2018-09-13

Civil War in the Catholic Church

The Western civil war is in the Catholic Church, following belatedly on the heels of Protestant denominations.

USA Today: 'Civil war' divides world's Catholics amid allegations of sex abuse, coverup
Dozens of commentators and Vatican watchers have pointed to the wide gap between the views of conservative, traditional Catholics in the mold of Pope Benedict XVI, Francis’ predecessor, and those of reform-minded Catholics like Pope Francis. Many media have referred to what is happening as a kind of “civil war.”

Though he is widely popular among non-Catholics, Francis has been a polarizing figure among the faithful since he was first elected five years ago.

The latest sex abuse allegations, specifically those raised by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, former nuncio to the United States, have only increased public pressure on Francis to resign in order to save the church.
A civil war in the Church reflects negative mood, but it isn't much of a war over the long-term. Protestant denominations that modernize cease to exist within a generation or two. To use a business example, churches that modernize are chasing their least loyal customers and turn off their most loyal customers. If the reformers win, the Catholic Church will collapse and the traditionalists will remain and take over. If the traditionalists win, the Church will shrink, but not as much as it would have. Either way, the future is with the traditionalists.

More broadly, the "civil war" mirrors the #MeToo movement in Hollywood. Secular institutions (Church modernists who seek accommodation with the world) that seized moral authority are revealed to be the most immoral actors. "The louder he spoke of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons."

No comments:

Post a Comment