Ross Douthat on the future of the Catholic Church

At Villanova, the Newark archbishop spoke of “paradigm shifts” in the church and said “only the Lord" can judge who belongs among the faithful.

Cardinal Kasper rejected claims from some Catholics who accuse Pope Francis of undermining church teaching on marriage.

“The rule to follow in all cases,” the reflection says of family ministry, “is the love and mercy of the Lord.”

Pope Francis has encouraged church leaders to accept “a healthy dose of self-criticism.”

The conversation often circled back to the question of whether Francis was fundamentally altering the church, and if his doing so could result in a “break” or schism.