The coming crisis within conservative Catholicism

Signs of opposition to the pontificate of Francis by conservatives are increasing. Yesterday Thomas Tobin, bishop of Providence, RI, published in his diocesan newspaper that he is "a little bit disappointed" with Francis's apparent unwillingness to speak out publicly against abortion. Two months ago Charles Chaput, archbishop of Philadelphia, a leading voice among conservative Catholics, told John Allen that conservatives "have not been really happy about [Francis's] election."

These portend a coming crisis, when the conservative Catholic clique (I think especially here of EWTN, First Things, the National Catholic Register, and the Franciscan University of Steubenville, among others) will have to choose whether or not they will support Francis against traditionalists (e.g., Rorate Caeli, which has opposed Francis from the beginning), or become traditionalists themselves and oppose him. Lines are already being drawn.

Take, for instance, the infamous "Fr. Z" (Fr. John Zuhlsdorf). At first he tried to adopt a positive stance that would filter Francis "through Benedict," and dismissed Francis's irregularities as just him needing to learn how to be Pope properly. In the past couple months, however, his tone has shifted and he is now talking about how "The deck is shifting beneath our feet as the winds shift. The wind isn’t on our best quarter any longer," and that conservative Catholics will need to "be the Maquis" (the French resistance movement) against the new leadership in the Church.

Early on some conservatives have tried to minimize, quite unsuccessfully, the significance of some of Francis's words and actions. Look at the First Things article called "Five Myths about Pope Francis." The first point is fair: Francis is not the "anti-Benedict," but the other four "myths" are pretty much true; Francis isn't a culture warrior; he is about social justice; he does love the world, or at the very least wants to engage it fully (this is the New Evangelization). Others, such as EWTN's Raymond Arroyo, have tried to argue that Francis is being imprudent and will need to let "handlers" direct him in the future. But it is clear by now that Francis isn't going to let anyone "handle" him.

Another approach, which we have seen used by both Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, is to try to spin Francis's words ("Who am I to judge [gays]?") to make them fit into a preconceived, the-Church-never-changes, business-as-usual narrative. Now with Francis's letter to Dr. Eugenio Scalfari about atheists, faith, and conscience, we are again seeing the narrative that the "mainsteam media" are distorting Francis's words to serve a "liberal agenda." It's true that some have at times exaggerated Francis's novelties, but due to ignorance, not malice, and in part because conservatives themselves were only too happy to paint Benedict XVI as "one of us" and ignore some of his more "inconvenient" statements (such as those about the environment). If anyone is guilty of distorting papal words to fit into a preconceived agenda, it has been conservatives!

Now many are seeing that these attempts to "spin" Francis do not work. Love him or hate him, he is what he is. Conservatives will have to choose. I cite as anecdotal evidence here some comments posted on the National Catholic Register's piece about Francis's letter, which are openly hostile to the pope!

This pope seems to place all his theological stock in the sentimentalism of feel-good works. He seems to believe that one can find objective Truth by feelings alone. This is a dangerous notion to advance to the world. This will not end well. The devil does his best work with a warm smile and a sentimental embrace of false goodness. I’ll say it again, there is something very very wrong with this guy. Lord please help us. 

Ever since Pope Francis started his Papacy…he has been nothing but a verbal contradiction to Tradition. . . . Pope Francis seems to be a protestant and just do want you want, believe what you want, and you will be fine. No respect for the Traditions of the Church, but all the respect for ill informed consciences. Enough already, Pope Benedict reclaim your Papacy. 

What Francis said about non-believers still going to heaven is a violation of Scripture itself. . . . A lot of what Pope Francis wrote in that letter contained far too much New Age influenced themes to it, which is highly disturbing. 

This pope and lots of other clergy have lost their way falling into the trap Jesus mentioned of being “a friend of world is an enemy of God.” Problems in the church abound because there are too many goo goo mush heads in charge who are afraid of the gospel (or don’t understand it). When Jesus warned of false teachers, He meant INSIDE the church. Looks like we can put Francis on that side of the ledger. And then, look at those who elected him. 

The next pope is going to have quite a challenge righting the ship especially if this papacy drags on for 12 years or so. What were the cardinals thinking at the last conclave?

Something is very very wrong. Many Catholics are watching very carefully and they do not like what they are seeing. Something needs to be done in their service soon! 

We laity are not committing any sin in our honest dissent from his sloppy theological ramblings. 

Lord, please limit the damage this guy is about to inflict upon your precious Church.

The comments were about 50% positive and 50% negative. And this is on the National Catholic Register, not some traditionalist blog! One of the positive replies makes my point:

I felt sad to read some of the comments of Pope Francis. Many are beginning to wonder if he is genuinely a pope-material, even if his election is valid etc. Maybe, in another 2 months, Catholics will brand him as heretic!

Traditionalists are rallying against Francis, and conservative groups will have to decide where they want to stand; to continue to waffle, dissemble, and spin will only cause more to join the traditionalists for the sake of honesty and coherence. It is my belief and hope that conservative groups will ultimately decide to stand with Francis. But this will require them to re-think some of their attitudes, priorities, and beliefs, especially when Francis starts making real reforms and putting his teaching into authoritative encyclicals (Lumen Fidei was mostly the work of Benedict XVI).

EDIT: Looking back at this post nearly five years later, we see that conservative groups have landed firmly on the anti-Francis side. My optimism was not warranted (surprise).