Aaron Zitner on Conservative Catholicism and the MAGA Movement

The Rise of Conservative Catholicism

• 💡 A growing segment of American Catholicism is embracing an "ancient unreformed Catholicism," particularly the traditional Latin Mass codified in the 1500s.
• 📈 This conservative strain shows vitality and growth, with influencers and a social media presence, despite overall trends of church disaffiliation.
• 🎯 Figures like JD Vance are seen as exemplars of this movement, which also has a presence in the White House and U.S. government policy.

Pope Francis's Stance and Reaction

• ⚠️ Pope Francis has expressed concern over an organized "reactionary attitude" within the U.S. church, warning that "backwardness is useless."
• 🗣️ He has previously discouraged the traditional Latin Mass, which is a focal point for this conservative movement.

Reasons for the Conservative Shift

• ✨ The appeal of traditional Catholicism is spiritual and aesthetic, connecting adherents to centuries of church history, majesty, and tradition.
• 🤝 Community is a significant draw, with many attending the traditional Latin Mass being part of large, traditional families.
• 🏛️ Politically, some feel Pope Francis has moved the church too far left, particularly on issues like inclusivity for divorcees and LGBTQ+ individuals, leading them to embrace a more rigid and hierarchical form of worship.

Generational Trends Among Priests

• 📊 A study of 3,500 priests revealed a significant generational shift: over 80% of those ordained since 2020 identify as theologically conservative and lean conservative politically.
• 📉 Notably, the study found zero priests ordained since 2020 who identified as very progressive.

Future Outlook

• 🔮 The conservative strain of Catholicism is expected to continue growing, regardless of who succeeds Pope Francis, due to its spiritual, communal, and political appeals.