A curious problem. . .

From what I have read, Rome is on its way to excommunicate the SSPX, a traditionalist group promoting the Latin Mass and, it would seem, uncertain about Vatican II.  The issue is over their decision to go forward with the consecration of a bishop or bishops in July of this year.  Apparently most everyone is sure that this is what is going to happen although at least one bishop is urging everyone to slow down.  So the point being made is that if the SSPX consecrates a bishop who had not received approval or endorsement from the pope.

What is curious to me and, I would think, a problem in Rome is that this is already a practice.  Rome has granted to China the authority to decide on its own who will be bishops of the Chinese version of the Roman Church.  There is supposed to be some sort of dialog or conversation between China's governmental minions and Rome but that has not been the case.  China has gone ahead and decided for Rome who will be the bishops and Rome seems not to make a fuss over it.  Curious to me is that Rome has decided the Chinese version of the Catholic Church is more important to them than the traditionalists across the world who prefer the Latin Mass.  It is not just the Mass, however, but a group intent on being more Roman than just about anybody else in the Roman Catholic Church -- in doctrine and practice.  They are not important but a Chinese faction intent upon being as little Roman as possible is definitely the preference of the leadership.  How odd!

But, of course, it is not odd.  That is typically how things have gone in Christianity for some time.  Take the Anglicans, for example.  They find the problem people to be not those who question the Bible or nearly everything creedal or confessional but those who take it all as seriously as they can.  Globally, Anglicans are divided between those who want to be Anglican and those who like the name but not the doctrine once called Anglican.  Or the Methodists.  Remember, that the United Methodists disunited not because some wanted to push the boundaries of Christian belief or Methodist identity but because some wanted to keep it.  The conservatives had to go.  Not the liberals but the conservatives were the bridge too far.  Lutherans have the same story.  Those who like the name but who pick apart the Confessions and minimize the Catechism and who are content to live outside the tradition claim the high ground and the conservatives are seen as the problem child of Lutheranism.  Wow.  When did this happen?  How? Why?

A long time ago I said that the most dangerous Christian of all is the one who truly believes and intends to live within orthodox and catholic Christianity.  I wish it was a problem for all of us but it does not seem to be so.  Those who live on the liberal and progressive side of Christianity have claimed the high road in this battle and made the conservatives look petty, small, and narrow minded.  How strange it is to be the ones who pay attention to the words, creeds, confessions, and liturgies of the Church as normal and normative and then be asked to leave or shown the door.  But there it is.  It has happened nearly everywhere across Christianity.  Maybe the Pope will back away from Francis and closer to Benedict but I doubt he will do much more than slow the drift to the left that seems impossible to stop.  In every Christian tradition, the conservatives have become the bad guys and those who take the faith with a grain of salt have become the good guys.  Maybe the SSPX will be excommunicated or maybe not but I think we have all seen the handwriting on the wall.  Zealots are not welcome in Christianity and zealot simply means those who pay attention to the words of Jesus, believe in the facts of the Scriptures, confess the doctrine drawn from them, and practice consistently with that faith.