Is Pope Francis, a polarizing figure for Catholic hard-liners, ready for the coming schism?
There is resistance to his pastoral priorities. From the beginning of his papacy, the image of the church that best encapsulates his understanding of the church is the field hospital – the place where triage takes precedence over conventional routine, where moral urgency and not ecclesial niceties are paramount, and where all the wounded are welcome without restriction….in the minds of his critics, he is sending a message of inclusion to all, paying scant attention to dogma and law, opting for a papal version of celebrity leadership.
In this article taken from his blog PONTIFEX MINIMUS BLOG: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION, Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Marks at UBC examines Pope Francis’ message and move toward synodality in the context of previous “schisms” both big and small and those who are his critics.