Catholic Bishops Release Report On State of the Church

Last week, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a report on the state of the Church in the United States. Titled National Synthesis of the People of God in the United States of America for the Diocesan Phase of the 2021-2023 Synod (full text), a section captioned "Enduring Wounds" says in part:

Chief among the enduring wounds ... is the still-unfolding effects of the sexual abuse crisis.... The sin and crime of sexual abuse has eroded not only trust in the hierarchy and the moral integrity of the Church, but also created a culture of fear that keeps people from entering into relationship with one another....

Another enduring wound widely reflected in synodal consultations was the experience that the Church is deeply divided. Participants felt this division as a profound sense of pain and anxiety. “As one participant shared, the divisive political ideologies present in our society have seeped into all aspects of our lives.” Division regarding the celebration of the liturgy was reflected in synodal consultations.... The most common issue regarding the liturgy is the celebration of the pre-Conciliar Mass.”...

Many regional syntheses cited the perceived lack of unity among the bishops in the United States, and even of some individual bishops with the Holy Father, as a source of grave scandal.

Vatican-Approved Article Criticizes Conservative Catholic Support of U.S. Evangelical Political Agenda

The Washington Post today reports that an article in the influential Jesuit magazine La Civilta Cattolica-- whose content is approved by the Vatican Secretariat of State-- is critical of conservative Catholic support for the evangelical political agenda in the United States. The article is authored by the journal's editor and by a Presbyterian pastor who edits of the Argentine edition of the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.  The article (full text in Italian) whose title translates to Evangelical Fundamentalism and Catholic Integralism: A Surprising Ecumenism, is summarize by the Post:

The Rev. Antonio Spadaro, editor of the influential Jesuit journal La Civilta Cattolica, said a shared desire for political influence between “evangelical fundamentalists” and some Catholics has inspired an “ecumenism of conflict” that demonizes opponents and promotes a “theocratic type of state.”

Spadaro also took aim at conservative religious support for President Donald Trump, accusing activists of promoting a “xenophobic and Islamophobic vision that wants walls and purifying deportations.”...

Spadaro specifically criticized the far-right Catholic American media organization ChurchMilitant.com. Spadaro said the media outlet framed the presidential election as a “spiritual war” and Trump’s ascent to the presidency as “a divine election.”

Spadaro’s critique also appears aimed in part at America’s Catholic bishops, who have fought for religious exemptions from gay marriage laws and other measures church leaders consider immoral, and have often characterized those with opposing views as wishing to persecute Christians.

Partisan Political Divide Impacts Religious Denominations

Two major newspapers today explore ways in which the severe political divide in the United States has impacted religious denominations.  The Wall Street Journal features an article: Russell Moore, Baptist Leader Who Shunned Trump, Splits the Faithful.  The New York Times reports: Religious Liberals Sat Out of Politics for 40 Years. Now They Want in the Game.