Pope Francis criticizes "reactionary" U.S. Catholics for replacing faith with ideology

Pope Francis criticized the "backwardness" of some conservatives in the U.S. Catholic Church, stating that they have replaced faith with ideology and emphasizing the need for a correct evolution in the understanding of questions of faith and morals. He acknowledged the divisions within the church and the criticism he has faced from U.S. conservatives, who have disagreed with his focus on social justice issues and his openness to allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the sacraments. Francis warned that a reactionary attitude leads to a climate of closure and disconnects from the roots of the church, having devastating effects on morality.