Catherine Colitis

Yeah, so the Catholic Church is like so many, I think, global religious bodies in a sort of moment of transition, right? We're in a moment of greater religious transition than we have been since the Enlightenment, right? Really in the past 300 years. And there's a couple of factors.

Yeah, so the Catholic Church is like so many, I think, global religious bodies in a sort of moment of transition, right? We're in a moment of greater religious transition than we have been since the Enlightenment, right? Really in the past 300 years. And there's a couple of factors.

Yeah, so the Catholic Church is like so many, I think, global religious bodies in a sort of moment of transition, right? We're in a moment of greater religious transition than we have been since the Enlightenment, right? Really in the past 300 years. And there's a couple of factors.

We all, particularly in the United States, have a really good understanding of this idea of culture war and this divide between progressives and traditionalists, which is definitely a factor in this decision. But there's also a geographic element to this as well. The Catholic Church, like Christianity writ large, is in demographic trouble in Western Europe and North America.

We all, particularly in the United States, have a really good understanding of this idea of culture war and this divide between progressives and traditionalists, which is definitely a factor in this decision. But there's also a geographic element to this as well. The Catholic Church, like Christianity writ large, is in demographic trouble in Western Europe and North America.

We all, particularly in the United States, have a really good understanding of this idea of culture war and this divide between progressives and traditionalists, which is definitely a factor in this decision. But there's also a geographic element to this as well. The Catholic Church, like Christianity writ large, is in demographic trouble in Western Europe and North America.

Yet it is growing exponentially in Asia, Africa, Latin America, places that are kind of collectively called the Global South.

Yet it is growing exponentially in Asia, Africa, Latin America, places that are kind of collectively called the Global South.

Yet it is growing exponentially in Asia, Africa, Latin America, places that are kind of collectively called the Global South.

And so there's increasing pressure to have A pope who reflects that reality. Of course, this last pope was the first Latin American pope. He was from Argentina, but he was also the son of Italian immigrants. Right. So there's this kind of he sort of occupied this middle space.

And so there's increasing pressure to have A pope who reflects that reality. Of course, this last pope was the first Latin American pope. He was from Argentina, but he was also the son of Italian immigrants. Right. So there's this kind of he sort of occupied this middle space.

And so there's increasing pressure to have A pope who reflects that reality. Of course, this last pope was the first Latin American pope. He was from Argentina, but he was also the son of Italian immigrants. Right. So there's this kind of he sort of occupied this middle space.

So this is the conundrum. Most every bit of good data we have about why people leave the Catholic Church and leave Christianity writ large is largely centered around these issues of gender and sexuality, primarily the failure of the Catholic Church to become more progressive with respect to women, with respect to LGBT people.

So this is the conundrum. Most every bit of good data we have about why people leave the Catholic Church and leave Christianity writ large is largely centered around these issues of gender and sexuality, primarily the failure of the Catholic Church to become more progressive with respect to women, with respect to LGBT people.

So this is the conundrum. Most every bit of good data we have about why people leave the Catholic Church and leave Christianity writ large is largely centered around these issues of gender and sexuality, primarily the failure of the Catholic Church to become more progressive with respect to women, with respect to LGBT people.

And this is the tension then because these are the factors that are driving people out of the Catholic Church in North America and Western Europe. And yet at the same time, people are much more conservative on these issues in places like Africa and Asia where the church is growing.

And this is the tension then because these are the factors that are driving people out of the Catholic Church in North America and Western Europe. And yet at the same time, people are much more conservative on these issues in places like Africa and Asia where the church is growing.

And this is the tension then because these are the factors that are driving people out of the Catholic Church in North America and Western Europe. And yet at the same time, people are much more conservative on these issues in places like Africa and Asia where the church is growing.

Latin America is a little bit more of a wild card, but overall Catholics are more socially conservative in those places.

Latin America is a little bit more of a wild card, but overall Catholics are more socially conservative in those places.