Re: Go Your Separate Ways

Sean, good question. Here are some of the reasons, in my opinion:

It would be like a divorce. And it would be just as painful. Families and friends would be split.

Culture and rituals (a.k.a. "smells and bells"). Catholicism is a very beautiful and moving religion - when not watered down beyond all recognition. Some may have an emotional or just aesthetic attachment to Roman Catholicism that supercedes their leftist aversion to the doctrine.

Stubborness and pride. As noted in the comments on your original post, many would like to see the Church bend to their will rather than the other way 'round.

Americanism, for lack of a better term. Since we know that democracy is good for America, some figure it ought to be good for the Church. If there's no absolute truth (a given for many Americans, Catholic or otherwise), then just vote for the morality du jour. They keep trying to convince the Church of that, and since they've had some success in this country with liberal priests and bishops, they've got their sights set on Rome.

Lack of a leader. There already are small break-away "American Catholic Churches" (just google it to see), but who would lead a major break-away Church? Without that national figure, I just don't see it happening.

I'm a practicing, "orthodox" Catholic, so I'm very happy with our new Pope. However, I also know that it doesn't matter which man is selected; Church doctrine on faith and morals will never change. That's the part the liberals don't get. Yet.