Will the New Pope "Unite" the Denomination


There are endless articles these days about the new Pope Leo. A popular theme is whether he will "unite" the several factions in the Catholic denomination. 

To suggest there is an opportunity to "unite" the denomination suggests there is something to unite around. What would that be?

There is a Latin Mass group who somehow sees the language of Latin as the only legitimate one for Catholic ceremonies. Another group, including the late Pope Francis, are strong advocated of using English. The two groups are far apart in many other issues, one being in favor of never changing anything and the other wanting to reach out to the modern world. To say these two groups can "unite" around someone or something is ridiculous. For all practical purposes, they are members of different denominations. 

A majority of the denomination's members favor abortion rights. Anti abortion remains a stupid position put up in lights by Popes and other leaders. What is it these two factions are going to unite around. They are as different as night and day. 

Then, there is modern birth control. The official position of the denomination is dead set against it. Nearly all Catholics practice it. Compromise? Rome has painted itself into a corner on this one and has no escape.

The really big one is female clergy. Without yielding big time on this one the Catholic denomination is headed for the dust bin of history. If Popes and others would just have said for the past centuries, "We are praying about this one. Maybe one day there will be female priests," they could modernize. As it is, the denomination will be taken down by this issue. 

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