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October 11, 2024 - 4:00pm
Pope Francis has a remarkable tendency to frustrate conservative and liberal Catholics simultaneously. He annoys traditionalists by appearing to support, explicitly or implicitly, changes to long-standing doctrines or practices — and then disappoints progressives by declining, after interminable discussions, to actually make any real changes.
One dialogue that seems to have come to an end with a definitive No from the Holy Father is the one exploring the possibility of ordaining women as deacons (a deacon is a sort of assistant priest). This may change, of course, but for now it is being reported that the door is firmly shut.
Certain Protestant denominations began ordaining women in the closing decades of the last century, and the admission of women to the Catholic priesthood is a frequently repeated demand of modernisers in the Church, along with a relaxation of — or at least a de-emphasis on — rules around the so-called “pelvic issues” of abortion, contraception, and same-sex relationships.
It may turn out, however, that these issues begin to recede in importance over the coming years — at least as far as internal Church affairs are concerned. Catholicism’s centre of gravity is gradually shifting away from Europe and towards Africa, South Asia and South America. Francis is already a transitional figure in this respect: although he is of Italian extraction, he is the first non-European Pope for over 1200 years.
While there are pockets of Catholic vibrancy throughout the Western world, often centred on traditionalist communities, the general picture is bleak. In England and Wales, weekly Mass attendance is nearly down to 500,000, meaning that it has more than halved since 1990. Even before Covid-19, it was around 700,000. As in many European countries, the Church here is increasingly dependent on foreign priests. My own parish is now served by a Nigerian; in our previous parish the priest was from Togo.
In general, Catholics in the Global South are less preoccupied with the kind of social justice concerns that animate so many Westerners. That is not to say they are politically unengaged; rather, they are focused on economic fairness, and the fight against political corruption and authoritarian governments. Most Catholics in, say, Ghana or the Philippines would likely regard the recent collective statement by staff and students at Leuven University in Belgium, criticising the Pope for entirely anodyne comments on women’s roles, as the most wildly trivial self-indulgence.
Their seminaries and churches are mostly full, and they have increasingly strong representation at the highest levels in Rome. They tend also to have a more robustly self-confident faith, which is refreshing when one is used to the self-consciously sophisticated scepticism and dissent that is common in the Western world.
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SubscribeThe only obstacle to Britain’s return to paganism is Islam, itself a form of paganism but a very fierce and tenacious one.
I’m a lapsed Catholic, who has become increasingly disappointed in the Papacy. The Parish in which I am currently situated had a priest for over 20 years, who was quite a moderniser, but who died of a heart attack* in his sleep at 59.
The new chap is a Goan priest, a missionary from the St Francis Xavier movement. He’s a straightforward, trad Catholic, from what I’ve seen (Christmas and Easter services only), and suddenly, our West London church is packed to the brim with what appears to be the entire Goan Community of Southern England. My mother reports being one of 4 or 5 British people in the congregation, and feeling less comfortable, although the priest is very welcoming.
*or whatever causes fit people who run, cycle and play rugby, to die in their sleep these days.
My parish also has a Nigerian priest, from a missionary order. His predecossor was from the same order. It’s ironic really, as when I was a child, at school during Lent, we were encouraged to give up sweets and the pennies saved were collected to help support the (largely Irish) missions to Nigeria.
I have regular copies of the Catholic Herald and monitor the outpourings from the Papacy, which are of course designed to advise Catholics in the problems of everyday life. Apart from regular features on abortion, the main aim is to stop Catholics slipping into the malaise of today. I might paraphrase it as, “How to respect other people around us.” or, “How not to play on the internet all day, when there are real solid things around us.”
These things I can see and understand. But the main problem with the Papacy seems to be to resist change in its own priests. – No, whatever the pressure, no women. – You must face the altar during mass, and not the congregation around you.
It is like a stand-off. No modern ideas because they would undermine Catholicism. The priests and some of the congregation want modern. The Papacy doesn’t.
I conclude that the whole arrangement must be past its sell-by date.