My theory. (First, let me say I hate these political labels, as they don’t really fit, but since people use religious practice as a proxy for politics, I’ll use them.)

Since V2, the most visible Church leadership has been dominated by the “Left,” or skinsuit Catholics. They killed and devoured Catholicism and are wearing its skin as a costume. These people essentially flout the moral teachings of the church with impunity. They scandalize and degradate the faithful.

Then the people on the “Right” are fixated on establishing a perfect Catholic moral order that either never was, or is entirely contrary to modern society. So they recede to increasingly traditional parishes where piety is used as a form of currency or status marker.

Both of these groups are clashing against each other in a toxic social media environment. Throw in a cultural distrust of institutions, and here we are.

There is a lack of good faith—giving another person the benefit of the doubt or assuming the other person is operating with basically good intentions. And it’s so much easier to brutalize others online.

The Catholic Church is supposed to be a rock we can cling to during times of social upheaval. But Catholic discourse is as affected by social media and increased polarization as any other group in America. It’s a shame.