The Rotten Fruits of Pope Francis: church schism, conservative rebellion, and approval of Iran nuke deal

“By their fruit you will recognize them.” -Matthew 7:16

Rotten Fruit #1: culture war within church hierarchy

His papacy is only 2½ years old, and already Pope Francis has provoked a raging culture war within the Catholic Church.

Anthony Faiola reports for The Washington Post, Sept. 7, 2015, that rather than stake out clear stances, Francis is more subtly, often implicitly, backing liberal church leaders who are pressing for radical change, while dramatically opening the parameters of the debate over how far reforms can go. Since then, liberals have tested the boundaries of their new freedom, with one Belgian bishop going as far as calling for the Catholic Church to formally recognize same-sex couples.

In more than a dozen interviews, including with seven senior church officials, insiders say the change wrought by Francis “has left the hierarchy more polarized over the direction of the church than at any point…