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novations, but has been unable to
keep pace with his Church's grow–
ing list of problems. This has
spawned countless rumors about his
possible resignation (not to mention
the fact that he is now 75, the retire–
ment age he himself set for bishops).
However, contrary to prognostica–
tions, Paul VI has given no definite
indication of stepping down.
Should a vacancy develop in the
pontificate - either through death
or abdication - the choice of a suc–
cessor to the Bishop of Rome would
be of no small significance in the
light ofthe Church's present crisis.
Who might the next pope be? The
matter remains an enigma. Al–
though there are a dozen or so car–
dinals who could possibly be
considered, no one person really
stands out at the present as the most
likely one to bear the papal titJe
after Paul VI.
It
must also be kept in
mind that the selection is not neces–
sarily limited to the College of Car–
dinals, even though tradition has
kept it so for the last 600 years.
What are the chances of the qext
pope being a non-Italian - the tirst
one since the election of Adrian VI ,
a Dutchman, in 1522? Very small,
according to sorne observers. How–
ever, judging from the list of prob–
able successors, even if the next
pope were not l talian, he would
more than likely be European.
Whatever the case, unless there is
a sudden change in the personality
and leadership of Pope Paul
V I ,
there will be a "man of decision"
waiting in the wings who will be
called upon to guide the Church in
the critica! years ahead. He will
have to accomplish what Paul Vl, so
far, has been unable to accomplish
- that is, to neutralize the acid of
dissent and division which is corrod–
ing the Church from within.
An Eye to the Future
For nearly nineteen hundred
years, the activities, decisions and
doctrines of the Roman Catholic
Church have helped shape the
12
course of history. Consequently, fu–
ture developments within her struc–
ture merit the attention of Catholics
and non-Catholics alike.
lf the lessons of h.istory have any–
thing to teach us, they show that
Catholicism is heading for at leas t a
temporary reviva! and renewed po–
litical power. For all the pressures,
divisions and difficulties she has
faced in the past, she has always
managed to bounce back and sur–
vive. There is no reason to believe
that the present crisis will be an ex–
cept ion.
Consider one of Catholicism's
greatest traumas - the Protestan!
Reformation. Although it was a se–
vere and damaging blow, it ended
up having a purgative elfect: the
Church of the sixteenth century re–
acted to the Protestant schism by
undertaking a thorough, interna!
housecleaning. The vast mood of re–
forro set in motion by Pope Paul III
( 1534-1549) culm inated in the
Counci l of Trent which overhauled
the organizational and structural
Church while preserving Catholic
doctrine intact. The languishing or–
ganism was brought back to life.
Whether or not there will ever be
another council with the import of
Trent, tbe Church is on a trajectory
of further modification and adapta–
tion. But how much will she change
in the years ahead? How much will
the Vatican bend Catholic tradition
in an effort to harmonize schism in
the Church? Will the changes in–
elude monumental doctrines such as
celibacy, birth control or divorce?
The answers to these questions
will hinge largely on the principies
and personality of the man in the
driver's seat - the pontilf. Paul VI
has favored reform in certain struc–
tural or peripheral matters, while
firmly upholding Catholic tradition
on major doctrinal questions. Could
sufficient pressure force him to alter
his position?
Pope Paul has been reluctant to
administer severe disciplinary ac-
tion - such as excommunication -
to those straying from the faith.
Would a successor to his office be
constrained to abandon this policy
of forbearance and adopt a harder
line in dealing with dissidents? If so,
he would have to carry a "big stick"
and use a show of papal force to
bring Catholics into line.
One thing is certain: regardless of
the Vatican's elforts to piece to–
gether a deeply fragmented Church,
the damage already done cannot be
easily repaired. It will take some–
thing supematural, something of the
miraculous, to inspire unity and
weld all Catholics into one faith.
Coming Church-State
Relations
Historically, ch urch-state rela–
tions have played a prominent role
in the evolution of Catholicism. es–
pecially in Europe , where the
Church has exerted considerable
poli tical leverage during her peaks
of power. Conversely. when not
playing the role of Catholicism's
staunchest ally. the state often has
been her fiercest persecutor.
Pope Paul has thus far used his
papal diplomacy to try to bring
peace to war-torn a reas of the world
and his own brand of "Ostpolitik"
to try to brighten the fortunes of
Catholics subordinate to Commu–
nist governments. A new thrust in
the Vatican " Politik," however. will
be a imed at Catholic Western Eu–
rope. Closer ties with the Common
Market would transform an ailing
European Catholicism. In return,
the cohesive elfect Catholic in–
fluence could have on a much–
desired. but perplexingly elusive.
Eu ropean unity would be miracu–
lous.
These and other events proph–
esied in your Bible will determine
the pulse of a now-troubled Church
- but a Church poised on the
threshold of what promises to be
the most momentous epoch in his–
tory!
o
PLAIN TRUTH
June
1973