After the mess a few years back, I remember thinking that the RCC in its current form is dying, and it will take either one of two paths in order to survive.
1: As Benedict said, paraphrased, smaller but holier. That is, someone will be able to purge the gay mafia, the corruption, and the leftism that’s rotting it from within. They’ll need to make sacrifices to do so, though.
2: Throw open the church doors to everyone in order to get as much money as they can squeeze while continuing to cover up all the bad things happening in the hierarchy.
Looks like they’re going after option 2.
Next up, Jewish and Muslim spouses.
I will go where Jesus is always truly present in the Eucharist. All men are fallen and are terrible and unworthy sinners, those in the Catholic Church are not different, but Christ remains and so will I.
I think your analysis is spot-on.
The majority of Cardinals rejected “smaller, poorer, holier” upon delivery. Benedict was gone not long afterwards.
IMO this is all about attracting as many people as possible back to the collection basket. Be that non-Catholic spouses, divorced Catholics who left the Church, etc.
It’s all about growing the institution at the expense of what it stands for.
And what is the opposition strategy? Send more strongly worded letters apparently.