Roman Catholics in US more in tune with Pope than Rome!

The Washington Post and ABC News have commissioned a poll of Roman Catholic thinking in the USA. The poll is perceived as showing that nearly half those respondents consider the Pope and the Church out of touch with their views. It then goes on to give percentages and information about views given.

The 45% who think the Church should bend with the wind are in favour, or don't mind, women as priests. They also want other things, which are not identified as such. But the poll says that Pope Benedict is a forceful advocate for traditionalism, including returning prayers, vestments and music from earlier eras to church services. This would suggest that some priests are conducting services in garb somewhat different from vestments, are making up extemporary prose, and plucking their guitars. Not being a Roman Catholic in America, I can only guess!

I fear the tragedy of clerical abuse has clouded some of the responses. However, it is hard to see that this is representative on such a small sample of 292. What it tells me is that, just like the Anglican Church, there are many who see Christianity as reflecting what they want and not what the Faith teaches them.

If the priesthood is seen as being a matter of human leadership, then it matters not who is a priest. However, the Church has taught differently over the centuries, emphasising the sacramental nature of priesthood and its combining nature with Christ. Marriage of priests is not the same issue as female ordination, although this poll confuses them a bit. Priestly celibacy is a discipline not a doctrine. It could be that the Pope may lead towards rescinding this discipline, back to early times. I doubt if female ordination will be on the agenda, not because it is right or wrong, but because it is not discerned as being compatible with the Faith.

As an Anglican Catholic, I'm intrigued by these answers, but not surprised. A similar ongoing "debate" is entrenched in the Anglican Church, but with the figures for change and innovation somewhat higher. That's why an ex-Roman Catholic is now calling the shots in the Episcopal Church. What the Pope makes of her, I do not know. But it defines the situation nicely. On one side, but from both churches, are the ecclesiastical democrats and on the other side, the traditionalists.