Christian Denominations Cannot Remain Hidebound Forever



One of the most humorous things conservative Christians say about their faith is, "The culture changes but the faith never changes." Beliefs in Christianity have morphed in many directions since day one. When studying the faith as a whole, we need to distinguish among the various ways its many parts are organized. Groups like the Southern Baptist Convention join it voluntarily. Churches can be kicked out but there is not a church bureaucracy like the Methodists, Lutherans and Presbyterians. Yet the economic base of the latter is those in the pews who pay the bills. The members navigate the cultural waters to a large degree. People leave one denomination and go to the competition.

To gage the struggle in the faith, the Catholic denomination is the place to look. It has been for the last several hundred years very top down. The "truth" is at the top, not in the pews. The current struggle I've been following for several years is the German Catholic determination to carve out some independence from the Vatican. Or, it might be said, to have Germany push the Vatican around instead of the other direction.

Readers know governments in Europe collect a voluntary "tax" that is turned over to denominations. The Catholic stream of revenue is large and some goes to the Vatican. The Vatican is short of funds and the Germans know it. 

A majority of German Catholics and many of its priests are not opposed to gay marriage. Weddings have taken place. Pope Francis asked for this to stop but so far as I know it is still going on. The Germans are patiently navigating the many laws and obstinate bureaucracy of Catholicism. Since lay people fund the entire enterprise Germans reasoned lay people should have a strong voice in the denomination. This is hostile to Rome. Yet, the Germans hold the good cards.

Pundits say Rome will approve the liberal German Catholic reforms but will carry on for pages conditions that must be met. Money will talk.    

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