Polarization

After sharing the news with Joan that the Boston archdiocese was going to cluster parishes under on pastor with other priests, deacons, and lay people sharing duties in the various parishes within the cluster, we talked about the implications for the future.  It is clear that the traditional model has to change. Without major changes in practice, there will be insufficient priests to support the present structure.

It seemed to me that it is impossible to imagine how the progressives and conservatives will ever live happily together. In both doctrine and practice, including the liturgy, there seems to be a marked difference in their preferences. In fact, if the liberal agenda were ever made official, e.g., married and female clergy, it is hard to image that the conservative would concur. Rather, it is more reasonable to expect that they will be splinter off, as have some Episcopal parishes in this country.

Polarization also appears to the norm in human interactions within the realm of politics.

Clearly, the nation is polarized between progressives and conservatives. There is no middle ground. When listening or reading to some of the Republican leaders expose an economic position that has virtually no support among economists, one wonders how they can bring themselves to say such views.

I know that I am one of those that fail to see a middle ground in so many areas. I cannot see how the Catholic Church can be a credible asset in this world while negating the role of women. I fail to understand how statements regarding mandatory celibacy can be voiced when there is no biblical or historical support for the positions.

I fail to see how we can restore the economic viability of our nation without more equity in the distribution of wealth. When so few have so much that exceeds all rational expectations of need and even historical precedence while the percentage of  corporate revenue distributed as wages is relatively low, I shutter when I hear claims that increasing revenue by higher taxes on the 1% will take away jobs! It makes no sense to me.

I am thinking now that the problem of polarization, at least in politics, may well be attributed to the inequities in the distribution of wealth. When people have historically shared in the nation’s wealth rather equitably, there has been an increase of tolerance. People tend to bend easier when they are feeling secure and relatively prosperous. People do not care as much when others have more as long as they have enough.

I am less confident that this would help understand the polarization within the Catholic Church. It is clear to me that the hierarchical powers have generally written off the progressive population. They know that the demographics are such that the southern hemisphere will be the strength of the church for the foreseeable future. If progressive views were ever adopted, there would be alienation of the larger population of conservatives. And, it may be too late to garner the support of progressives, many of whom no longer view the church or even religion positively.

I get depressed thinking about our situation.