If one ever had a moment of doubt about the supernatural provenance of the Church, one need look no further that the new norms regarding clergy abuse — AND women’s ordination.

These two things are like anti-Reese’s peanut butter cups. Two great things that have NO business being smashed together.

The fact that the Church has survived this long and even continues to grow in parts of the world despite worse PR than Mel Gibson is testament to the protection of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, these are the folks who decided rescind the ex-communication of Bishop Williamson of the SSPX right after he said ridiculous things about the holocaust. While the lifting of the sanction was the right thing to do, it should have been accompanied with a statement denouncing Williamson’s comments. Instead, the PR team at the Vatican was again caught napping.

While I am completely on board with the new norms regarding the dingbats involved with female ordination, tying it in with new norms on clerical abuse is about as tone deaf as you can get.

Actually, I take that back. If they had announced new norms that required all altar servers to be boys again. That would have been worse, but just barely.

While this degree of incompetence clearly demonstrates the supernatural protection of the Church, they should remember one thing. God sometimes helps those who help themselves.

It is also written ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ and

Fire the darn PR department.

Amen.