F
Franciscum
Guest
With all the whining that goes on about Vatican Council II, “modernism”, etc. etc. etc. I’m curious as to why we have never had a discussion on the real beginning of the downward slide of the Church in the USA?
The Truce of 1968
In brief, when Pope Paul VI issued his landmark encyclical Humanae Vitae (natural family planning) on July 25, 1968, public dissent was widespread even amongst clergy.
This was particularly true in Washington, DC on the campus of the Catholic University of America. Dissenting clergy was disciplined by Cardinal Patrick O’Boyle. The penalities levied included suspension from active ministry.
The Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy downplayed the nature of the dissent, fearing schism here in the USA. They recommended that the Cardinal lift the sanctions without demanding that the clerics repent from their dissent, or that they publically embrace the teachings of Humanae Vitae.
Laypeople and clergy alike instantly knew that they could publically dissent from the Church without action being taken. That was the beginning of what we all face in the Church today…
The Truce of 1968
In brief, when Pope Paul VI issued his landmark encyclical Humanae Vitae (natural family planning) on July 25, 1968, public dissent was widespread even amongst clergy.
This was particularly true in Washington, DC on the campus of the Catholic University of America. Dissenting clergy was disciplined by Cardinal Patrick O’Boyle. The penalities levied included suspension from active ministry.
The Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy downplayed the nature of the dissent, fearing schism here in the USA. They recommended that the Cardinal lift the sanctions without demanding that the clerics repent from their dissent, or that they publically embrace the teachings of Humanae Vitae.
Laypeople and clergy alike instantly knew that they could publically dissent from the Church without action being taken. That was the beginning of what we all face in the Church today…