Faith is traditional, and yet, it moves

Religions, like the British monarchy and club rules, are popular because they provide a structured, institutional sanctuary for traditions and conventions that don't get swayed by the latest fad in town. For the conservative, this is a comfort zone. For the more laissez-faire-minded, even religions are situated in the larger social context that does not remain static. On Monday, one of the largest international institutions, the Catholic Church, officially took a step that sent out a message that the deeply traditional is to be valued and, yet, to quote Galileo, 'it moves'. Pope Francis formally approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples, making Catholicism more inclusive, even as it continues to ban gay marriage.

Reform is most effective when conducted from within the fold. Otherwise, it becomes, in most cases, preaching to the converted. The pope's latest document elaborates on a letter he had sent to two conservative cardinals in October where he had suggested expanding the remit and definition of a 'couple', till now confined to the 'man-woman' binary. Not every Catholic will be happy - it will be seen as being 'too much'. And not every liberal will be happy - it will be seen as being 'too little'. But such is the nature of the beast that is gradualism, the cornerstone of all living systems, of faith, worship and ideology included.

Religions are powerful influencers. Religious leaders, like popular ones in the secular arena, can set the agenda, script reforms, tilt the scales that 'outsiders' can only pontificate on. Reforms in, say, Hinduism, like abolition of sati and widow remarriage, were social adjustments that took place from within. At that time, they may have been seen as being scandalously 'woke' by many within the fold. Today, those 'traditions' are the ones considered to be scandalous. Catholicism sanctifying same-sex relationships, too, will one day be seen as part of Catholic tradition. Other faiths - not necessarily only religious ones - are free to get similar 'conservatively radical' ideas.