By now everyone knows that a resistance movement is active in reaction to the reforms of Pope Francis. Refusniks are in favour of services in Latin, are opposed to ecumenism, freedom of religion and closer relations with Judaism. The leader of the group is Jean-Michel Faure, consecrated as bishop by British bishop, Richard Williamson, a holocaust denier, who announced that he “expects a divine intervention, such as a Noah’s flood”. Others expect a new world war that will punish the liberal backsliders. Their hero is Pope Pius x, 1903-1914, who believed he was following the words of Jesus himself. There are about a million people who revere Pius.
We have seen all this before, and the way to deal with it is to ignore it. In the old days they could do enormous damage with their Inquisitions and burnings at the stake. Now they are a sad rump, a mere 0.1% of all Catholics. We should be patient and understanding and tolerate them, reflecting that so many of the doctrines they support so strenuously were invented at Nicea and other convocations two thousand years ago, and that what can be invented amid furious argument in Nicea can be reinvented today in Rome. Why not?
On the other hand, the Curia and the cardinals who are living like princes are unlikely to convert to the idea of a simple church without a struggle. How far can Francis go in firing cardinals and bishops? It is alleged that one previous Pope was assassinated for treading on the toes of the mafia and the Vatican bank (true or not I don’t know). Francis is a good , genuine man. Epicureans should wish him well, while thanking their stars they are not in the shoes of the Fisherman.
To a limited extent, and without being too overbearing, I think its important the Catholic Church remains somewhat socially conservative. Personally, I’m very socially liberal on virtually every issue, but I accept that my views are the views of the intellectual elite and the majority- at least in the West. But there’s a tendency for us liberal intellectuals to dismiss anything other than what we think as bigoted and unenlightened. I hope Pope Francis can be an eloquent voice for a different point of view.
One thing I don’t like about Pope Francis is that he seems to be overstepping his authority by commenting on a huge variety of issues, thus increasing divisions within the Church. For instance, he has come out in favour of enforcing the existing drug laws. This alienates Catholics in favour of drug reform. He has also come out in favour of immigration reform, and has implicitly endorsed amnesty- again, alienating Catholics with different views. The point is, it doesn’t matter whether he is right or wrong on those issues. What matters is that by being so political, he divides people who ought to be united by the religion.
I also disagree with some of Francis’ politics itself. I think he can be very paternalistic, to the point of encroachment. He doesn’t recognise people’s right to do things that are perceived to be bad for them- taking drugs, being a prostitute, being euthanised, getting married to someone of the same sex etc… It doesn’t matter whether those things are right or wrong, people have a right to do them. Francis doesn’t recognise that.