This:
During the John Paul and Benedict years, one byproduct of the emphasis on Catholic identity under those popes was the emergence of a caste of self-appointed guardians of loyalty who ran around “outing” bishops, parishes, schools, hospitals and so on that they felt were insufficiently Catholic. Critics derisively dubbed them the “orthodoxy police,” concluding that in at least some cases, this was mean-spirited and reflected an untoward lust for judgment.
One wonders if we’re witnessing the emergence under Francis of an equal-and-opposite form of the same impulse, which we might term the “enlightenment police” — people taking it upon themselves to pronounce whether someone is sufficiently humble, collaborative, forward-thinking, etc., to claim consistency with the direction being set by the new pope.
For a certain kind of liberal Catholic, the temptation to engage in such finger-pointing is probably especially strong. These are folks who felt the sting of charges of not “thinking with the church” for the last 35 years and who delight in the sense that the shoe is now on the other foot.
One good rule of thumb, however, is that the best person to judge whether a given figure or group is consistent with Francis’ vision is, well, Francis. His most ardent supporters might do well to resist the tug of setting themselves up as his Mutaween (the religious police in some Islamic societies), especially given that the spiritual cornerstone of his papacy is the importance of mercy.
On the other side of the equation, there are several constituencies in the church feeling angst over aspects of the new pope’s direction, including:
Some pro-life Catholics, who worry that his inclination to dial down the volume on abortion, gay marriage and contraception risks unilateral disarmament in the culture wars;
Doctrinal purists, who think his shoot-from-the-hip style courts confusion on church teaching;
Liturgical traditionalists, who don’t see him fostering the same reverence for the church’s worship they associate with Benedict XVI;
Political conservatives, who fear that his emphasis on the social Gospel could shade off into an uncritical embrace of the agenda of the secular left;
Church personnel, especially in the Vatican, who are weary of hearing the new boss take potshots at them because they don’t see themselves as careerists or lepers infected with the trappings of a royal court.For these folks, “playing church” occasionally may mean directly criticizing the pope. More often, however, it takes the form of accusing the media, in tandem with certain voices inside the church, of misrepresenting his message. One can already spot a new rhetorical trope, patrolling the borders between the “real Francis” and the “mythical Francis” of the popular imagination.
Or this:
Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, says his Twitter message paying homage to hard-partying rocker Lou Reed was meant to praise his music, not his drug-influenced lifestyle.
Ravasi, an Italian cardinal and the head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, reacted to Reed’s death Monday with a tweet made up of some of the lyrics from “Perfect Day,” Reed’s 1972 cult classic. Given Reed’s provocative lifestyle, the tweet shocked many Vatican watchers.
But Ravasi made it clear — with a tweet six hours later — that he did not condone drug references in the song, or Reed’s lifestyle. That tweet warned, “Don’t fool yourselves,” before closing with another quote from the song (translated into Italian): “You’re going to reap just what you sow.”
Ravasi and Reed were nearly the same age, born seven months apart in 1942.
Ravasi, who was considered a leading candidate to become pope in the March conclave that selected Pope Francis, is no stranger to pop music-related controversy. In January, he expressed admiration for the music of another controversial rocker: Amy Winehouse, who died 18 months earlier from alcohol poisoning.
Then again, Rome and liberal (read mainline) Reformed churches bear a resemblance that Jason and the Callers never seem to notice.
Old Life 
Yep – there’s much we can thankfully ignore. We press on.
LikeLike
Sometimes when you’re so wrapped up in the mystery and transcendence of the extraordinary form, all the other concerns seem to dissipate like the dew on the leaf in the garden by stream running down the hill from the retreat where you met jesus by the porte-cochere when you parked your hybrid BMW and he touched you on the shoulder and winked at you for your goodness as the sun broke through the morning cover.
So, when that happens it’s easy to forget Francis’ posture and how he insists on the normative practice of the novus ordo, and all the other things the mythical Francis is doing.
LikeLike
This news is a little old by now, but the non-reform, reform marches on.
http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-issues-global-questionnaire-modern-families-145433172.html
“Lorenzo Baldisseri, head of the synod of bishops, told reporters that the meeting’s theme “reflects very well the pastoral zeal with which the Holy Father wishes to approach the proclamation of the Gospel to the family in today’s world”.
He said the consultation also showed Francis, who has said the Catholic Church is too “Vatican-centric”, wanted more “collegiality”.
Cardinal Peter Erdo, president of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, referred in particular to the increase in cohabiting Catholic couples who do not intend to marry, saying “the phenomenon requires a deepened reflection.”
Archbishop Bruno Forte, special secretary of the synod, said “the Church has to better its understanding, it is not a static body. We do not have the answers ready, but we cannot behave like an ostrich, with its head in the sand.”
Vatican expert Marco Politi, who writes for the Italian weekly L’Espresso, told AFP that “it is hugely significant that the Church, instead of presenting its ‘truth’ on families, civil unions and homosexuality from on high, wants to hear about the experience of the local faithful.”
“What’s interesting is how bishops are going about gathering the information. Some bishops are taking Francis’s drive further forward, while others are putting on the brakes,” he said.”
LikeLike
What’s more significant, to me, than this questionnaire is the posture and response of these three members of the magisterium compared to say, I don’t know, CtC or Scott Hahn. Somebody’s idea of RCC is reflective of Vat II and cradle, table-side, interpretation and the other is protestant fundamentalism dressed up in RC clothing. Paradigms indeed.
LikeLike
Sean, yeah. My experience of dealing with mainline thought before RCism means I found it harder to overcome the mainline (ie it took more time), but that might be just because I tackled Bultmann and Tillich before I conversed with a real live thinker like Bryan Cross. The end point is the same – thankfullness at where I landed oh so long ago, as a Reformed Presbyterian. I feel pretty darn blessed at finding the reformed, and at a relatively young age, as well. I heartily believe Darryl and company labor not in vain. It’s quite a valuable service he performs for all, here at this blog. You’ve also provided quite a few sign posts for me personally, brother.
Take care,
Andrew
LikeLike
I would imagine you would never have to worry about very much at all as long as “starting your own church” was a live option. Your tiny micro-denomination perfectly reflects your own opinions and thoughts…. What an accomplishment! If it ever fails to do so the people at old life can begin yet ANOTHER micro denomination that will reflect your own personal theology even better! Awesomeness.
LikeLike
Ken, chill man. It’s just a blog.
I’m working, otherwise, I’d engage more. No doubt what Luther did was a big deal. But I’m not thinking your latest statement here is very helpful for Christians. Is there something specific about this blog you want to argue against? Or is it Protestantism aa a whole that’s got you down?
You’ll find people here who engage you more substantially, ones who have time. The issues are important, thanks for stopping by.
Take care,
Andrew
LikeLike
Kenneth, that’s a hoot, the OPC agrees with me. That’s almost as funny as Pope Francis agreeing with Boniface VIII.
LikeLike
HART,
I’m assuming there is some kind of a reason you chose the OPC over PCUSA? If it isn’t because the agree with your personal interpretation of scripture then why do you attend?
LikeLike
Kenneth, since you are yelling (that’s what all CAPS means, right?) Darryl’s last name, you may be making a passing reference that you don’t want to hear from the peanut gallery. But I can’t see how your comments relate to Darryl’s comparing liberal Protestantism with Rome. Maybe I’m just dense. Regards, Andrew
LikeLike
If the OPC is a micro denomination that would make it akin to a microbrew. Continuing the analogy that would make Rome akin to Natty Light. I drink microbrews but I don’t drink big brewery watered-down swill.
LikeLike
Erik, ding ding, as they say, as they say in these parts. Or, as I might add, the tucked away gem golf course that no one knows about is where I golf. Or maybe that’s all in my head….(emoticon)
LikeLike
I never get this line of reasoning from Catholics. As if what the masses are doing in every other sphere of human life makes sense. I guess I should pierce my tit and get a tattoo on my ass because lots of other people are doing it.
LikeLike
Erik, I scratch my head with a lot I read on the interwebs too. The recent flavor of comments here at OLTS maybe means our proprietor is saying things that are hitting close to home. If I was a Catholic, I can imagine finding this place kind of a downer. Might come close to how I feel about CtC. We’re not actively proselyzing, but are defending. Anyway, as always, I could go on. Take care, Erik.
LikeLike
Erik, more properly you would compare the RC to an Italian crap beer — Nastro Azurro — which you can actually buy in vending machines in Rome. When the coin in the slot clinks, out comes Nasty Azurro, which stinks.
LikeLike
KENWINS, you know what happens when you assume.
If you’re a cradle RC, then I kiss your feet. But if being born into the church is paramount, there goes Jason and the Callers. So you don’t welcome converts to Rome? Converts don’t interpret?
pshaw.
LikeLike
Erik, don’t be fooled by Roman Catholic number crunching. They are not democrats. They believe in rule by one, and only one counts.
LikeLike
But Dr. Hart,
The current ruler doesn’t seem all that interested in promoting the principled papal paradigm. Whatever will the church do? CtC to the rescue! (In their dreams).
LikeLike
Gee whiz, and I thought my private interpretation that Kenneth was Kenneth was correct after all.
Gotta love how the skepticism only goes one way/is a distraction to all the times the perfect church doesn’t live up to the newbs’s ideal and they feel the need to overcompensate.
LikeLike
“Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, says his Twitter message paying homage to hard-partying rocker Lou Reed was meant to praise his music, not his drug-influenced lifestyle.”
Reed may be appropriate for the era of Pope Francis taking the church for a walk on the wild side:
LikeLike