Pope Francis deleted a tweet Thursday saying “We Christians are not selling a product. We are communicating a lifestyle,” after criticism from Twitter users.
The pontiff later replaced the tweet with a similarly worded message, saying instead that Christians communicate “life.” Twitter users lambasted the original tweet, saying that the church’s recent actions and the language of Francis’ message sounded exactly like a sales pitch. (RELATED: Pope Francis Refuses To Address Accusations That He Covered Up For McCarrick, ‘I Won’t Say A Word About It’)
Is it just me, or is “we’re not selling a product, we’re communicating a lifestyle” sound like some sort of brand manager/PR flack motto? pic.twitter.com/JFdKMObItd
— Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) August 30, 2018
“Communicating a lifestyle”? Is this Christianity or Goop? https://t.co/Wkcj8DpUJs
— dparvaz
The pontiff later altered his message, though critics continued their outcry against the new tweet, expressing disdain over the disconnect between the church’s message and the recent abuse scandals that have enveloped it.
We Christians do not have a product to sell, we communicate Life.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) August 30, 2018
Many Twitter users also lashed out at the pope’s message in light of his ongoing refusal to address allegations from Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano that he helped to cover up allegations of sexual abuse against Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
We need to communicate rage and sorrow at the abuse of minors and seminarians through penance and full-scale investigations imho
— Ryan (@alwaysonoffense) August 30, 2018
Several prelates have demanded an investigation into the claims while both lay faithful and clergy have demanded greater accountability from the Church, given not only those allegations but also recent reports on massive sexual abuse scandals in Pennsylvania and Ireland.
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