Chaput to Catholics: Don’t use Francis to ‘further own agendas’

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, a leading conservative in the Roman Catholic hierarchy, defended himself Tuesday against perceptions that he is hostile to the more liberal inclusiveness of Pope Francis.

“I think the question is: Is there a discontinuity between the leadership of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict, and the new kind of leadership of Francis? I think no,” he said in an interview.

“Francis keeps saying he is a son of the church, which means he’s not going to abandon the church’s teachings.”