The
comedian George Carlin used to say that he was a Roman Catholic “until I
reached the age of reason.” For Carlin, that happened sometime in the
eighth grade, when all his probing questions about faith were answered
with, “well, it’s a mystery.” Of course, as a lifelong contrarian,
Carlin also wondered if it was O.K. for a vegetarian to eat animal
crackers.
I thought of him while reading the latest institution-shifting document from Pope Francis,
“Amoris Laetitia” — the Joy of Love. The title sets the tone for the
continuation of a quiet revolution. Note that it’s not called the Job of
Love, the Duty of Love or the Unbearable Burden of Love. Instead, the
pope implies that there’s considerable fun to be had in human
relationships. You can even find in its 256 pages a mention of the
“erotic dimension” of love and “the stirring of desire.” Yes, sex. The
pope approves of it, in many forms.