Can we be "Simply Catholic?"

Cardinal Francis George, OMI, the cardinal archbishop of Chicago, has written a book called The Difference God Makes: A Catholic Vision of Faith, Communion and Culture. I have not yet read the book but it sounds as if it would be a good read for those of us concerned about polarization within the Church.

When interviewed for the National Catholic Reporter, Cardinal George noted that he believes we are losing our proper focus as Catholics:

For both [liberal and conservative Catholics], bishops take on an importance that’s disproportionate. Liberals and conservatives both define themselves vis-à-vis authority...

Liberals are critical of [authority], although they’ll use it when they’re in power. Conservatives would tend to be less
critical, but equally dependent upon it.

Consequently, when you get into the church, you get the conservatives unhappy because bishops aren’t using power the way they’re supposed to, the way they want them to. You get liberals who are unhappy because [the bishops] have any power at all. Both of them are defining themselves vis-à-vis the bishops rather than vis-à-vis Christ, who uses the bishops to govern the church. It’s not a Christ-centered church, as it’s supposed to be, it’s a bishop-centered church.

According to press reports, he goes on to speak about being "Simply Catholic," helping those in need and living a life steeped in prayer. Sounds like a great idea!