Ignoring the Pope

Is "a custom more honour'd in the breach than in the observance," but it is a long one in the Catholic world.

This post from The Hermeneutic of Continuity details the shameful widespread shrugging-off by bishops, priests, and laity of the consistent and repeated condemnation of modern race-based slavery by the popes, to which the writer draws a parallel with the modern situation with abortion and birth control.

This might be a little surprising to non-Catholics, who seem often to think of the pope as some all-powerful potentate enjoying absolute obedience from his flock.  Actually, when you think about what the pope is, it must be very confusing to them that we are so massively rebellious, but such is the world.

Anyway, seeing as how we've been similarly blowing off the pope for most of 400 years about liturgy and church music (even though that doesn't involve money, political power, or sex), what do you think is the likelihood of the instructions of Pope Benedict's Exhortation being implemented?  I'm not getting my hopes up.  Blogging priest Fr. Zuhlsdorf here covers how people are already working to make sure they are not.

Comments

[Matt]

My bet is that word of this clearly deliberate mischaracterization of the Holy Father's instruction has made it back to Card. Arinze if not the Holy Father himself. Those responsible will, God willing, need to look for new jobs.