When he was still being considered for the papacy, the story was that he was against liberation theology, and had fought it while he was a bishop in South America.
I must say, I find a lot of what he says and does troubling. But I’m hoping he will avoid any serious errors. So far, what troubles me the most is his appointment of liberals to important bishoprics and other positions. He seems to have thrown Chicago down into the sewer again, for instance. But who knows?
What amazes is that the German cardinals made their bizarre case at the earlier synod this winter, the synod vote was taken, and their case fell through the floor. Typically the vote of the full synod is meaningful, and the subject is not then expected to be immediately resurrected and drug along into the next synod for more redress, as if the vote itself had never occurred.
It was Pope Francis who stuck it back on the agenda for this July synod.
Nevermind that the “book of five” was published by Burke and four others, dispatched to the Vatican synod for distribution and was summarily captured outside the door of deliberation and NEVER passed to the Cardinals in session.
Deemed a distraction, the Cardinals nevertheless voted well and killed the German agenda, without the armor the book had chronicled for their use.
Well, by now, they have that book and should be well armed to resist again, in July. If this foolishness continues to be entertained, and/or a clatter wagon full of bishops in Germany take the praxis into their own hands and defy the Church, then don’t we have a split on our hands, or just more “love” and “dialogue” to distract us from delivering Truth to the Church and to the real world.
My opinion which is worth less than the standard $.02 is that it will go similar to humanae vitae. The Holy Spirit will keep the Pope from proclaiming heresy, but there will be a committee which has dissenting opinions. Dissenting Bishops will let dissenting priests disregard church teaching and give scandal by allowing “remarried” Catholics recieve communion. Anyone who argues against the dissenting priests or bishops will be suppressed by officials in the Vatican. (Look up Cardinal Patrick O’Boyle.)
There are somethings that will make a difference. At least in the U.S. the younger priests tend to be more faithful than the older ones (who are now bishops- we have about 30 to 40 more years to endure before the dissenters die off.) The priest scandals knocked out almost all the clericalism that faithful catholics retained. A priest that dissents will likely hear an earful from faithful parishioners. Also parish hopping is much more common now. This will further Balkanize the Church into parishes that are more faithful and others that are more “cafeteria”.
Of course there is always the chance of another “awakenig”. I’m going to put some prayer tome toward that cause.