Where are You on The Catholic/Progressive Spectrum?

Cultural Progressivism is not the progress dynamic inherent to science and technology, nor is it the Catholic-friendly political liberalism of the Democratic Party of the postwar era (1945-65). Rather, it is a coherent, powerful ideology...philosophical, theological, political...which took over the elite institutions of the West starting in 1965, as the Second Vatican II Council ended and the Sexual Revolution exploded across society. 

The essentials of Cultural Progressivism:  

-distrust of the past, of tradition, of authority, and of divine revelation as ignorant and unjust;

-fervent trust in science and technology;

- faith in the therapeutic as path to human flourishing;

- faith in progress as inexorable evolution towards the good, the "arc of history" that invincibly overcomes the evils of the past;

- detachment of sex from procreation in artificial contraception, technologies of "reproduction" and the cult of sterile sex;

- deconstruction of femininity (as virginity/bridal-spousality/maternity) and  masculinity (as virtuous virility/husbandly spousality/paternity) in favor of the neutered, sterile, isolated individual as unit of production and consumption;

- fundamental dynamic of society is the oppression of master/slave in male/female, rich/poor, white/non-white, heterosexual/homosexual, Israel/Palestinian, colonizer/colonized and more.

This is clearly the antagonist of Catholicism in many dimensions. 

Catholic Progressivism is the futile attempt to marry Catholic faith with Cultural Progressivism. The substantive here is "Progressivism" which is flavored with elements of the Church compatible with it.

Since the Council, our Church has been a Culture War between these two religions. Below is a test to position yourself on the Catholic/Progressive spectrum.

Catholic/Progressive Spectrum

Answer Yes or No to each question. At the end give yourself -1 for each No and +1 for each Yes. If  undecided or ambivalent, score a 0. 

1. A woman can be a Catholic priest.    Yes   No

2. Artificial contraception within a generous marriage is a good moral option.   Yes   No

3. War is no longer a moral option.  Yes  No

4. Capital punishment is inherently impermissible.  Yes  No

5. White racism remains definitive, systemic and pervasive in the social order of the USA.   Yes  No

6. In Vitro Fertilization and related technologies are valid moral options for the infertile.  Yes  No

7. Homosexual act are not in themselves immoral so that such unions can be blessed.  Yes  No

8. Self-identification in opposition to birthed, biological gender is a good moral option.  Yes  No

9. Sacramental practice (Sunday mass, regular confession) is not essential or necessary for a Catholic living a good life.   Yes  No

10. Living and sleeping together outside of marriage is morally ok if there is mutual love.  Yes  No

11. Legalized abortion is a good thing to protect women.  Yes  No

12. Trans-women have a  right to compete in female sports.  Yes  No

13. Synodality: valid effort to give laity and marginalized proper role in Church governance.  Yes  No

14. Religious refusal to provide contraceptives for employees, to place children for adoption with homosexual couples, to participate in homosexual marriages is hateful, bigoted and should be illegal.  Yes  No

15. Corporate capitalism is inherently oppressive of the poor/marginalized so that social justice requires substantial redistribution of wealth and an expansive federal government.   Yes   No

16. Biden border policy was compassionate and Christian; Trump policy cruel and immoral.  Yes  No

17. Our international system of nations states needs to be replaced by a World Government.  Yes  No

18. Evangelical rightwing MAGA crusade of Charlie Kirk, sometimes called Christian Nationalism, is basically racist and fascist.    Yes  No

19.  American greed, oil hunger, power, and imperialism are responsible for most global violence and suffering.  Yes   No

20. Moderate use of porn and masturbation can be wholesome expressions of sexuality.  Yes  No

21. Sex work (prostitution) should be legal and detached from shame and guilt.  Yes  No

22. Church denial of Eucharist to divorced-remarried-non-annulled is uncharitable.  Yes  No

23. Assisted suicide and euthanasia can be compassionate options.  Yes  No

24. Catholic priesthood, celibate and male, is clericalist, oppressive, authoritarian.  Yes  No

25. Catholic traditions of hermit life, cloistered convents, and monasteries are unhealthy.  Yes  No

These are simple binaries: yes or no.  It your total is in positive numbers you are more progressive than Catholic, and vice versa. Many Catholics and even priests are undecided or ambivalent on these questions. If you are such on more than a handful then you are afflicted with confusion and indecision of the intellect. Many progressives have good intention and pure, generous hearts but are in confusion. Do not be hard on yourself: Pope Francis and it seems Pope Leo also suffer such confusion and indecision. This is the ordinary state of the Church, our catechetical crisis, since the Council. You will not be surprised,  Dear Reader, that Fleckinstein scores an almost perfect -24. (Ambivalent on 15.) If you, Dear Reader, score a perfect -25 please contact me; I will treat you to dinner at a good N.J. Italian restaurant.