UNITED STATES
Christian Catholicism

Jerry Slevin

* Pope Francis is now facing directly the need to make a crucial public choice, first in the Philippines. It involves papal infallibility, the cornerstone of the post-1870 “papal power myth” that is no longer credible to many Catholics, especially in light of the current scandals such as the priest child abuse cover-ups. Rethinking “infallibility” clearly is the essential key to curtailing the child abuse, sexual morality, financial and other scandals, namely, by Pope Francis’ accepting honestly that prior popes made mistakes that must be corrected. If he does not accept this, he cannot save the Catholic Church.

* This crucial choice arises most prominently with respect to the papal ban on contraception, a major matter among many traditional Catholic Filipinos, over 80 % of the population. The Church’s scandals are increasingly challenging the faith of many Filipino Catholics, especially younger ones as…