The Vatican In Australia

In another sign of the strains between a Vatican resolutely opposed to modernity and a Western parish and priest eager to embrace its humane reforms, an archbishop evicts a priest and most of the congregation from a church in Brisbane. The sins? Allowing a woman to preach the homily and blessing committed gay couples. These are the 'evils' the church is focused on, the things it won't tolerate. A little polygamy and animism in Africa - and widespread marriage annulments in America are, in contrast, manageable. And for several decades, child abuse was fine if kept on the downlow.

One despairs but recognizes the truth in this, at least:

“The Church when it is facing annihilation can turn itself around.”

But not until then.