Of all our bodily systems...respiratory, reproductive, digestive, etc...my favorite probably is the immune system. This is the protector that defends us from invasive, destructive germs, viruses, bacteria and all kinds of pathogens. Without a strong immune system we are vulnerable to swift decline and even death as we are without defense. Among the very worst pathologies is a compromised immune system as we can be undone by all kinds of invasive enemies. The immune system senses the threat and fires itself up to attack, destroy and expel the invader. Then it assists in recovery. Then it emerges even stronger than before the attack. This is the "anti-fragility" dimension that is so valuable: as a result of this battle and victory, the immune system is smarter, stronger and well prepared for a similar assault in the future. After an assault, a good immune system helps us emerge more healthy, resilient and strong than before.
The Church is the body of Christ and has a similar immune system which is triggered by an invasion into the body of error, corruption and sin. As with the physical analogy, this system is awesomely complex, dense and mysterious. It includes: holiness at all levels of life, a vibrant sacramental economy, craving for the Word of God in scripture and preaching, and the magisterial agency of the Church.
But what happens when the infection enters through the magisterium, the hierarchy, the pope/bishops/priests?
This is our situation today. For at least 100 years we have had popes of extraordinary intelligence and holiness, many of them now canonized. But Pope Francis is a weak, confusing pope. His intentions are good. He is not a bad man. He is simply inept as pope. On the major threats to our Church and world, he is basically the opposite of his predecessor St. Pope John Paul II.
In the face of a militant Cultural Sexual Liberalism that captured the West and much of the globe, John Paul proclaimed, serenely-clearly-firmly, the Gospel of the fertile masculine/feminine human body as iconic of the Holy Trinity. He was the decisive, authoritative answer to the Culture of Death. Pope Francis has reversed this teaching, erratically to be sure, but with overall consistency. He has destroyed the John Paul Institute in Rome; elevated the LGBTQ-friendly crusade of Fr. Martin S.J. and company; and contorted a "who am I to judge" attitude into an indifference to and even enabling of sin.
John Paul was a crucial warrior in the defeat of Soviet Communism. Francis is deferential to a more virulent Chinese Communism: betraying the persecuted Church as well as the human rights of Uyghurs and others.
John Paul, in his youth, resisted the Nazis occupation of Poland, and consistently defended the principles of human liberty throughout his papacy. Pope Francis, just recently, failed to confront the odious Russian invasion of the Ukraine in his pitiful, enfeebled effort to curry favor with the Patriarch of Moscow.
On the death penalty we find a subtle but significant contrast between them. John Paul shared the visceral aversion to capital punishment and strenuously advocated against it. But he argued on pragmatic grounds that it was no longer necessary in modern society. So he left the classic doctrine in tact. He allowed for a difference in judgment, on practical grounds. Despite his passionate stance, he was humble before Tradition and the prudential judgment of those who disagree with him. Francis was not so restrained: unilaterally he changed the Catechism, disregarding the established Magisterium without consultation with the bishops and in contempt for those (police, prosecutors, legislatures, judges) who judge the penalty necessary to protect the common good. Lacking the brilliant philosophical intellect of his predecessor, he surrendered to his emotional compulsions.
John Paul's clarity and strength finds its polar opposite in the confusion and weakness of Francis.
How does our ecclesial immune system react to this invasion of confusion and error? Clearly: with Truth and with Love. Two movements which commingle together.
Truth. We have to say clearly where Francis is in error. With a few exceptions (the Dubia Cardinals, Chaput, Mueller, etc.) the hierarchy and even most priests are reluctant to publicly criticize the pope lest they wound the unity of the body. This is understandable. Happily, however, this task has been handled capably by a range of laymen including, in our country, Raymond Arroyo and EWTN, Crisis magazine, Reno and First Things, and others.
Love. This element is even more important than Truth. Genuine love, of course, includes Truth. But those of us most sensitive to Truth can easily become agitated, anxious, angry, divisive and bereft of serenity, reverence and affection. This is a big problem.
For example, I myself have been in a fairly steady state of quiet agitation, annoyance, discouragement and resentment throughout this papacy...precisely because it offends many of my strongest Catholic convictions. What to do?
Recently I have been confessing my attitude and receiving absolution. I think the sacramental graces are working. I am more peaceful. I am praying more fervently and affectionately for Pope Francis and his squad, my antagonists. I am learning to love my enemy.
This tonic of love is what I have been missing. My allegiance to Truth has not been adequately balanced by Love. So: I am now doubling down on the forgiveness, contrition, prayer and loyalty to the Pope and the bishops who accompany him.
This is good. I am confident that if we strengthen our allegiance to the Truth but even more vigorously intensify our loyalty and affection for our pope/bishops/priests...especially in their weakness as sinners like ourselves... we will emerge from this invasion with an immune system ever more resilient, healthy and robust.
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