19 November 2025

In a recent issue of ‘The Tablet’, Clifford Longley wrote about saving democracy. The title of his article was, ‘Could the Pope save Democracy?’ My immediate response was, ‘No, he can’t not least because the Roman Catholic Church is not a democracy but an authoritarian hierarchy!’

The summary of the article reads, ‘The historical relationship of Catholicisim with democracy has been ambivalent. With authoritarian forms of government on the rise, the moment calls for the Church to offer both a vigorous critique and a vigorous defence of democracy.’

How can an institution which does not reflect democratic principles safeguard our national democracies? And how could it be that one person would have it in his power to save democracy when he carries within his office extraordinary powers over what happens in the Church?

In  the latter part of his ministry, Pope Francis devoted time  to embedding the process of synodality within the Church. It was   an attempt at nurturing a more democratic culture. Nevertheless,  the Pope was still able to determine what continued to feature on the agenda.

The fact that women are unable to exercise a full ministry in the Roman Catholic Church provides enough evidence to debar the Pope from being an effective witness to democratic principles. Half the world and more than half the Roman Catholic Church are women.

What has happened to their democratic rights? And, of course, this can be extended to people who are gay and the failure of the Roman Catholic Church to provide for their marriage by a priest within the Church. The question lacks common sense and the answer lacks integrity.

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