Cultural war is coming

In mid-November, Pope Francis gave an address to new communities and ecclesial movements in the Church that was, even by his high standards, utterly inspiring.

Francis urged these movements and communities to make their first priority guardianship of their original charism. He challenged them to live the Gospel by sustaining a freshness of charism through the immutable strength of communion. In yet another of those arresting Francisican turns of phrase, he also warned against allowing the “terrorism of gossip” to assail movements and communities from the inside out.

The inspiration Francis imparts should hardly be limited to the recipients of this message. Even those whose life within the Church is fulfilled by the traditional parish, the traditional diocese or beautifully enduring Catholic associations can take heart from the Holy Father’s words.