The Decline of Liberal Catholicism

[Michie]

When I was ordained a priest in 1985, my first pastor was about to turn 50 years old; he was a member of the Ordination Class of 1962. He saw himself and others saw him too as a “Vatican II” priest. There were meetings galore, a lot of “co-ministry” with women Religious, and, in discussions, frequent references to the marginalized and minorities of various kinds. But I don’t recall that we had a single Holy Hour in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament in my five-year assignment there, nor do I remember hearing a word against co-habitation in the parish Pre-Cana program. Moreover, I have no memory of any notices in the weekly bulletin announcing seminars on the topic of natural family planning.

There are always going to be different pastoral emphases, even in what might be regarded as not particularly ideological parishes. What developed, however, in many post-conciliar parishes are what we now call “safe spaces,” meaning places you could go and not be reminded of words and ideas you don’t like. When the “safe space” is breached after decades in some cases, you can well imagine the displeasure in certain quarters. But it was bound to happen at some point.

Over the last few years, men ordained priests in the 1970s have been marking their fiftieth anniversaries and are retiring from the active ministry. They are being replaced by men who weren’t even alive in the 1970s! Indeed, the men in the cohort of younger priests now were only ordained in the last two decades. These younger priests are doctrinally more conservative than the priests they are replacing. This is not just anecdotal; the survey research bears this out too.

Continued below.

The Decline of Liberal Catholicism - The Catholic Thing

Msgr. Robert Batule: The Church is conservative because faith and practice must preserve, whole and undiminished, what has been “handed on.”

www.thecatholicthing.org

 

[chevyontheriver]

When I was ordained a priest in 1985, my first pastor was about to turn 50 years old; he was a member of the Ordination Class of 1962. He saw himself and others saw him too as a “Vatican II” priest. There were meetings galore, a lot of “co-ministry” with women Religious, and, in discussions, frequent references to the marginalized and minorities of various kinds. But I don’t recall that we had a single Holy Hour in the Presence of the Blessed Sacrament in my five-year assignment there, nor do I remember hearing a word against co-habitation in the parish Pre-Cana program. Moreover, I have no memory of any notices in the weekly bulletin announcing seminars on the topic of natural family planning.

There are always going to be different pastoral emphases, even in what might be regarded as not particularly ideological parishes. What developed, however, in many post-conciliar parishes are what we now call “safe spaces,” meaning places you could go and not be reminded of words and ideas you don’t like. When the “safe space” is breached after decades in some cases, you can well imagine the displeasure in certain quarters. But it was bound to happen at some point.

Over the last few years, men ordained priests in the 1970s have been marking their fiftieth anniversaries and are retiring from the active ministry. They are being replaced by men who weren’t even alive in the 1970s! Indeed, the men in the cohort of younger priests now were only ordained in the last two decades. These younger priests are doctrinally more conservative than the priests they are replacing. This is not just anecdotal; the survey research bears this out too.

Continued below.

The Decline of Liberal Catholicism - The Catholic Thing

Msgr. Robert Batule: The Church is conservative because faith and practice must preserve, whole and undiminished, what has been “handed on.”

www.thecatholicthing.org

And yet these same liberals are at the zenith of power as bishops and cardinals. Somehow, even with a newer generation of more conservative priests, they seem to run the place.

 

[Michie]

And yet these same liberals are at the zenith of power as bishops and cardinals. Somehow, even with a newer generation of more conservative priests, they seem to run the place.

But for how long?

 

[chevyontheriver]

But for how long?

McCarrick finally did the ultimate 'age out' and that will happen for the rest of them eventually. Cupich turned 80, but let's not pretend his influence is over. Looks like he got a protoge placed in Omaha. And McElroy, part of the same team, is a mere boy, who will have influence for a few decades. Ultimately they fade away, but they can still do real damage.

 

[Michie]

McCarrick finally did the ultimate 'age out' and that will happen for the rest of them eventually. Cupich turned 80, but let's not pretend his influence is over. Looks like he got a protoge placed in Omaha. And McElroy, part of the same team, is a mere boy, who will have influence for a few decades. Ultimately they fade away, but they can still do real damage.

It seems the younger clergy has been a lot more traditional. I’m hoping that continues and they age into positions of more influence.

 

[Akita Suggagaki]

This tension between liberal and conservative Catholics, I think it is healthy. We need that kind of balance. I remember before Vatican II. We certainly knew who we were and what our traditions were. But also some of the traditions became almost superstitious. And I think it was the liberal influence that brought us into social teaching starting with Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum. Could he be considered liberal for his time? And Vatican II was certainly a turning point. But it was like taking the cork out of a Champaign bottle.

We are human. We will always have disagreements and see things differently. the Holy Spirit still uses us and works through all of us.

 

[RileyG]

Praying for the healing of Holy Mother Church and all of her divisions