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PDF versionA demoralized church
by Richard McBrien on Apr. 26, 2010
The story I am about to tell provides yet one more indication of why so many good Catholics are demoralized these days -- apart, that is, from the ongoing sexual abuse crisis that has reached recently even to the papacy itself.
Some time ago, my weekly column, which appears not only in diocesan newspapers but also in parish bulletins in the United States and Canada, was dropped from one of those parish bulletins by order of the local bishop.
According to the pastor, some 90 percent of his parishioners were pleased to have access to the column in their weekly bulletin, while only a small slice of the congregation (1 percent was his estimate) was “distressed” by it.
The pastor reported that a few of the critics met with him, while others phoned or sent letters. The pastor’s consistent reply was that the parish needed a different perspective on church-related issues, different certainly from the perspective available each week in the diocesan newspaper.
But the critics were not satisfied with the pastor’s response. They also wrote to the bishop, enclosing underlined copies of the column. The bishop, in turn, forwarded their letters to someone on his staff. The upshot was that the pastor was told that he could no longer carry the column in the parish bulletin.
The pastor subsequently e-mailed me to ask if he might continue to subscribe to the column (the monthly fee was $10) in order to make it available at the back of the church on an entirely voluntary basis. He also expressed his personal discouragement over the “repression” that is happening in the church.
I e-mailed the pastor back, assuring him that I have experienced this before and have become more or less used to it. It happens particularly when a pastorally healthy bishop dies, retires, or is moved to another diocese, and his successor is a rigid, censorious micromanager.
What is disturbing about what happened in this particular parish is that the tiny minority who complained about the inclusion of the column in the parish bulletin undoubtedly felt empowered -- empowered by the knowledge that their views could trump those of the pastor and the overwhelming majority of their fellow parishioners.
They did an end-run around the pastor (which was their right), sending letters and enclosures to the local bishop. The bishop turned the matter over to one of his underlings, who proceeded to shut down the column.
In my response to the pastor, I offered to make the column available free of charge. He thanked me for the gesture, mentioning at the same time that many parishioners were upset about the abrupt act of diocesan censorship. Some of them, he said, also wrote letters to the bishop and his subordinate, but to no avail.
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Even some of those who admitted that they occasionally disagreed with points of view expressed in the column acknowledged that the column made them think and often provided historical information of which they had been unaware.
Unfortunately, the story does not end there. The same minority of parishioners wrote again to the bishop to complain that the pastor was still making the column available to parishioners at the back of the church, even if it no longer appeared in the parish bulletin.
The same underling, but again with the bishop’s ultimate approval, ordered the pastor to cease doing so. In politics, business, the military or any of the major professions, the person comparable to the pastor in this case would resign, retire or move to another company.
In today’s church, however, a pastor’s options are severely limited. Even if humiliated before his entire parish, and particularly before the militant minority that had brought about his repudiation by the bishop, a pastor really has no place to go, except perhaps to resign from the priesthood and to seek another form of employment.
Although I would not presume to suggest such a course of action upon this good man, serious pastoral damage has been done, whether the pastor was to remain in office or not.
A tiny minority of parishioners now knows that it can trump the will of their pastor and the overwhelming majority of fellow parishioners simply by running to the bishop and making a complaint.
The question is, what would happen if a majority of parishioners complained to the bishop about a conservative pastor who celebrated Mass in Latin, harangued the people in homilies about their sinfulness and urgent need for the sacrament of penance, eliminated all forms of consultation, fired the staff, and made abortion the only moral issue mentioned from the pulpit?
Unfortunately, the question answers itself.
[Fr. Richard McBrien is the Crowley-O’Brien professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, Ind.]
Maybe when the collection
Maybe when the collection plate starts comming up empty,then the church will realize we Catholics know what is really important to the church.(the collection plate or God)
Wouldn't work either. The tax
Wouldn't work either. The tax deduction from the hug donations is the money that counts.
Pocketbook politics
Pocketbook politics works.
That is what is happening in the diocese of Portland Maine.
Bishop Malone spent 600K and bankrupted the diocese to fight same sex marriage.
GET THIS: Now he has no money. He has sent each household a letter
asking FOR EVERY FAMILY TO DONATE $6000.00 TO HIM!
In Maine, one of the poorest of states.
Guess what? I don't know of anyone who has.
Tell the good bishop to go
Tell the good bishop to go out and earn a living like other folks lucky enough to have a job right now.
Maybe then Malone will reconsider any future idea of spending other people's hard-earned money on bigoted initiatives.
This reactionary hierarch is clueless.
I did, and I live in Michigan
I did, and I live in Michigan :)
The next step for this pastor
The next step for this pastor is to collect the email addresses of all the parishioners who wish to read the column and make sure they get it sent to them directly from NCR. That way, he is still supplying the pastoral edification the 90% appreciate.
I think that a really large and prominently placed clip board for the collection of the email addresses will send just the right message to the offended parishioners who have forgotten the meaning of tolerance and diversity.
The little devil sitting on my left shoulder [remember him from the cartoons] made me say that.
In my opinion, Fr. McBrien
In my opinion, Fr. McBrien lives in just as much of a 1-dimensional world as that to which he criticizes.
Pot, meet kettle.
Yes, but as far as I know,
Yes, but as far as I know, there have been no reports of Father McBrien FORCING
any one to stop reading anything they find helpful. Is this not true?
I see a window of
I see a window of opportunity! I encourage the good Parish Priest to write his OWN column in his OWN newsletter each week. Your parishioners will love to read what YOU think, Father, and it's a whole new challenge to read the McBriens, the Chittesters, the Allens and the Dears and bounce your own ideas off the likes of them. Don't make bold statements that stir up the poison pen letter writers again. Be nuanced, subtle, and couch your ideas as questions.
There's no need to go as long as McBrien. Just short pithy ideas and fill up the rest of the space with cartoons and the like!
AMEN!!
AMEN!!
Huh?
Huh?
For many years I've been very
For many years I've been very discouraged about the state of Catholicism. However, this column has given me hope. I will write my bishop and protest the heresy that is constantly promoted in my parish. Maybe he will respond accordingly!
How quick some are to pull
How quick some are to pull out the word "heresy" when what they mean is "progressive thought"--better known as, "what I don't agree with"!
What heresy, Chris, is
What heresy, Chris, is constantly promoted in your parish?
The RNC political platform?
Has the Holy Office, officially the only autoritative body in this matter, formally declared heresy in the case?
Reading the Reverend Father Richard P. McBrien always gives me hope, too, Chris, just like you!
and other Theological virtues, too!
frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco)
What a trite way to say
What a trite way to say nothing! I don't know how many of his columns you've read over the years, but on the contrary McBrien has a universality to him that clearly makes him a citizen of the world.
What right does the bishop
What right does the bishop have to order this? Why doesn't the pastor just continue putting copies of your column available at the back of the church? Unless a good reason is given for interfering with the pastor's local choices for his parish. Where is the bill in Canon Law protecting the rights of priests?
Sadly, regardless of
Sadly, regardless of canonical protection in the Code of Canon Law, in recent years we have seen that de facto bishops can do as they damn well please to pastors with little or no recourse. We need Vatican III soon!
You are so right. A Diocese
You are so right. A Diocese is the Bishop's own little empire and the chair is his castle. The things I have seen in my parish for the last 40 years is so discouraging. Unless you want to be crucified it is best to just keep your mouth shut.
Yes, perhaps we do need a
Yes, perhaps we do need a Vatican III. But, many NCR people will be very disappointed with the results!
And maybe - just maybe - it
And maybe - just maybe - it woud give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to provide the Church the guidance that has been so stifled, if not banned, for the past 30 years. Who knows?
Ah yes. Apparently the Holy
Ah yes. Apparently the Holy Spirit is at work when the liberals get their way. When they don't get their way the Holy Spirit is stifled.
I fully doubt the Holy Spirit
I fully doubt the Holy Spirit is at all aligned with one group vs. another. How could you suggest such a thing, Anonymous? It seems that your knee-jerk reactions color even the hope that the Spirit will guide and inform us all. Boy, are you ever fixated on some defensive need to attack others. We all need one another's best thoughts and insights.
A Bishop’s responsibility is
A Bishop’s responsibility is far more than mere bureaucracy. As actual successors to the Apostles themselves, they are the primary teachers and sanctifiers for their local sees. As such, it is their spiritual duty to uphold true Catholic teaching.
All diocesan priests are incardinated to their bishop. They are assistants and subject to their bishops under a promise of obedience they have willingly taken. (Fr. McBrien should seriously reconsider his own vocation if he feels the parish priesthood is simply a “form of employment.”)
Any doctrine that is not deemed Catholic or is potentially heretical has no place within the walls of a parish church, whether it be from the pastor’s lips or as “innocent” as a piece of paper. If a bishop makes that determination, then it is the pastor’s job to uphold it. The amount of parishioners being for or against the inclusion of questionable material is immaterial. "Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it." -- St. Augustine
Mr. Brian Batty, O.P. on Apr.
Mr. Brian Batty, O.P. on Apr. 28, 2010.
You stated:
"A Bishop’s responsibility is far more than mere bureaucracy. As actual successors to the Apostles themselves, they are the primary teachers and sanctifiers for their local sees. As such, it is their spiritual duty to uphold true Catholic teaching.
All diocesan priests are incardinated to their bishop. They are assistants and subject to their bishops under a promise of obedience they have willingly taken. (Fr. McBrien should seriously reconsider his own vocation if he feels the parish priesthood is simply a “form of employment.”)
Any doctrine that is not deemed Catholic or is potentially heretical has no place within the walls of a parish church, whether it be from the pastor’s lips or as “innocent” as a piece of paper. If a bishop makes that determination, then it is the pastor’s job to uphold it. The amount of parishioners being for or against the inclusion of questionable material is immaterial. "Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it." -- St. Augustine"
------------------------------------------------------
Jesus did not establish the Apostles as Bishops. Their call by Jesus was a unique and non-replicable ministry. Our bishops cannot trace their episcopacy back to all of the Apostles. The best that they could do, would be to trace it back to the men so ordained by St. Paul. Paul did ordain men to be leaders of Christian Communities (Timothy and Titus---would be two of these). Thomas certainly must have designated men for Christian Community leadership in India.
Secondly, what is considered "heretical?" A heresy is that which contradicts any of the articles of the Nicene Creed----Fr. McBrien is not doing that. If he offers ideas contrary to the existing practices or the understanding of
the Church----he is doing what theologians have done through history. If Thomas Aquinas had not done that----Plotonic theology (which is still a valid Catholic theology) would be still taught world wide today. And after Aquinas----there are other valid theologies recognized by the Church. Careful with the word "heretic."
Sorry to point out the
Sorry to point out the inconvenient facts here, but Acts 1:20-26 states:
For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'Let his habitation become desolate, and let there be no one to live in it'; and 'His office let another take.'...
And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsab'bas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthi'as. And they prayed and said, "Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, show which one of these two thou hast chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthi'as; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles.
Judas' office needed to be filled - couldn't be plainer. His replacement for the "place" in the "ministry and apostleship" was "chosen" by the "Lord"; the successor was not self-appointed or employed by the other apostles. One of the clearest things Jesus did was to establish his own foot soldiers in an organized, roughly identifiable fashion and that's in some part why the early Church survived.
episcopos - bishop, overseer. Some Bible translations try to provide a translation that in places ignore the clear structural implications.
No one suggested McBrien's views are being labelled heretical here by mean church authorities - straw man. The issue of authority was being discussed in general terms.
And to use an example, you don't have the right to put a bumper sticker on my car in the name of your free speech. Whoever runs the magazine has the right to include/exclude whomsoever they wish. It's not an issue of democracy and free speech. If McBrien wants to publish his own magazine, more power to him.
It's "Platonic", by the way. Did you mean to suggest that Platonic theology is no longer taught (sounds more like enforced, inflicted, etc. in your phrasing)? Aquinas and Aristotle don't hold a monopoly today either obviously. Scholasticism had to be scaled back somewhat after the 16th century. Anyway, it sure would be hard to discuss Augustine if Plato were no longer discussed. Strange term - "valid Catholic theologies". Don't quite understand that either.
"Any doctrine that is not
"Any doctrine that is not deemed Catholic or is potentially heretical..."
Ah, therein lies the rub.
Regrettably, those doing the "deeming" place no faith in the Spirit working among the People of God. Only the hierarchs have the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Like hell they do!!!
Most sad.
Most sad.
Hopefully when Archbishop
Hopefully when Archbishop Gomez succeeds Cardinal Mahony in Los Angeles, and he discontinues the publication of this column (along with Fr. Rolheiser's) in the Archdiocesan newspaper, some parishes will follow the good example of this pastor and begin to print it in their bulletin.
Which is why more and more of
Which is why more and more of us are leaving the church. After 50 years of waiting for the Catholic Church to make some progressive changes I have finally smartened up and joined the Methodist Church.
Giving up the Eucharist--some
Giving up the Eucharist--some method of protest. Good luck with that. It seems to me that you probably never were truly Catholic, believing all that the Church teaches. You probably stayed around because people like "The Reverend Father Richard P. McBrien" told you that the Christ and His Church would change to fit your ideas, so you don't have to conform to Christ and His Church.
Anonymous, you're making an
Anonymous, you're making an awful lot of assumptions on very little information.
Certainly the anti-Catholic
Certainly the anti-Catholic sentiments dripping from this comment are sufficient to drive anyone screaming from any room, out into the wild and starry night.
Come to the desert.
To a place apart.
To silence.
Alone.
To Peace.
Love.
God.
Or, you know, otherwise, with no desert nearby, get to the Spanish Mass . . .
Where never are heard such discouraging words . . .
Ironic the comment section of
Ironic the comment section of this column entitled A Demoralized Church contains such powerfully demoralizing words, almost as if a parody for a case in point, but here real . . .
Jesus said, what?
Gave us what Commandment?
Love one another?
What more do we read -
In choir each mid-day we hear -
Bear one anoher's burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ.
Fratres, alter alterius onera portate et sic adimplebitis legem Christi.
Amen.
Why do we not?
More importantly:
How can we more totally, immeasurably, unquestioningly, indefinitely, even undeservedly, nonviolently, patiently?
If Jesus were to visit "His
If Jesus were to visit "His church", He would undoubtedly wonder what went wrong. Where's the love, the compassion, the community? Why are his shepherds acting like emperors with titles and flowing robes squashing any difference of opinion instead of pastors encouraging the spiritual development of their "flock"? Given the scandalous behavior of the heirarchy, why would anyone want to conform to their version of faith? The Spirit dwells in all of us, not just in the clergy. We are the church - all of us.
Jesus said, "My kingdom is
Jesus said, "My kingdom is NOT of this world!" Around 1970, I was exposed to the new, Charismatic Movement in the Catholic Church, which gave me a first-hand, genuine insight, for the first time, into Christ's kingdom of love. For the first time in my entire life I was in a community that was based on Christ's Laws of Love. It was an indescribably, palpable experience, soon outlawed by the diocese in which we were meeting. The diocese was located in the So. Valley of Albuquerque, NM. This was a poor, predominantly Hispanic parish, and we were kicked out of it, "For praying too much," and for "Praying in the Holy Spirit, rather than praying to Mary!" We were an aggravation to the "Good Catholics" of the parish, who didn't want their faith, which was grounded in centuries of rigidity, challenged with any experience resembling Christ's love. As a group, we and our money, moved on, and our community was openly embraced by a more progressive and understanding parish located in the NE Heights. I might add that we didn't conform to our bishop's version of his faith, and as a result, most involved in the first Charismatic Movement in Albuquerque moved on, again, to the open arms of Protestant Charismatics. Christ's Love and His Word are addictive, and those who believe in both often find that His "kingdom is NOT of this world!" It is found in His Holy Spirit!
I seriously doubt that Jesus
I seriously doubt that Jesus would consider the Church of Rome to be "His church". Not only does history argue against this claim, but the reactionaries themselves --- with their penchant for control and imposition --- engage in manifest behaviors not at all Christlike.
Let go and let God.
Not if you're bent on control.
Not if you're a self-described "orthodox" Catholic.
I do not know where you live,
I do not know where you live, but you may wnat to check out the Independent Catholic Church movements. There several branches throught the country. I live in Wisconsin and am in formation for priesthood in the United Independent Catholic Church. Check out our website www.uicchurch.homestead.com. It will hotlink to the regional diocese ans well as the local parishes in the US.
Blessings,
Andrew Smith
Lay Administrator/Priest in Formation
SS Cyril and Methodius UICC
Neenah, WI
There is a wonderful
There is a wonderful independent church CACINA, mostly in the east.
www.cacina.org
It is hard for me to join though. I feel like I Roman Catholic worshiping with a very close neighbor for the time being, so that I can maintain peace in my life.
Encouraging others into
Encouraging others into Schism and Heresy? Nice. I seem to remember a verse about a millstone around your neck.
Well, so much for following
Well, so much for following the quiet voice of God within oneself.
Conscience.
Religious liberty.
Opposed to religious intolerance and imposition.
Opposed to anathemas.
As manifested by Tom A.
You are leaving the church
You are leaving the church because the Bishop doesn't want heretical Fr. McBrien's articles published in the church bulletin?
"Heretical"? Are you
"Heretical"? Are you serious? And what would you call Hoyos..or Law..or Maciel...or any of the other innumerable members of our esteemed hierarchy who have betrayed our children and the Gospel, and who dress in fancy robes and preach about what "good Catholics" are supposed to be doing? THAT'S heretical. It's also sickening. Go Fr. McBrien!
You can call them any nasty
You can call them any nasty name you want. Some of them would even be true, like hypocrite, scoundrel, sinner, fornicator, enabler, conspirator, etc etc. But you can't call them a heretic. Look up the definition before you throw it out there showing us all your ignorance.
"Heretic: A baptized Roman
"Heretic: A baptized Roman Catholic who willfully and persistently rejects any article of faith."
One can quote and teach doctrine, and 'articles of faith', flawlessly -- that's easy. It's the way a person lives that speaks volumes.
"Heretical: Characterized by, revealing, or approaching departure from established beliefs or standards."
The terms "heretic" and "heretical" fit the clerics I mentioned above. They did indeed "willfully and persistently" reject articles of faith, and they certainly revealed "departure from established beliefs or standards." They taught and revealed all this through their behavior.
Fr. McBrien is much-preferred over white-washed tombs any day.
I have never seen anything
I have never seen anything from the Vatican defining any part of the massive work of the Reverend Father Richard P. McBrien "heretical."
Has anyone?
I must have missed that Bull.
Or those Briefs.
frère charles du désert OSB OBLAT (Congrégation de Subiaco)
I agree with you, frere
I agree with you, frere charles.
Unlike some of his critics, not only is McBrien orthodox, but he is also a knowledgeable and thinking man.
hieretical = heretical ?
hieretical = heretical ?
Dear Anonymous: I respect
Dear Anonymous:
I respect your feeling and decision of joining the Methodist Church. I am not to change your mind. But I let you know that everytime I hear someone is leaving or has left their Catholic faith, I feel a great pain in my heart. Exactly I have been through as you did. But finally with the Holy Spirit speaking in my heart, I realize that I have to make the disction between my Catholic Fath and the hierarchical, monarchical, imperial church whic is only an Vatican institution actomg as it enjoys the power and complete control over the good faithfuls entrusted to its spiritual care and assistance. You might do just what I am doing - just to ignore it and forget it. But pleae never leave Jesus alone who is waiting for you to come and take HIM to yourself - your soul, heart, mind and life - in the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Hope you serioously realize this reality of Jesus expecting you to take HIM - The Son of God - to be with you sacramentally and physically. Though you have to go to a church building to reaceive HIM, it should not keep you away from HIM at all as long as you live and need HIS Sacramental and Physical PRESENCE in your daily living. Please pray to the Holy Spirit for re-dierecting your spiritual steps toward OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.
"Rome is falling" and so is
"Rome is falling" and so is the Catholice "Vatican Church" that is SO. SO regressive. A new church will be reborn from the ashes. I feel badly for the open minded parishioners whose spiritual lives are undermined by this "scandal" from the Vatican Church.
What if the pastors could
What if the pastors could issue a vote of no confidence and be rid of the Bishop. Who better to evaluate the effectiveness of the bishop than the pastors. There is a generation of 50 or so year old bishops who, as one in our diocese so aptly said, are more sheriff than shepherd!
Sadly many of the pastors in
Sadly many of the pastors in my diocese are just as bad as the bishop! The young associates are even worse! It is very hard to find a place to go to Mass.
Just another manifestation of
Just another manifestation of the growing divide between "JPII clergy", on the one hand, and Vatican II Catholics, on the other. A few years ago, sociologists of religion James Davidson and Dean Hoge, based on their longitudinal studies, predicted that we can plan on witnessing the greatest "expectation gap" between these two groups in another decade or two.
TITHING = ENABLING
DON'T ENABLE
Yes, and they are appointing
Yes, and they are appointing them pastors four or five years after ordination.
I write simply as a mother
I write simply as a mother and grandmother who doesn't have the "credentials" of celibate, childless clerics. Other-faith friends ask me how in the world my husband and I, within this Catholic Church, raised six children, now adults, to dedicate their lives to helping others? It was not within a punitive, narrow vision of repressive thought, that's for sure, but rather, within a domestic and even institutional Catholic environment that promoted critical thinking, questioning, evaluating, and action. I feel sorry for those parishioners whose badge is the vertical hierarchy of power rather than the more challenging daily bread of mutual love and true compassion, the real power of Catholic Christian faith. But then, what do I know?
Dear Katherine, You know A
Dear Katherine,
You know A LOT........
Thank you....God Bless you!
Michael
Fidelity, love and compassion
Fidelity, love and compassion permeate your comments. Thank you for reminding everyone what grows faith and what represses it.
Katherine, We have similar
Katherine,
We have similar situations: six kids, 4 teachers, 1 photojournalist, 1 group home assistant. Still Catholic; still using conscience as guide. We need Fr. McBriens
What do you know? Way more
What do you know? Way more than the heirarchy ever will. You don't "practice" the faith; you live it. Brava!
Wow, you are very wise. I'd
Wow, you are very wise. I'd love to have a cup of tea with you one day.
Sadly, we are all too aware
Sadly, we are all too aware of what does happen when a conservative pastor does such things as harrangue the people about their sinfulness and who see abortion as the only moral issue of the day. I am reminded of such an experience in a small town in Oklahoma. Parishioners have made repeated visits to the bishop with these complaints and others. The bishop's only response is that there is no one else. "We don't have enough priests." This is a diocese in which the tabernacle has been returned to its pre-Vatican II place: on the mail altar and where perpetual adoration also has great prominence
TITHING = ENABLING STOP
TITHING = ENABLING
STOP ENABLING
MONEY TALKS (to pastors and to their bosses)
Hey Joe, your formula
Hey Joe, your formula works.
That is what is happening in the diocese of Portland Maine.
Bishop Malone spent 600K and bankrupted the diocese to fight same sex marriage.
GET THIS: Now he has no money. He has sent each household a letter
asking FOR EVERY FAMILY TO DONATE $6000.00 TO HIM!
Guess what? I don't know of anyone who has.
Thank you for the potentially
Thank you for the potentially good news.
Anybody donating money to this good hierarch would be on a fool's errand (and I'm not referring to "fools for Christ").
Didn´t NCR have a graph of
Didn´t NCR have a graph of how much bishops were contributing to buy that vote, competing with one another profusely in what lawyers call a p*ssing contest?
And now the bishop of Portland orders each family to send him another keg, having shot the wad as a political lobbyist?
This is spiritual direction?
Am I reading this right.
Am I reading this right. Reminding people of their sinfullness upsets you? Why? Are there no sinners in that Parish? And what is it about perpetual adoration that bothers you?
Thank you for informing us. I
Thank you for informing us. I continue to have hope that the verocity of right-wingers will discredit them. It's healthy, for instance, that the pope is now challenged because he valued victims of sexual assault less than the institution of the Church. The sex scandal shows us that, given enough time, reasonable people do prevail.
I believe I know the answer
I believe I know the answer to my question but I will ask it anyway. why didn't Father McBrien ( whom I don't always agree with either} name names in this oolumn? I would like to know who this bishop is. Too many hide under the cloak of anonymity and keep on doing things the way they have always done things. My answer I suspect is one of the cardinal virtues: PRUDENCE which I believe is a good anser.
John, I agree that the answer
John, I agree that the answer of "Prudence" is the correct answer, but not the "right" answer. The "right" answer is "Cowardice"-------exact opposite of the course of action Jesus would follow. The only thing necessary for evil to conquer, is for good people to do nothing when they observe it. That insight was spoken by someone far more authentic than I. Since when is it Christian for someone NOT to speak out in the face of evil BECAUSE he is afraid of what damage it will do to his clerical career? In my view, the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church have a Christian obligation to confront the Pope and the hierarchy over their unChristian mishandling of the sexual abuse tragedy. Their loyalty should be to Jesus not to the Pope; yes, in this situation, they are dramatic opposites. It would be very difficult to believe that with the widespread Catholic abuse going on, that priests did not know what their "brothers in Christ" were doing behind closed doors. If, and hopefully when they did report their brothers' crimes to the Bishop and nothing was done, then they were obligated in loyalty to Jesus to go PUBLIC to the People of God with their observations. Obviously, so many priests did NOTHING with the facts that they had; and now we all wonder how this crisis ever occurred. At this point, it is the obligation of every Catholic in loyalty to Jesus to withhold their financial support and their social recognition from the Catholic Church. To do anything less is to enable and condone the evil that the Church has supported. Time for a Third Vatican Council to examine all policies and practices of the Holy Roman Catholic Church with the sole goal of restoring it to the model of Jesus.
Perhaps it is out of
Perhaps it is out of consideration for the pastor that Fr. McBrien chooses not to name the bishop. The pastor has already raised the matter with his congregation, who have gone to the bishop to express their displeasure at his censorship.
However to have the matter escalated in a national forum such as this would no doubt cause the pastor great discomfort, perhaps even making it impossible for him to continue the good work he is doing in his parish.
It is for him--- not for Fr. McBrien--- to make the decision which will
either way affect the good pastor's career and his relationship with his
earthly boss.
In this respect, Fr. McBrien has shown his integrity.
Maine-Portland diocese is
Maine-Portland diocese is one-not sure it is the only one.
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