Catholic Hierarchy Reacts to Conclave
Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota has come out swinging against the new movie Conclave. In keeping with Church modus operandi, Barron warns Catholics not to watch lest the sheep learn something about the institution to which they willingly subjugate their intellect and any pretense of individual thought: ‘…my advice is to run away from it as fast as you can.’
Additionally, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights issued a statement claiming: ‘Conclave is more a piece of anti-Catholic propaganda than it is a work of art…it aims to paint the Catholic Church in the most negative light possible.’
In a statement that either demonstrates Barron’s complete lack of understanding of the much-documented dark side of the Curia’s operations, or more likely in keeping with established Catholic tradition, he is being deliberately obscurantist. Barron foolishly states: ‘The hierarchy of the Church is a hotbed of ambition, corruption, and desperate egotism [in the movie].‘’
That the film portrays the politicking, machinations, and sectarian alliances inherent in a papal election, is entirely accurate. The fact that conclaves are held in secret is testament to this situation, as it would not serve the cloak of mystery surrounding the claims of the institution’s moral authority for the faithful to see such ungodly and sordid human failures in action as the princes of the Church strive to elect the next Vicar of Christ. For a good summary of the history of papal elections, people with an interest in the topic may enjoy the book Behind Locked Doors.
I would advise Barron to read a few books on Church history, particularly any book about the lead up to the Second Vatican Council and the deliberate attempts by conservative traditionalists to hamstring the reforms:
In the everyday exercise of our pastoral ministry, greatly to our sorrow, we sometimes have to listen to those who although consumed with zeal do not have very much judgement or balance.
~ Pope John XXIII, opening speech at Vatican II
