The hosts discuss rules for thinking about Pope Francis, struggles in the church, and the concept of census fidelity. They highlight the importance of recognizing church authority, rejecting the binary of progressivism and traditionalism, and practicing critical obedience. The episode concludes with an exploration of the importance of obedience and living in the heart of the church.
Obedience to the pope does not require intellectual agreement but the following of Christ's truth revealed in the Catholic faith.
Loving the Church where it is today and seeking to understand and appreciate the fullness of the faith helps transcend the binary of progressivism and traditionalism.
To think as a Catholic means embracing a holistic understanding of Catholic teaching instead of picking and choosing certain aspects of the faith.
Amidst the challenges and confusion in the Church, turning our attention to Mary can provide guidance and a reminder of the Church's true identity and mission.
Deep dives
True obedience is critical. True criticism is obedient.
Obedience to the pope does not require intellectual agreement. It means following the truth of Christ revealed in the Catholic faith. True criticism does not mean talking negatively about the pope, but rather making honest and sober judgments based on the purpose of the papacy in facilitating unity through clarity.
Reject the binary of progressivism and traditionalism.
There is no need to restrict our thinking to the binary of progressivism and traditionalism within the Catholic Church. We should love the Church where she is today and seek to understand and appreciate the fullness of the faith. The goal is to avoid isolating specific aspects of the faith and instead embrace the unity of Catholic teaching and practice.
Think as a Catholic according to the whole.
To think as a Catholic means to consider the fullness of the faith and avoid fragmenting it into separate parts. We should reject the tendency to pick and choose certain aspects of the faith and instead strive for a holistic understanding of Catholic teaching and practice.
The papacy is essential, but not the whole Church.
While the papacy is crucial to the life of the Church, it is not the entire Church. It is important to remember that Jesus is the head of the Church, and the papacy exists to facilitate the unity and clarity of the faith. Our focus should be on Christ and the fullness of the Church, rather than being overly fixated on the actions or statements of a particular pope.
Mary is the Church, and the Church is Mary.
Mary exemplifies the essence of the Church, which envelops the hierarchical office. The objective holiness of the papacy is not dependent on the subjective holiness of the pope. Rather, Mary signifies the comprehensive nature of the Church, drawing us back to Christ even when the hierarchy falls short. Mary serves as a reminder of the Church's true identity and mission.
The importance of critical obedience and the need to trust in God's guidance
Critical obedience, as discussed in the episode, involves the ability to question and have an open dialogue about certain aspects of the Church's teachings or practices. It is essential to recognize that criticism should not be aimed at undermining authority, but rather at seeking a deeper understanding of truth and promoting growth. This requires a willingness to engage in self-reflection, humility, and a focus on sourcing decisions in objective truth rather than personal desires or insecurities. As priests and members of the Church, it is important to model this critical obedience, allowing others to question and challenge us so that they may learn to do the same with the Pope and other leaders. The goal is not to engage in negative conversations or slander, but to foster a culture of accountability, truth-seeking, and ultimately to draw closer to Christ.
Emphasizing the role of Mary and living as sons and daughters of the Church
Amidst the current challenges and confusion within the Church, the podcast highlights the need to reassert the primacy of the feminine and the role of Mary. It is suggested that the anxiety and unsettlement felt by many faithful women in the Church stem from searching for the Marian presence and finding themselves in a masculinized, power-centered society. The episode encourages believers to turn their attention to Mary, who represents the subjective holiness and total surrender to God. By embracing the Marian fiat, which is the surrender to God's will, it is possible to navigate the complexities of the Church, criticism of Pope Francis, and competing narratives within the Church. The episode urges individuals to deep dive into history, study theology, and become more Marian-centered, fostering a culture of receptivity and trust in God's providence.
In light of recent events and requests on the topic, Fr. John and Fr. Sean offer rules for thinking about Pope Francis, which they also call a "primer for unsettled laymen".
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