes political ideology has replaced faith in some cases. He acknowledged the strong opposition he has faced from conservative sectors of the U.S. Church who disagree with his reforms, such as promoting gender equality and inclusivity. The Pope emphasized the need for an appropriate evolution in matters of faith and morals, urging critics to understand that being backward-looking is "useless." He cited the example of the Church's evolving stance on slavery and called for a more open-minded approach within the Church.