Thoughts on Schism -- Is it Immanent?

Is it time for the schism yet? Let me check my watch.

A sensible analysis from One Mad Mom 

Schism for Dummies -- Mad Mom brings up the German situation in passing while she tells us what is NOT schism (in case you were worried that being alarmed about the pope makes you schismatic).
 If you haven't read about it, the German bishops are holding a synod where they plan to "discuss" issues that involve settled Church doctrine with which they disagree. The Vatican told them not to saying the synod is "not ecclesiastically valid," but hey...who is the Vatican to judge? If the Germans want to partner with a lay group that demands women's ordination and approval of sexual immorality, live with it! After all, Pope Francis, they are just following your instructions to "make a mess" and who better to do that than the German church. (I can say that because "my people" are from Germany -- well...at least 3/4 of them.)   

Unlike the American bishops who obeyed the Vatican's order not to make any decisions about the sex abuse crisis at their Fall meeting in 2018, the German bishops...mmm...shall we say...demurred. Their dissent reminds me of Charlie Curran leading the pack against Humanae Vitae. (And it's all about sex again...what is it with these dissenters?) But Curran was only a lowly priest/teacher with a pen and a phone. Marx is a cardinal who heads a dissent-riddled group of bishops in an influential country with lots of money. 

And after all, did Francis really mean that they shouldn't play games with settled doctrine? He does it all the time. Consider that the Germans are taking a large role in the upcoming Amazon synod which can have universal application for the Church. What can one expect from the Germans' involvement? Nothing good, that's for sure. 

Is the German church moving toward schism? Or is it already in a "de facto state of schism"?

'De facto state of schism': Vatican fears German bishops trying to reform church teaching -- I can't help but think about the revolution in the Church instigated by that horny monk, Martin Luther. He may be admired by Pope Francis, but some of his contemporaries believe he was possessed by the devil. One of his main opponents, Johannes Cochlaeus, was a powerful defender of the faith writing against both Henry VIII and Luther. I recommend his writing. If you want to understand history go to the primary sources. Oh...and by the way, the German bishops just luv Martin Luther.

Are the German bishops channeling Luther?

Pope Francis says he doesn't want a schism. Can we believe him?

On American critics, Pope says he doesn’t want a schism but he’s not afraid of it -- Frankly, I never trust what this pope says, because he often says one thing and acts in a completely contradictory way. 

When he answered the question on schism, he used it as one more opportunity to condemn "rigid" folks, his go-to condemnation of the orthodox. When he says that, he always means those of us who embrace the Church Fathers and fight doctrinal and liturgical innovations that mark a break with the Church's two thousand years of teaching. 

Who do you think he meant when he said this? “'Today we have pockets of rigidity, which aren’t a schism, but they’re semi-schismatic ways of life that will end badly,' the pope said. He added that bishops, priests and lay people who are 'rigid' lack the 'health' of the Gospel." He claimed in this same press conference to willingly accept criticism which can be "helpful."

That flies in the face of his unwillingness to engage with any of his critics. Remember, we've been waiting for an answer to the dubia since 2016. Francis talks about openness and transparency, but his actions are all about avoiding responding to any questions he doesn't like and obfuscation. Confusion and chaos are the marks of this papacy which the German bishops are confident will change the Church forever. Remember Bishop Overbeck and his prediction that there will be no going back after the Amazon synod. 

So is the schism coming? And will the Pan Amazon synod be the fuse? What do you think? (I'm saying the St. Michael prayer right now and urge you to join the prayer crusade promoted by Bishop Schneider and Cardinal Burke.)