Crossroads Podcast: The Conclave Is Not About American Politics

Here are three questions for news consumers who are paying attention to pre-conclave news. These questions play a crucial role in this week’s “Crossroads” podcast, which focuses on some elite mainstream press coverage of the unfolding drama in Rome.

No. 1 — What role has President Donald Trump played in the decades of rapid growth in the Catholic churches in Africa?

No. 2 — What role have Catholic doctrines on family, marriage, sexuality and fertility played in the faith’s recent decades of rapid growth in Africa?

No. 3 — If tensions between bishops in Africa (and in some other parts of the Global South) and the Vatican play a role in the upcoming conclave to select a new pope, will the Africans be influenced by political ideology or by Catholic doctrines?

The Africans will not, of course, be the only cardinals voting during the conclave. There will be representatives of growing churches elsewhere in the world, as well as red-hat leaders from the fading, but rich, churches in Europe and the divided, but rich, churches of North America.

But African voices are powerful and symbolic during discussions among Catholic leaders in the Global South. The bottom line: Many Catholic churches are growing, while others are dying. As I said in a recent “On Religion” column, Easter follows Good Friday.

Now, with these three questions in mind, read the top of this USA Today report: “Pope Francis hoped to change how the church operates. Why it led conservatives to revolt.”

The battle over Pope Francis’ reforms opened with a coordinated attack against guidance that eased restrictions on divorced and remarried parishioners receiving communion.

Four conservative bishops challenged Francis' guidance in a document titled "Amoris Laetita" in a July 2017 letter, issuing a "correction" to "protect our fellow Catholics." 

"Heresies and other errors have in consequence spread through the Church," the four bishops wrote.

Francis set out to reshape how the church operates, but not what it teaches. “Amoris Laetitia” was the first major attempt at that. …

Francis’ posture on issues such as LGBTQ+ inclusion and immigration have frustrated conservative Catholics in the United States and led many to become more loyal to the Republican Party and leaders like Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, instead of the Vatican.

Now, it’s important to note that USA Today states — as a proven fact — that, “Francis set out to reshape how the church operates, but not what it teaches.”

Needless to say, many pro-Catechism Catholics around the world would disagree with the second half of that editorial judgment, noting that the Pope Francis era offered: 

— Strong words from the pope defending Catholic doctrines on some issues in moral theology.

— Vague words about the need for more compassionate — in terms of pastoral care — policies when dealing with Catholics who, in words and deeds, disagree with centuries of church doctrine.

— Frequent off-the-cuff statements, usually to journalists, that created headlines suggesting the need for changes in Catholic doctrine or, at the very least, pastoral policies. The headlines received more ink and pixels than follow-up remarks by Vatican officials. Can you say, “Who am I to judge?”

— College of Cardinal appointments, and choices for other power slots in Catholic life, that rewarded progressives loyal to Pope Francis. Catholic insiders made statements such as this: To understand Pope Francis, pay less attention to his words and more attention to who he promotes and who he punishes.

The question, of course, is whether the actions of Pope Francis — as well as his critics — were driven by political ideology, if not outright partisan politics. And in many press reports, journalists seem to think that Americans (and Europeans) are the key power-brokers in the upcoming conclave.

In elite media news reports, look for blunt references to “right-wing” (or “ultraconservative) Catholics as opposed to positive language about “reformers.” Look for references to “ideology,” as opposed to doctrine. Look for updates on the role of Trump, as opposed to flashbacks to strategic events involving Pope Francis and President Joe Biden (and other key U.S. leaders). 

The following Washington Post story is a great case study, in terms of these editorial decisions. It’s behind a paywall, but many readers may be able to use a free-click to read it. Note the headline: “Ultraconservatives are pushing for a pope like them. It might not happen.”

What makes an “ultraconservative” Catholic an “ultraconservative”? 

Many reports suggest that it is opposition to the Second Vatican Council, along with strong ties to the papacies of St. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. That’s interesting since both popes participated in Vatican II and defended its actual documents. Is an “ultraconservative” someone who wants the pope to defend Catholic doctrines? Are these Catholics defined by support for Trump? The podcast offers several other possible answers to the “ultraconservative” question.

One major conservative Catholic voice is legal scholar Robert P. George of Princeton University, who is also a frequent critic of Trump. In a Facebook post, he noted that he was recently interviewed for the Washington Post report. However, his complex, nuanced views were not quoted. Thus, he offered a summary of what he told the Post. Here is most of that post:

There are three large groups of conservative Catholics, with a considerable degree of overlap.

First are people who are concerned that Catholic teaching (especially moral teaching) was not proclaimed with clarity during Pope Francis’s pontificate. … People in this category say that ambiguity about right and wrong on issues on which the Church has a firm and constant teaching, even in the cause of pastoral sensitivity, is kind to no one. “Clarity is charity,” they say. So, they are hoping for a pope in the mode of Pope St. John Paul II who will proclaim the Church’s teachings without equivocation. Many believe that the best place to look for such a pope is Africa. Cardinal Robert Sarah is a particular favorite of theirs. He is, however, about to turn 80 years old, so I doubt that he will be the one. The 67-year-old Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu could be. If he is elected, Catholic conservatives will be doing cartwheels in the street.

Second are people for whom a central concern is the liturgy — especially people who are devoted to the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM). They feel that Pope Francis didn’t understand or appreciate them and that his policies on the liturgy, constraining the TLM and limiting the circumstances under which it could be made available, were profoundly misguided and harmful. Their prayer is for a pope who will allow the TLM to be made freely available and who will indeed promote it. Many of these people have enormous regard for the American cardinal Raymond Burke (age 76). I think his election is extremely unlikely, but it is entirely possible that a pope could be chosen who lifts restrictions on the TLM. …

Third are people who are very concerned about disorder and financial and sexual scandals in the institutional structures of the Church, beginning with the Vatican itself. Their hope is for a pope who will share their concerns and prioritize dealing with them. They would be very happy with a moderate-conservative European who is very familiar with who’s who and what’s what in the institutional church and who is up to the task of reform. It could be one of the Italians of that description, or it could be someone like Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary (age 72).

Note, in particular, George’s remarks about Cardinal Sarah and Cardinal Burke, then contrast with the many press reports stressing that “conservative Catholics” are actively campaigning for those elder statesmen of the church. 

Readers may also (dare I suggest this) want to revisit last week’s “Crossroads” podcast — “After Francis, another "executive order" papacy?” — with its detailed description of the various doctrinal and regional camps inside the College of Cardinals. Hint: That post and podcast offers views that are very similar to those detailed by George. 

Enjoy the podcast and, please, pass it along to others.