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In the interest of full disclosure, I was born a Catholic and attended a major Catholic university. I stopped participating in Catholic holidays and rituals during my first year at college.

The recent death of Pope Francis is a sad event. But the adulation he has been receiving does not reflect his actual accomplishments. I do, however, feel a bit guilty criticizing a man who dedicated his life to God.

Pope Francis was no more than a satisfactory pope. He seemed concerned with global problems and world peace, and anxious to opine on some very controversial global issues affecting individual countries. Unfortunately, his followers are giving him too much credit for accomplishing any meaningful changes in the Church. And from my perspective, Francis could have done much more for his flock.

Francis and his conservative allies shot down many significant proposed changes in Catholic doctrine. The wide scale sex scandal has still not been fully addressed or adjudicated. Abuser priests of young boys, young girls and adult women should be tried by laic authorities and drummed out of the priesthood. There should be no Mulligans for guilty priests. What could be more distressing to the parents of an abused child than an abuser who has been under psychological control of the Church committing yet another abusive action. Changing venues is not adequate punishment that should be doled out to offenders of helpless people.

I believe that many Catholics who gave up their faith in the Church in recent years will not return until the situation is cleaned up and all abusers are defrocked and put in jail.

Francis did not appoint new blood to the College of Cardinals. He was elected by conservatives who accept nothing but the old dogma of Catholicism.

Women should play an equal role in the world of Catholicism, yet they cannot play the part of a priest, much less a cardinal who has the power to change Catholic doctrine. The whole world has accepted the fact that 1/2 of the population, women, deserve the right to be heard in the policies and teachings of very important groups of people. No efforts were supported by Francis to enable women to serve as priests.

The ability to end a marriage and continue to practice Catholicism has been discussed, but nothing has changed. To make matters worse, church leaders often give special dispensation to powerful people who are divorcing and want to remain practicing Catholics.

The right of a woman to choose is another issue that haunts Catholics. Francis has not helped the cause of women in this regard. His adamant stand against abortion and contraception has delayed the ability of millions of women to control their families and avoid disease.  

And then there is an issue that diminishes a priest’s ability to advise members of his flock. Since most family disputes usually involve marital affairs, money, and children, why would any person seek out a Catholic priest as an advisor? They have no first-hand experience in these areas. Allowing priests to marry and conceive children would be beneficial.

And a final note. Catholicism is generally a religion of poor people. Collecting money from poor people and amassing billions of dollars of financial assets is disingenuous. The Vatican should be more generous giving aid to its followers.

I’m sad to report that Francis left many issues unresolved. And the cardinals he ordained during his tenure will do little to change the current situation.