A Catholic Schism or Just More Skillful Ambiguity


One of the leading writers in the popular press about Catholicism is Ross Douthat. He is considered a conservative Catholic and has written a book critical of the Pope. To me it seems a good observer of insider games being played. The link is over a year old, before the Amazon conference, but seems just as relevant today.

The Pope seems ready for married priests. He also wants for focus on advocating for the poor from his history as a Jesuit priest in South America. In the U.S. we know there is a faction that wants more focus on sexual sin and a faction that wants to be more liberal on social issues. In Germany, where lots of money pours into the church, there is a unified liberal operation defying the Vatican. There are other factions different yet from these in Africa and China.

All these factions believe they are on the brink of breaking through and will own the next Pope.

This Pope has cleverly avoiding a complete schism in the church by being vague about where the church stands and where it is headed. He moves quietly to the left but never gives the right a reason for breaking away. This vagueness angers the conservative wing because they know it gives and upper hand to their enemies.

We know Popes make their living traveling about the world making appearances programmed to present the impression the faith and its Pope are wildly popular. Public relations experts are able to make his visits headline news as if they are actually important. But, with the pandemic we do not read about such trips. I would guess they will not be possible for a year or even two. I don't know what, if any, the effect will be on world Catholicism.

My guess is that this Pope's skillful avoidance of a church schism will be used by the next Pope as well. Probably it is the only option Popes have in the foreseeable future.

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