Francis: 'Go out without fear, be open to the Spirit'

Pope Francis, in a homily today, once again called upon Catholics to go out and spread the Word of God. He encouraged believers to have  a confidence that comes from trusting in the Holy Spirit.

He said that in doing so it is the Lord's community that goes forward. Being open to the Spirit, he said, is a critical criterion "for our Church, our own consciences, our parish communities and our religious communities."

The deadly alternative, he said, is to stay inward looking. These types, he went on, think they are defending the truth, but what they are really doing "is spreading gossip and slander.  ...   "They look inwards and end up destroying each other."