Former Florida Gov. and Catholic convert Jeb Bush says that while Pope Francis has changed the "tone and emphasis" of the Catholic Church, do not expect "big changes" in doctrine.
Bush
told National Review that when the pontiff talks "specifics," the mainstream media is missing what's actually going on.
The GOP presidential hopeful said that in the end the "big changes" that some may expect in the church will likely "turn out to be a real disappointment," particularly for those outside of the institution "who think this guy is really cool."
However, when it comes to social issues, Bush said Pope Francis "can help change the conversation. Because right now, it's just full of land mines," National Review reports.
As a politician, the Florida Republican said that "we really need to focus on language that cuts through, that gets beyond them vs. us," although he said he doesn't always get it right himself.
"I think about ... how I can improve how I express my views," Bush said, National Review reports, adding that when people have beliefs they are often "informed by faith, your life’s journey, the thousands of interactions you have with people," and other things that are "way beyond politics."
To that end, he says, there may be a lesson from Pope Francis here: that "where you say it, how you say, it is important."
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