In what many are calling "unusually sharp remarks" published this week: Pope Francis accused conservative American Catholics of ignoring important parts of the church's message, instead fixating on social issues like abortion and sexuality.

The message expresses a long-held view by Francis: that the ideology of some American Catholics have held back his efforts to move the Church forward, but the remarks themselves mark a sharp turn in discourse between the two groups.

For more on this, KCBS Radio's Margie Shafer and Eric Thomas spoke with Massimo Faggioli, Historical Theology Professor at Villanova University, he's an expert on the history and administrative inner workings of the Catholic Church and of the papacy.