What the election is telling us about the church in this country

What the election is telling us about the church in this country 

This column shows that the Church (and Michael Sean) are divorced from reality. If natural law is based on reason, rather than teaching or authority, everything is negotiable. To say authority can trump reason is a logical fallacy. The bishops who are speaking out about abortion make no appeal to reason. Reason must be based in  reality - and the reality in America is that due process provisions of the constitution make legal status for the unborn impossible. It is not a legal issue, it is election rhetoric. 

Biden, like many Catholics, accepts the legal realities.  Reality cares little for the opinions of the hierarchy. After the election, it is incumbent on  Biden to explain reality to the Bishops. Catholic voters have had enough of their bluster. 

The bishops who rely on authority have a problem with Francis and are sure that the next pope will come soon and be more a John Paul than a Francis. They ignore the import of the Council of Cardinals, who essentially function as national patriarchs Francis considers himself one of them, rather than above them. Their idea of an infallible Magisterium is history. Francis never refers to it in his letters. He merely preaches the Gospel. He is elevating bishops who do the same. 

Any bishop who thinks he can outlast these changes is whistling past the graveyard. Abortion to them is a dog whistle, not about Trump, but about Francis. Cardinal Sean is getting old, but Cardinals Blaise and Wilton stand ready to replace him. None of those who speak out for Trump are on the list.