Must-Read Interview with Msgr Scicluna

Thanks, Mike. Two thoughts: 1)too bad Paul VI didn't listen to "experts" re contraception; 2)the article by Alessandro Speciale, in the same link you sent, was better. Joe Yankech

Interesting that our friends in Rome could not make themselves show a pibture of the Baroness, since that was a major part of the story.

Msgr. Scicluna does have a focus and an intensity that is good to see.

Here is a problem, though. Scicluna said: "I think that bishops know they are accountable, first of all to God and to their communities."

Bishops are not "accountable... to their communities" if there is no mechanism and no power by which the community can hold them accountable. What power do the people of Bishops Bruskewitz and Vasa have to hold them accountable? Write a letter to Rome? I imagine that has already been done. What was the outcome? Nothing. Silence. Should people in the diocese withhold contributions? What other power do they have?

If the bishop is accountable TO the community, the community must have some authority. If Scicluna really means what he says, we need a committee of laity, elected by all of the members of the diocese. The committee must have the authority to require the bishop to report to them so they may measure if he is doing what he is supposed to do. Then, if there is a problem, they need to be able to take their findings to someone higher up the chain of command who is required to listen to them. Then, someone - the committee or the higher authority - has to be able to lay out a corrective course of action and require the bishop to follow it. And if the bishop doesn't correct his actions, ultimately, the people of the diocese need to be able to fire the bishop.

I am just guessing here, applying a little corporate world thinking to how responsibility and accountability are dealth with. I would welcome anyone suggesting an alternative scenario in which a bishop could be held accountable TO his community.

I would like to believe Msgr. Scicluna really meant what he said. It could be an opening to those on high really listening to those below.

The monsignor intones: "The Gospel says: Do not impede, do not hinder the children from coming to Jesus."

Myself, I always think of that other verse---the one about the millstone and the deep blue sea. These little ones are sinless, helplessly ensnared by some priest's egregious acts of violence.

The monsignor concludes: "Scandal destroys the innocence of children and young people." Not quite, monsignor. There's a sin before there can be a scandal, and that's how children's lives are destroyed. You will be asked to account for it, and you won't be alone.

If you think anything by this man is a "must-read," you're out of touch with the reading habits of adult Catholics.