EXCERPT: What if, by encouraging conservative Anglicans to join the like-minded Catholic Church, the Vatican eventually encourages all Christians to seek out like-minded churches for themselves?
Suppose some progressive Catholics become Anglicans just because it seems more progressive? Suppose others find the Unitarian more congenial? This has already happened to individuals, but what if it happens with entire congregations and their priests?
Christianity’s first Reformation resulted in people forced to belong to whatever Church their ruler chose. So Northern Europe became Protestant while Southern Europe remained Catholic, and resistors nearly everywhere were persecuted. Hence theological differences not only fractured Christian unity – they validated violence.
Perhaps a new Reformation would peaceably encourage everyone to make their own choice: the Body of Christ as consumer society!
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