Edward Beck, CNN's go to priest - a liar and a deceiver!

Francis saves some of his most startling and liberating comments for the latter part of the exhortation.  After having made an earnest appeal for the primacy of conscience and individual discernment within the context of the faith community, Francis says this: "It can no longer simply be said that all those in any 'irregular' situation are living in a state of mortal sin and are deprived of sanctifying grace."
How extraordinary!
That means those who cohabitate without the benefit of marriage are not to be perceived a priori as "living in sin"— nor is anyone else, for that matter.  We do not have states of life that are deemed sinful, or beyond the reach of grace.  Rather, we have individuals who must be encouraged, no matter what their state in life, to be continually transformed by the grace of inclusion and mercy.
Joyous indeed.
Father Edward L. Beck, C.P. is an on-air commentator for CNN on issues of Faith and Religion.