Adriana Piatti-Crocker, assistant professor of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, knew Bergoglio as an opponent of same-sex marriage in Argentina — Crocker helped edit “Same-Sex Marriage in the Americas” in 2011 — but despite his defense of orthodox church teachings, she believes the new pope will make his mark in social justice issues.
“(The area) he comes from has one of the largest slums in the world,” said Crocker. “But I think he’s genuinely concerned about the poor.
“It makes me happy that he’s from the developing world. He will speak for those who have not had a voice.”
Crocker's comments were featured by The State Journal-Register on March 20, 2013.
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