Hi SYED,
Quite right.
Fragmenting the CoGA has certainly always been a key part of Merlin's plan, to make it increasingly irrelevant to most Safeholders.
I suspect Merlin may be a bit too busy to get involved in Howard's drift from the CoGA until after the war on Haven is resolved, and the ICN blockade of Howard sinks in to the population's consciousness, so they begin to understand the increased limits on the CoGA's power.
Because the CoC isn't interested in becoming a world wide church since it doesn't have to be,t encouraging local reformers to go their own way also demonstrates their tolerance, which may become a growing desire across Safehold, especially after the war, that the temple will have to accommodate itself to, regardless of who controls it.
L
SYED wrote:With the reduced ability of the inquisition to act is howard, then merlin could really stir the situation, making it more likely in howard at least the church power is broken or fragmented.