There is pain here, but not bitterness; a Sisyphean struggle, but also joy and humour. The contrast between a rich vocation and the obtuseness that blocks it would be farce if it were not so serious for the People of God.

The silent schism is not dramatic or violent. It unfolds in disillusioned hearts and empty pews, as Catholics quietly conclude that staying within the Church brings more heartache than hope. Unlike past schisms, it lacks noise—but its damage may be far greater.

Children suffer bombings, amputations, and starvation? Why are their lives not defended with the same passion? The absence of protest in the face of these horrors raises an uncomfortable question.

Some Catholics no longer attend Mass—not from a lack of belief, but because they cannot sit through exclusionary lectionary texts or listen to priests who speak harshly about those they love. These departures are not rejections of Christ, but silent acts of spiritual self-preservation.