Every two weeks I help lead an afternoon class for those interested in knowing more about the Christian Faith. It is a joint effort with the Anglicans, and one week of of them does it and the next I do it, with Jessica helping with the children. After a short talk we usually end up discussing whatever topic is under discussion (yesterday it was ‘love’), and then we finish off with a prayer and, this being England, a cup of tea and a buscuit. It is our parish contribution to the ‘year of Faith’. We get between twenty and thirty usually, but yesterday we got close to forty. The discussion ended up being dominated by the question of who would be the next Pope.
If not to a man and woman, then to a vocal man and woman, the Catholics present were quite clear that they wanted what one person called ‘a radical Pope’. This was, of course, a mixed group, and it included some who were of neither church but simply wanted to know more. I do not like intervening in any discussion too early, so I let this one run. After twenty minutes there was a clear consensus – what was wanted was a Pope who would clean out the augean stables, ordain women and be nice to homosexuals. Seeing that I had said nothing during this period, one woman asked what I thought.
I asked them why they wanted what would have been a big break in continuity? The answer seemed to turn around the fact that this would make many present happier with their Christianity; it seemed, one person said, ‘very out of date and old-fashioned’. Another added that the church needed to ‘get in tune with modern life’. A third said that if we ‘seemed more relevant to most people, they might actually come to church’. The consensus was clearly with such views. I asked if they would bear with mw whilst I told a little story.
There was, I said, a man who inherited a lovely old mansion. Seeing that it lacked the modern conveniences of his neighbours, he stripped out all the ‘period’ features and installed all mod cons. His house then looked just like all the other houses. Those who had once come to his house because it was different from the others no longer came; they were not replaced by new people, because there was nothing there but those things with which they were familiar.
I asked those Anglicans present whether they thought that their church had become more attractive to people in recent years? One young woman said hers had become so, but she thought that was because they were very evangelical and went out into the community and worked with people. Did that, I ask, make her church more like the world? She thought not, because they were doing what the world did not do, and they did it in the name of Jesus.
I left it at that. When pressed, I said that I thought it was the business of the church to conform to the will of God and to persuade the world to go that way; it was, of course, easier to conform to the will of this world and to persuade the church to go that way.
A shame those Christians weren’t around in the time of the early martyrs, chalcedon. Then everyone could have just gone home for a cup of tea and a biscuit.
I’m sure some would prefer that
I hear similar things, here, not surprisingly. My reaction is always the same,it’s been a constant, all my life, anyway. I think GCK answered it as well as anybody – an except from my masthead
“They say they want a religion like this because they are like this already. They say they want it, when they mean that they could do without it.”
Quite correct. We want what makes us comfortable. That’s the last thing we should have.
Of course we do, and we’d like to be of the world as well but, that’s not what we’re called to, is it?
I’m not looking for a Renaissance Pope – just a simple Holy Pope will do just fine.
Some say the Church was started by Constantine, But the first 16 bishops of Rome died or were Persecuted, but the Bishops who followed came out of his jails with noses missing, hands missing, eyes missing. They did not bend to him before nor after. They had a balance, a duty to God, and also a Duty to the world.
How is it said? ”When you are the anvil bear, and when you are the hammer strike”.
The Church at times must be the anvil and sometimes it must be the hammer.
The question you ask here is what is the balance? That is a tough tough question.
As far a Pope I pray for a Holy Pope a Good man, a strong man, a humble man, a man marked out by the Holy Spirit. I am so amazed at the last two Popes, it seems a miracle to me. One more would be welcomed..
As far as Persecution for me when they say ”Sign the papers old man, sign the papers…’ i would say, ”Absolutely, give me that pen?”
The next pope should be humble. Instead of the bullet proof Popemobile, maybe he will ride around on a donkey. The Tiara, that means hes ruler of heaven, earth and, i forget the third realm. Maybe he will trade that in for a baseball cap.
I think you’ll find Benedict XVI did just that; you’ll find no phots of him in the tiara; you will in a basebal cap.
Well, thats a surprise. Im prophetic. Aye, maybe i should be the next pope. Ive got the looks and charm. I think ill put my name in the hat.
Habemus Papam……(doves fly)…Cardenalum Bosco…yea weee
It does not have to be a Cardinal – but it does have to be a Catholic.
It was embarrassing to forget what the Tiara stands for, so i looked it up. Heaven, earth and Pergatory. It also said that it might mean; Priest prophet and King. Well, that otta humble the next pope. Master of the universe.
As I said Bosco, you are out of date, no Pope has worn it since the 1970s. Get with the program.
Chalcedon,
To those ‘Catholics’ who said they would like a Pope who would, “clean out the augean stables, ordain women and be nice to homosexuals”, you could have said this:
“All Catholics want the first, the second is IMPOSSIBLE (i.e., so forget it) and the third we already are (i.e.’nice’ to homosexuals… which is not the same as condoning the sin of sodomy!!)”
All too often it seems to me that errors of Modernism are put forward as SOLUTIONS, when – as SF and Tom have pointed out – all that is needed is HOLINESS. A deeply committed prayerful Pope (like our Pontiff Emeritus) will do much to bring people nearer to God.
Still a lot of hard work for the next Pope to do though, to get rid of all those ‘weeds’ in the Church!
Quite so. I am always surprised such people don’t jus become Anglicans – so much easier for us all
Brother Chalcedon, may i ask a question? Is the pope master of heaven earth and pergatory while hes wearing the hat? Or by not wearing it anymore, does that mean the pope no longer considers himself all that? You said Im out of date. So, has that claim been abandoned? Thanks in advance.
The Pope is the servant of the servants of God. He possesses the power of bind and loosing given to St Peter by Christ Himself. That makes him God’s servant too.
Bosco in the manner of the OT the bishop of Rome is the household steward, he has the keys, therefore the authority in his Master’s house. The King promised He would return and warned us all and the steward when He comes that we the King’s servants be found to be working and the steward has done his Masters will, You have done well, my faithful servant. He is called the servant of the servants, for Christ warned the steward Peter in the washing of the feet that to be a servant is to serve. You shall have no part of me.
It is strange to me, protestants claim the Holy Spirit guides them, but they denied this same gift to the steward, when Jesus promised to him face to face he would have it. I long to see Jesus face to face, and he has not promised me the holy spirit but he has to the Church. The church, period, full stop.