International Panel to Discuss Future of the Catholic Church

How Francis is faring in the battle for reform

Sacred Heart University will host a renowned international panel for its virtual discussion, “Francis: Is a Schism on the Horizon?” on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022, at 7 p.m. EST.

“The discussion will explore the diverse and highly contested views about the direction the Church is taking during the Bergoglio papacy,” said Michael W. Higgins, panel discussion organizer, distinguished professor emeritus at Sacred Heart, principal of St. Mark’s College and president of Corpus Christi College, University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

“Given the challenges the Church is facing—issues over governance, lack of moral leadership in the area of clerical sex abuse, the numerous global scandals around fiduciary mismanagement and the enduring curse of clericalism—Pope Francis has more than enough on his plate,” said Higgins.

The strong stands Pope Francis has taken on reform has generated tremendous pushback, which threatens to fragment the Church. “The Church has experienced schisms in the past, and those who break away usually disappear in time,” said Higgins. However, it is “never a good thing, and no pope—whose duty is to ensure unity—wants it on his watch,” he continued.

Daniel Rober, professor of Catholic studies at Sacred Heart University, will host the evening and Higgins will act as moderator. To watch the panel discussion on Jan. 26, visit SHU’s YouTube page.

Panelists will include:

Tina Beattie, professor emerita of Catholic studies and director of Catherine of Siena College at the University of Roehampton, London. Beattie’s research focuses on the relationship between Catholic tradition and contemporary culture, particularly pertaining to gender, sexuality and reproductive ethics; Catholic social teaching and women’s rights; and theology and the visual arts. She is a contributor to The Tablet, The Guardian online, The Conversation, and has appeared on BBC1, BBC2, Sky News, Al Jazeera and other international media.

David Gibson, award-winning journalist, author and filmmaker. Gibson is currently director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University. He is a frequent contributor to America magazine and has written two books on Catholicism—The Coming Catholic Church: How the Faithful are Shaping a New American Catholicism and The Rule of Benedict: Pope Benedict XVI and His Battle with the Modern World.

Christopher Lamb, Vatican correspondent for The Tablet. In this role, Lamb has traveled internationally with Pope Francis. He is also a regular contributor to the BBC, and has appeared in ABC News, Al Jazeera and the Associated Press. Most recently he published the book The Outsider: Pope Francis and His Battle to Reform the Church.

Michael Sean Winters, journalist and writer for the National Catholic Reporter. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New Republic and New York Times Magazine. Winters’ blog Distinctly Catholic has won the Catholic Press Association award for “Best Individual Blog.” He also authored two books—Left at the Altar: How the Democrats Lost the Catholics and How the Catholics Can Save the Democrats and God’s Right Hand: How Jerry Falwell Made God a Republican and Baptized the American Right.

Each contributes regular columns to Sacred Heart University’s Go, Rebuild My House blog. Every week, the blog features a timely post by a renowned Catholic scholar, discussing the current state of the Church and contemporary culture. The blog was created “in keeping with the tradition and following the vision of Francis of Assisi,” and “tries to assist in rebuilding a church in a time of disunity and spiritual decay.” Sacred Heart University publishes the blog to engage in continuous and constructive discussion around meaningful Church reform.

Pictured, from left, are Tina Beattie, David Gibson, Christopher Lamb and Michael Sean Winters.