Crisis Magazine has kindly published my latest, an essay in which I outline the crisis of trust in the Church. Here’s a snippet:
The “Synod on Synodality” came to its 2023 conclusion without, apparently, a definitive attempt to overturn Catholic teaching on homosexuality or Holy Orders. The other is the Holy See’s removal of Bishop Joseph Strickland from his see in Tyler, Texas, for reasons that are not completely clear (and which the Vatican has not attempted to clarify).
For those of a “progressive” stamp, these events have been cause for rejoicing, as they cherish the idea that the Church may finally give into their demands for radical changes. Among those who have been alarmed by the more radical aspects of this pontificate, reactions have become quite toxic. Some have censured those who feared the Synod would countenance radical changes to Church teaching with what amounts to a lack of faith, because the Synod did not issue any doctrinal statements. Others have accused those who criticized Francis’ removal of Bishop Strickland as being “Protestant” for their willingness to criticize or even disobey the pope.
I am among those who have been highly critical of Francis, and I think his pontificate has been a moral and spiritual disaster; so, naturally, I am sensitive to such accusations. The matter of obedience to the pope has become the subtext of virtually every discussion in the Church these days, partly because of the actions of Pope Francis, partly because the modern Church (since Vatican I) has made it central to every aspect of the Church’s life. But what those who criticize the critics of Pope Francis need to understand is that there is something else besides obedience at issue when it comes to authority of any kind: trust.
As they say, read the whole thing.
