Commenting on a new book ("How America Wants to Change the Pope") that he's heard of but has not yet read, Francis acknowledged the US Catholic Church's conservative right-wing's growing opposition to him.

In the book, author Nicholas Seneze charts the fierce criticism some American conservatives have for Francis.

To them, Francis's outreach to migrants and China is an anathema, as are his denunciation of free-market capitalism, his environmental concerns and his relaxation of church rules on the death penalty and sacraments for civilly remarried Catholics.

Some opponents have accused Francis of heresy.

Seneze describes the network of conservative commentators, political operatives, theologians and churchmen who have harried Francis, often through well-funded Catholic news outlets and foundations.

They include Cardinal Raymond Burke, whom Francis ousted as a Vatican supreme court justice, and former White House adviser Steve Bannon.

Seneze claims well-funded, right-wing Catholic media also express their disapproval loudly.

In addition, he says wealthy Catholics are funding initiatives to discredit Francis's allies.

Their aim is to elect a conservative, doctrine-minded churchman as the next pope.

Seneze says he wanted the book to show the way Francis responded to the problems with the US church with "spiritual weapons."

"For me, it's an honour if the Americans attack me," Francis quipped. As he handed the book to an aide, the pope added "This is a bombshell."

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni sought to clarify the pope's comments afterward, stressing they came in an "informal context" and that Francis always welcomes criticism.

Francis's remarks about America were made yesterday at press conference during his flight to "the peripheries", where he is undertaking a three-nation tour of sub-Saharan Africa: Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius.

Source

• AP
• Reuters
• Image: National Catholic Reporter

"We have many retirees in Florida, so the churches are full but take them away and it's a catastrophe," says Father Connery. "We're not managing to reach the young generations.

"For every person baptized, the American church loses six Catholics," he laments. "We don't dare talk about it among priests, doubtless because we do not know what to do, but it is past time to break this taboo.

"Imagine a company facing such a problem. It would immediately launch an emergency plan! What about us?"

U.S. bishops do not yet have an emergency plan, but they have organized a unique gathering. For the first time in a hundred years, priests, laymen, monks, nuns and other heads of services and movements from all over the United States have come together at a meeting in Orlando, Florida from 1 to 4 July.

Their purpose is to reflect on how to be the best "missionary disciples", in the words of Pope Francis in his Evangelii gaudium.

The Evangelical Churches are attracting believers

Catholics represent the largest denomination in the United States, with 77.4 million believers (22% of the total population), but fewer people have actually been attending church. The number of people taking the sacraments, except baptism, is also dropping.

From 2013 to 2016, the number of children who had had their first communion decreased by 50,000 or 7%. Catholic schools registered a loss of 250,000 students over the same period.

While the number of Catholics is on the rise, this increase is due to Hispanic immigration and "we don't always manage to keep them", says Fr Connery. "Many turn to the evangelical churches, which give more scope for emotion, involve the faithful more, use music that is closer to modern culture." Continue reading

Sources

• La Croix International article by Céline Hoyeau
• Image: St Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Winter Park, FL