How Can Denominations Go From Rigid Rules to Exceptions


The Pope has had it with the criticism he gets for not putting the hammer down on those who refuse to follow the arcane rules of the Catholic Church. No doubt some other denominations and even free- standing churches have the same arguments. When millions of people are absolutely certain they know what the Bible says or means but among them are a litany of disagreements there needs to be a crafty political operative to navigate troubled waters. The Pope seems such a person.

The Pope has schedules big confabs over the next couple of years trying to resolve what should be done in the Catholic church about rules which are claimed to be definite but no longer work. One is turning away those who are divorced and remarried. We've read about self-important Bishops who will not give communion to President Biden. There are gay people who want badly to be card carrying Catholics but are turned away. 

From a distance, it looks like the Pope's strategy has two thrusts. One is to leave many decisions about whether some rules have to be followed to local priests. The other is to appoint Bishops and Cardinals who are not rigid about the rules. The Pope wants a more flexible denomination and needs support from the Bishops and Cardinals to make it happen. 

The Pope is headed for Africa where there is some growth in Catholic numbers. It is also a place where this white European religion does not mesh with the local culture. There is more support for abortion in Africa than on some other continents. At the same time, there are laws in some African countries calling for death to homosexuals. Francis is doing work Benedict could not possibly understand. Benedict spent part of the annual Christmas message railing against gay marriage. I've read his recently released and last book had anti gay stuff in it. Now here is the next Pope navigating a softer position on homosexuality. No wonder the Benedict branch is up in arms. 

It looks like Francis is on his way to treating homosexuality, maybe gay marriage, the same as birth control. With almost all Catholic practicing artificial birth control the subject is all but ignored. If asked directly, clergy will say it is a sin, then move the conversation to something else.

That's the way rules in religion move from being rigid to being ignored. 

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