Lots of people (not just politicians) want it both ways. The Catholic Church lately is saying you can't have it, you have to pick one.
I was discussing this over lunch today with a friend who, like me, was raised Catholic but left early and is not affiliated with any religion now. We were talking about the process of diverging in teachings from the Church. When you think about it, all Christians started out Catholic. Some disagreed and split. Now we have bunches and bunches of sects. During the period beginning when certain teachings are questioned and ending with the actual split there is a chaotic period like the current one when there's pushing and tugging and wondering whether the Church will adapt, whether people can slide by the differences, or if they have to leave. That's all part of the process. It will sort itself in some form or fashion. I don't think it's a given that people will have to make the choice to conform or split.
Right now there are large numbers, probably a majority, who don't accept certain teachings. Birth control is widely practiced, for example, despite the best efforts of the Church. The longer they choose not to enforce, the more legitimately people think that they have some flexibility in which teachings they follow. There's a concept in labor law called "prior practice" where, if management tolerates certain practices, they automatically become union rights. Management, by tolerating the practice, basically cedes it to the union. It's hard to reel people back in. I'll bet the Church recognizes that and doesn't want to gamble on what would happen if they were to force the issue.
Wrestling with one's conscience and making difficult decisions goes with being an adult.
Personally, I would submit or leave. Easy for me to say given that I already faced that and left--I couldn't sit comfortably on that fence. Most people, though, will slide until and unless the issue is forced. I'll bet the Church doesn't force it. |
