Quite a long time ago, after I’d read one too many lamentations by those who are called “conservatives,” I wrote a post about the defense fatigue that must, by definition, describe conservatives. To “conserve” means to protect, defend, preserve—but what does that mean as it actually works itself out? It means always being on the defensive, always struggling to defend and protect, and always being the victim of offense. The smallest drop of water will, over time, cause erosion of the hardest rock.

Those who speak of a Catholic “ghetto” are using the wrong term. A ghetto is an enforced enclosure. The Church has not reached that point—yet. At this point, the more appropriate metaphor for Catholics who collectively resist secularists’ attacks on Catholic doctrine is fortress. It is continual siege that transforms “fortress” into “ghetto.” When that happens, Masada recurs, the fortress falls, and all is lost. Offense always wins and defense always loses.

Enter Pope Francis, and his recent interview that caused such a stir. Many conservatives felt betrayed; many liberals smelled victory. Both were wrong.

When offense lays siege to a fortress, eventually a “siege mentality” pervades defenders, and they begin to exist solely to defend the fortress. So many devout Catholics who love the Church, who have spent all their strength defending her against her enemies, have forgotten that she has a mission of her own. That mission can’t be realized by allowing it to be turned into a fortress: Offense is not just the best defense—it’s the only one.