Let Us Prey For Guidance

As the Catholic Church is in turmoil and dissent over the issue of politicians who do not oppose abortion rights receiving communion (read Biden), they might consider looking back in history to find some interesting suggestions as to ways to resolve the issue.

 A few of these examples from history (and various unspecified Internet sites) that we could consider adopting today are listed below. 

Example one:  >On July 16, 1054, Patriarch of Constantinople Michael Cerularius was excommunicated, starting the “Great Schism” that created the two largest denominations in Christianity—the Roman 

Catholic and Eastern Orthodox faiths.<

So how about an American Orthodox Church? The Pope would still be unhappy, but least the bishops would get their way. Although, thinking about it, Biden would probably stay Roman Catholic and continue as a communicant in the churches which remained loyal to Rome in our second Great Schism.   Still, the bishops could declare a moral victory.

Example two:  Henry VIII is not allowed to get a divorce because the Pope doesn’t think it’s moral. Henry declares a schism that establishes him as the head of the “real” church. Yes, technically, the Queen of England is the head of the Anglican church.  (The Archbishop of Canterbury is subordinate to her and is merely the chief cleric.)

This could work out really well for the Christian nationalists, if they declared Donald Trump the head of the new American Church. That sounds better than Anglican doesn’t it?

Example three:  Henry declares that Thomas, Archbishop of Canterbury, is being disrespectful to him angily wonders why no one will stop this “lowly cleric” from insulting their king? Angry at this lese majeste; a group of knights take action.Thomas is murdered in the cathedral!

Then the king is forced to perform an extremely humiliating pilgrimage to show his penance and regret.

The difficulty with with this one is, I can’t think of who would get murdered and why. Also, I don’t like murder. Not really a good solution for today.

Example four:  >Western Schism, also called Great Schism or Great Western Schism, in the history of the Roman Catholic Church, the period from 1378 to 1417, when there were two, and later three, rival popes, each with his own following, his own Sacred College of Cardinals, and his own administrative offices.<

This is an interesting solution. However, we would have to find a third Pope.  Any suggestions?  How about volunteers?

Example five: > Luther became increasingly angry about the clergy selling 'indulgences' - promised remission from punishments for sin, either for someone still living or for one who had died and wasbelieved to be in purgatory. On 31 October 1517, he published his '95 Theses', attacking papal abuses and the sale of indulgences.<

No one is selling indulgences anymore (or any of the other practices Martin Luther decried so sharply).  Still, there is a big disagreement about who should or should not be allowed to receive communion. That might be sufficient justification for creating an entirely new branch of Christianity.

Since he was protesting the practices of the established Church, his new branch was called Protestant. The new branch today could be named… I’ve run dry here, I have no idea what could be called. Politicianism?

I could go on because the history of Christian belief and practice is very complex and involved. Nevertheless, I think that five examples are sufficient unto the day.  Dare I say, five suggestions?