THE LIKELY FACE OF THE FUTURE CHURCH?

I just finished reading a fascinating article whose theme centered on the question of whether the American Christian Church (Protestant as well as Catholic) will split into traditional and progressive branches, a schism of sorts. 

It appears that that among Protestant churches, the division has already taken place and become institutionalized.  

For example, there are the tradition Protestant assemblies — such as the Southern Baptist Convention and Evangelical churches — versus the extremely liberal denominations such as the United Church of Christ which embraces practices such as ordaining openly gay and lesbian clergy. 

The American Catholic Church, however, remains a unified institution (externally at least), with members whose spiritual values run the gamut from traditionalists who seek a return to the Latin Mass to progressives who argue for women's ordination and greater openness to homosexual and transgender lifestyles. 

In June 2011, Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron (a classmate of the Pontifical North American College in Rome) urged his flock to avoid a gathering of the American Catholic Council, which he said would feature discussions of issues contrary to Church teaching, such as the Ordination of women and Ordination of non-celibate men as Priests.  

Little could Archbishop Vigneron imagine that a scant seven years later, a Pope would signal the acceptance of married Priests in areas of the world deprived of an adequate number of Priests to provide the Sacraments to the faithful.

Nonetheless, it is clear that traditionalist Catholics seem to have more in common with conservative Protestants than with progressive Catholics. 

The reason?

Traditional Protestantism as well as traditional Catholicism are both based upon Christian beliefs that evangelical Protestants and conservative Catholics share.

For some time, there have been growing murmurs of a schism about to take place, especially aided by the spirited Pontificate of Pope Francis.

Some conservative commentators warn that this imminent schism will be much larger than anyone expects because so many U.S. bishops have been lax in their approach to liturgy, catechesis and discipline.

As a result, progressive modernists within the Church now claim a sense of entitlement,  convinced their agenda is the product of Vatican II, and it is the old structure of the Catholic hierarchy that continues to stand in the way.  It is a message likely to resonate with many Catholics across the United States.

As I have stated a number of times prior to this article, it is my belief that it is very likely that conservatives will eventually dominate a much smaller Catholic Church in America, without an outright schism taking place.

Rather, the American Catholic Church of the future will consist of a drastically smaller gathering of faithful.  The Clergy will most likely be dominated by more conservative-spirited Priests than older generations of Pastors.

My speculations about the future notwithstanding, I firmly believe that the Holy Spirit will guide the Church into being the community of faith which the Lord Himself desires is best fit and able to communicate the Gospel of salvation to a weak and sinful humanity. 

I pray that His Will be done.