- Feb 5, 2002
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The pope’s recent interview in America magazine comes across as a first draft in need of editing.
(RNS) — The pope’s interview last month with America, the Jesuit journal, was a textbook example of why the Vatican does not want the pope doing interviews. The pope poked the Russian bear in the nose, gave a convoluted response to why women cannot be priests and even had a muddled response to a question on racism in the United States.
If I had been his press secretary, I would have been pulling my hair out during much of the interview. I would have wanted to edit the text before it was published.
Some of his responses were noncontroversial and even inspiring — for example, on how he remains joyful and happy amid crises and troubles. His analysis of how political polarization is un-Christian was spot on. He also acknowledged that it is a mistake for the church to have less transparency in dealing with abusive bishops than it has with abusive priests.
Continued below.

Does the pope need an editor?
(RNS) — The pope’s recent interview in America magazine comes across as a first draft in need of editing.
