A Conservative Catholic Resurgence Meets a Moderate Pope | The Gateway Pundit

May 9, 2025 - By 4idiotz

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Article Summary

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, has been elected as the first American-born pontiff in the Church’s history. Liberals have welcomed his election due to his past criticism of President Trump and Vice President Vance, as well as his reputation as a moderate. However, early signs suggest that Pope Leo XIV remains committed to Church teaching on key moral issues such as abortion, traditional marriage, and the male-only priesthood. The new Pope is expected to extend pastoral care and welcome all individuals into the Church, while upholding the Church’s opposition to gender ideology.

What This Means for You

Pope Leo XIV’s election may signal a shift in the Church’s approach to outreach and pastoral care while maintaining traditional teachings.
The Church’s commitment to its moral teachings provides stability and consistency, which can be appealing in a rapidly changing world.
While some Protestant denominations have adopted liberal theological positions, the Catholic Church maintains its traditional teachings and liturgical practices, which has resulted in a resurgence of the Traditional Latin Mass and increased conversions.
The Church’s adherence to traditional beliefs and structured rituals can provide a sense of stability and meaning in an increasingly secular world.

Original Post

Liberals welcome the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff in the Church’s history.

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is expected to maintain the Church’s commitment to key moral issues while extending pastoral care to all individuals.

Early signs suggest that Pope Leo XIV remains committed to Church teaching on key moral issues such as abortion, traditional marriage, and the male-only priesthood.

As with his predecessor, he is likely to uphold the Church’s clear opposition to gender ideology. The 2019 Vatican document Male and Female He Created Them criticized gender theory as an attempt to “annihilate the nature of the human being,” and Pope Francis has repeatedly called gender ideology “a form of ideological colonization” that distorts creation and undermines the family.

In recent years, many mainline Protestant denominations in the United States have adopted increasingly liberal theological positions, including the ordination of women and LGBTQ+ clergy, performing same-sex marriages, and adopting contemporary music and worship styles. The Catholic Church has maintained its traditional teachings and liturgical practices, emphasizing continuity with its origins dating back to 33 AD.

While critics claim the Church is out of touch, its steadfastness has appealed to many, particularly those seeking stability amid widespread societal change. The growing movement toward conservatism among Catholics is evident in several trends, most notably the resurgence of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM), also known as the Tridentine Mass.

Between January 2019 and June 2021, average attendance at TLM services rose by 34%, and the number of parishes offering it increased by 27%. Surveys show TLM attendees are overwhelmingly conservative. Not only are existing Catholics gravitating toward a more traditional Church, but conversions are also rising among the general population. In 2025, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles welcomed 5,587 new Catholics during the Easter Vigil, the highest number in over a decade.

Many of these new Catholics are young adults in their 20s and 30s, drawn to a faith that offers moral clarity and a strong sense of community.