Synod ’14: Schism in the Air

Controversy broke out after the recent Roman Catholic synod when Pope Francis declared that members of the flock should be more welcoming to homosexuals, divorcees and cohabiters.

Some conservative Catholics  have been upset by these statements. The word “schism” is in the air.

What if there were a schism? As in all divorces, the main question is “Who owns what and who gets it?”

Since individual parishes are owned by dioceses, schismatics could end up holding Tridentine Masses in former Methodist churches that now house public charter schools, in rented multipurpose rooms stuffily redolent of both Protestantism and secular education. Progressives could suffer a lot of religious concussions when they are exiled to the crumbling ugly cathedrals no one cares about and take a lot of concrete chunks to the head. Some will even die.

It was later reported that the Italian translation of the synod documents was incorrect and “providing” for homosexual persons rather than “welcoming” them.

Nonetheless, the synod documents will be, according to Joshua McElwee of the National Catholic Reporter, “used as the blueprint of sorts for the next synod in 2015.” Where everything will be cleared up, no doubt.