Pope crosses Rubicon

The most progressive Catholic Pope of all time has done more to modernise his Church and help keep his 1.2 billion flock in the comfort zone with religion in the new age than any other. Like an ancient predecessor, Pope Benedict XIV in the 18th century, Pope Francis has dared to amend Church legislation on marriage annulments. The reformist Pope’s agenda has been full ever since he was surprisingly voted to wear the Ring of the Fisherman on Pope Benedict XVI abdicating two years ago.

Only a few weeks ago, Pope Francis had eased the strict Catholic stance on the controversial issue of abortion. In asking local priests to forgive, during the coming Holy Year of Mercy, those women who have had abortions and are repentant, the Pope had crossed the Rubicon as it were.

When the Pope visits the US this month he will be in a country where the reforms would have the most effect. The excessively complex and expensive — in terms of legal and tribunal fees — process of annulling Catholic marriages is an anachronism in today’s world in which the divorce rate is extremely high — approximately 40 per cent in the most evolved societies.

The Church does not wish to change its doctrine that a marriage cannot be dissolved although the relevance of such a canon to today’s society is not what it once was. However, the process of divorce has been streamlined. The Pope’s place in history is already assured; what he has done is to make his Church more accessible to followers.