Fascist Catholic Bishops

Early this morning, I was watching You Tube when I came upon a Big Think video by Jason Stanley on the 10 tactics of fascism. He literally wrote the book on the subject. I could not help but notice how most, if not all, of these tactics are in the toolbox of many conservative Catholic bishops. Let us consider these tactics one at a time.

The goal of Fascism is to prop up the Leader. In the modern Church, the leaders in question are the bishops and archbishops who resist the Pope.

1. The mythic past. I am not referring to ancient times, but rather he time before Vatican II, when the Church had a privileged position in cultural censorship. The video talks about militarism and the strangest voice calls itself Church Militant. 

2. Propaganda. The Vatican invented the term, which used to be called the Roman Inquisition. Its primary vehicle is the Catechism. Some even use the latter as a source of reason rather than teaching. Many do not know the difference.

3. Anti-intellectualism. In the last 200 years, we had Anti-Democracy, then Anti-Darwinism, Scholasticism rather than Inquiry and in later years, opposition to reality about sex (see number 8).

4. Unreality. See number 3. This is especially true in the modern era when it comes to sex (gender theory), the continuing belief in sacred continence (see below), an attachment to the Adam and Eve myth (which even the Jews call allegory) and the unreal belief that Roe v. Wade can ever be overturned. They believe that the States would be allowed to be the last word.  Even if Congress were to recognize personhood earlier than viability, the utter unworkability of an abortion ban that treats the fetus as a legal person (rather than banning abortion as a medical procedure only) is the ultimate in fantasy.

5. Hierarchy. Do I need to explain this one? Hierarchy exists in Diocese, with the myth that the Pope is the first among equals so that each bishop has autonomy (unreal, because he is, for all intents and purposes, their appointing authority). Hierarchy exists in the clergy, but the relationship with the faithful is pure authoritarianism for some conservative priests.

6. Victimhood. The victimizers: The Romans, the Jews, the Protestants, Democracy and Anticlericalism, (a response to anti-democracy with anti-Catholicism in the US), the Americanist heresy (which is now doctrine in Dignitatis Humanae) and of late, the sexual revolution, gay marriage, contraception and women seeking ordination. Victimhood leads to the victimizing of others.

7. Law and Order. In days gone by, books were forbidden (which was great for authors after they could no longer be put to death by civil authorities at the command of the Church). Of late, some bishops use going to Communion as a weapon to enforce compliance with what the bishops teach about abortion. The "defiance" is not on the moral principle, it is in backing the bishop's political agenda. Catholic politicians (from POTUS to precinct volunteers)  uphold the constitutional rights of women against the abortion police - rather than endorsing abortion (few Catholics do like abortion). It is not the sin (there is no sin) to support the constitution. It is not Biden's beliefs that they object to, but his insolence.

8. Sexual Anxiety. Clerical continence is based on the mistaken belief that sin comes through women, from the sin of Eve (who did not exist). Sexual contact prior to celebrating the Mass is forbidden, which is the real reason for celibacy (not property). This is based on a neo-platonic asexual ideal. That ideal still colors the teaching of the Church on sex. 

Asexual priests (about half) who are not well adjusted (much less than half) are a danger to children. Assuming that asexuality is a mark of holiness rather than simply part of natural variation is the true source of error. Being asexual and not embracing it is a profound source of anxiety for many clergy. What scares asexual men the most is the thought of allowing women into the priesthood.

9. Sodom and Gomorrah. Gay priests do not mess with children. Immature asexuals do, but blaming gay priests is a deflection. Gay priests may attract gay teens or young men, but that is not child abuse. Most gay priests honor their celibacy and those who don't likely find companionship in the priesthood. The reality is that being gay is natural for them and being celibate or scruples about continence are not natural. Embracing married gay and lesbian priests, as well as demi-sexual heteros, would be a radical break from episcopal fascism.

10. Arbeit macht frei. (Freedom through work) Bishops no longer have serfs, although they still demand obedience. The key question is whether we pray at their pleasure or they serve at ours. Some bishops, including the Office of Pro-Life Activities are Republican catholics (not a typo). Republican policy on poverty is that subsidies should be minimized to encourage the poor to work at low wage jobs. If they have families that will starve without their labor, so much the better. 

Pro-life Republicans mirror this attitude when they do not endorse higher minimum wages and much higher (refundable) child tax credits, thinking that they should not have to subsidize the sexual behavior of women. They should simply not have sex or, if they do, not have abortions and suffer poverty as an incentive to quit having sex. This attitude must be rejected loudly and raising minimum wage and child tax credit support must be pursued as must-pass pro-life measures. It is part of the Theology of the Gift promulgated by Pope Benedict XVI in Caritatis in veritate.