The "Catholic Spring": Did Clinton Loyalists Plan Revolution Against the Church?

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The "Catholic Spring" was referred to multiple times in emails released by Wikileaks. What is the "Catholic Spring"? Why were Hillary Clinton's advisors talking about it? Could it actually become a reality?

What is the "Catholic Spring" discussed in emails released by Wikileaks?

The term "Catholic Spring" was coined in an email from Sandy Newman, founder of the group Voices for Progress, and Clinton loyalist John Podesta. Here's an excerpt from the original email (bold added):

This whole controversy with the bishops opposing contraceptive coverage even though 98% of Catholic women (and their conjugal partners) have used contraception has me thinking . . . There needs to be a Catholic Spring, in which Catholics themselves demand the end of a middle ages dictatorship and the beginning of a little democracy and respect for gender equality in the Catholic church. Is contraceptive coverage an issue around which that could happen. The Bishops will undoubtedly continue the fight. Does the Catholic Hospital Association support of the Administration's new policy, together with "the 98%" create an opportunity?

Newman proposes the idea of a "Catholic Spring", a popular uprising like the "Arab Spring" which would essentially take down the Catholic church hierarchy.

The basis for such an uprising would be the church's positions on certain issues, such as contraception and "gender equality".

Newman goes on to say this about the revolution:

I have not thought at all about how one would "plant the seeds of the revolution," or who would plant them. Just wondering . . .

And to this, Podesta responds (again bold added):

Great. I suppose it's conceivable that a few organizers could spark a high-profile demonstration or two (a la Occupy) that might turn out to be the spark. But it is indeed a puzzle to figure out why some events, usually with very little planning, ignite a movement no one would have predicted, while other, far better planned things fashioned by experienced organizers don't.

Essentially, Podesta and Newman are looking at -- and it appears in some way, planning -- such a revolution against the Catholic Church.

Were Clinton loyalists really planning a revolution?

So were Podesta and Newman really looking to start a "Catholic Spring"? At first, it seems like more of an errant idea than a real plan, but the two did seem to be interested in seeing something like this come to fruition, and they seemed to have started to take steps in that direction.

In a response to Newman, Podesta wrote this:

We created Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to organize for a moment like this. But I think it lacks the leadership to do so now. Likewise Catholics United. Like most Spring movements, I think this one will have to be bottom up. I'll discuss with Tara. Kathleen [last name removed] is the other person to consult.

In fact, the Catholic News Agency found that Podesta affiliated groups paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to organizations that tried to influence the Catholic Church.

They describe an organization called the Arcus Foundation, which appears to be central in this scheme.

The Arcus Foundation, founded by another Clinton loyalist, appears to have given Podesta and his groups large amounts of money in support of his mission with respect to the Church.

So what happened with the "Catholic Spring"?

The "Catholic Spring" seems to be an ongoing process, not a singular event. Based on recent tax filings, it appears to still be in the works, although not at the same level it once was.

Given other emails released by Wikileaks regarding Catholics, it's likely that the revolution will be put on the back burner for a while, as it has drawn too much attention lately for Podesta and the others involved.

Wanna read more on this? Check these out: Anthony Weiner Made A Lot Of Money Off You, Before His Sexting Arrest (more); I'm With Her! As the World Burns Down, Hillary's Working on a Book (more); Gavin MacFadyen (MacFayden): The Mysterious Death of Another Wikileaks Associate (more).