Conservative Catholics Try to Undermine the Pope


On sites that discuss the Catholic hierarchy this week is a scathing story about Cardinal Pell. Pell, who died recently, was the Pope's right hand guy trying to straighten out the Vatican's complex and seemingly uncontrolled finances. Pell, it turns out, was part of the underground effort within the Cardinals to line up votes against the liberal wing when the next Pope is selected. He and the other right wingers don't like this Pope's way of simply shrugging off those who slip a little outside the rigid rules conservatives love.

Pope Francis, on the other hand, is replacing Cardinals as they pass 80 years old or die. He now has appointed almost the two-thirds it will take to appoint a liberal Pope to replace Francis. That does not mean all of his appointees will do this but it is placing conservatives, like the late Pell, facing an uphill battle.   

All of this illustrates how ridiculous it is to believe the Catholic Church, or any denomination or free standing church, has some lock on "the truth." What each stands for is whatever political faction is prevailing at any particular point it time. The Catholic Church's position on abortion, marriage and gay marriage will be determined by which ever faction has the most votes when a new Pope is named. When Pope Francis was chosen it was no different.

The current Pope, Francis, understands what it will take to save the denomination in the U.S. and Europe. It will require being tolerant with views different than the official ones of the church. Going forward with two or more opposing views remaining in the Church will be necessary. The conservatives such as the late Pell cannot stand even the thought of this. Everyone who fails to toe the line must be purged. The previous Pope Benedict even said the church should be a smaller one made up only of those with the correct theology. 

I wonder how many Cardinals are now preening themselves to look "Pope-like." It would not surprise me if the slippery Bishop of New York City, Dolan, considers himself a great candidate. 

The truth is conservative Christianity is slipping away and no plots or schemes to hold one will work. 

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