We noted recently that Pope Francis said he wasn’t feeling too good. Well, we all know the feeling
The “Letter from Rome “ in this week’s “Tablet “,quotes a member of the Italian bishops’ conference , which we take the liberty of quoting in turn. “There is a kind of clerical magma, lying passively underground, waiting to see in which direction the wind will blow.” The author adds “To put it brutally, these are willing time to pass quickly, and looking forward to seeing who will be next to occupy the Chair of Peter”. Next day we came across the details of yet another dreadful Scottish clerical scandal from 2012, thanks, of course, only to the files of a local newspaper, which we had unaccountably missed.
Next time the Chair is vacant , we can visualise three possibilities. First, a “pope of transition”, hopefully however with the guts of Emeritus Pope Benedict. Secondly, another John Paul II . We’ll leave it at that, but definitely a champagne party for the bishops. Thirdly, an even more dynamic Pope than Pope Francis, who could easily , if he felt like it, and overnight at that by email, order all bishops over 45 to resign immediately to ensure that ordination would be extended and the Eucharist provided for thousands.
Some would cry “schism !” It wouldn’t be, of course. The only schism would be if the bishops refused to go, as the Catholic Catechism tells us .
One speculates as to how this would affect the Church in Scotland . Would anyone really be distressed except possibly a few of the rapidly shrinking oldest generation of Catholics ? The other two generations might well see such a change as a very badly needed transfusion of new blood . That is, if they have not been turned off completely by now.
The care taken to ensure that children and grandchildren receive the first four Sacraments suggests that these battered and bruised generations are doggedly determined to ensure that Catholicism in Scotland continues.
A nightmare scenario for apparently all but the Scottish bishops , however, would be if they have been turned off completely. In police argot, Scottish bishops have form in their persistent refusal to pay attention to the needs and concerns of their flocks. We draw the attention of the Scottish episcopate to the historical notes in the annual handbook “The Western Catholic Calendar : “ There were few countries in the 16th century religious reformation in which the eclipse of the Catholic Church seemed so quickly accomplished and so totally effective as in Scotland”.
Well, it makes you think. Catholics in Scotland in 2015, are like Catholics everywhere else hanging on despite enormous pressure from secularism and changing values, but unlike Catholics everywhere operating in a grand guignol scenario in which the only response from their bishops is silence, and a refusal to listen to the Pope’s offers to extend ordination .
It makes you think. Will it make Scottish bishops think before, possibly, it is too late?