I have often heard the phrase “that’s just the way the world is”.

Here’s the way the world is, as I see it:

1. This world is basically unjust. Just because you hand someone a sandwich doesn’t mean you get a reward for your effort. This is just the way the world is.
2. To get a reward for their work, most people refuse to provide goods or services unless they get paid.
3. Capitalism teaches that behaving in this way benefits society, and that maximizing your profit is what benefits society the most.
4. Socialism teaches that the way to overcome these injustices is for the government to run everything.
5. Christianity teaches that what God wants is to prioritize selfless love. Forget about what benefits society; prioritize God.
6. The “right” preaches a watered down Christianity that teaches we should split our lives into two parts. Some of the time we’re preaching the Gospel and helping the poor; some of the time we’re running a business and taking care of ourselves.
7. The “left” preaches that we don’t really need God at all and the government will fix these injustices.
8. The Book of Revelation tells us that humanity will never fix these problems, that we’ll never invent a system of government that does, and that left to our own devices, human beings will eventually exterminate ourselves.
9. From beginning to end, from the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem, the Bible preaches a decidedly anti-populist message. The majority are immoral; only a minority are righteous.
10. This society, like almost all human society, is systemically discriminatory, anti-Christian, and oppressive. It is, however, better than many others. At least I can write this on my website without being arrested by the police.
11. When Jesus says “…I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:19), he’s not just talking about the Roman Empire of two thousand years ago. Jesus’s message is timeless and universal.

How would I advise the Roman Catholic Church?

First, end the schism. Admit protestants to full communion, and do so in the following way. Give discretion to local bishops to set their own guidance on who can receive the Eucharist. Many of the bishops already exercise this discretion; they’re just called Methodists or Baptists, etc. Issue guidance from Rome for those bishops who choose to follow it, and that guidance is to administer the Eucharist to all those who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Don’t excommunicate anybody if they won’t do this.

Next, open the religious communities to couples and families. Presumably they were already opened to protestants in the first step. Recognize that the “widows” spoken of in Acts 6:1 were probably admitted to the church in that state – it wasn’t old enough for them to have joined as young women. End the caste division in the church where we have religiosos and laity. Religious community, in some form or another, is the preferred organizational style for the saints.

Communities will probably attract a crowd of homeless followers. They should be accommodated to the greatest extent possible. Provide space for tent cities, and don’t neglect the need for basic hygiene such as toilets and showers. Organize food banks and community feedings.

Preach the authentic Christian gospel. Quit focusing so much on sexuality and teach against the economic immorality of the majority. Our default answer to most requests should be “yes, of course” instead of “here’s how much it will cost”. It’s so hard to believe that God will give us the greatest gift of eternal life for free, when we won’t let people fly on an airplane for free.