Setting The Tone
As Brandon Ambrisono points out , there’s little difference between Phil Robertson and Pope Francis on the morality of homosexuality (it’s a sin) and how followers of Jesus should treat gay people (“we don’t judge”). So why did Phil get suspended from Duck Dynasty while Pope Francis was named Person of the Year? It’s all where you start from. Robertson’s GQ interview opens with his infamous quote about how anyone who likes an anus is “illogical”, which gives the impression of “us” and “them”. Alternately, Pope Francis opened his most quoted interview of the year by emphasizing what we have in common. Asked “Who are you?” the Pope replied, “I am a sinner”. When you start the conversation with someone else’s sin, whatever comes next sounds like judgement. When you start with your sin, whatever comes next isn’t judgement, its empathy. Word Count: 140