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PDF versionThe high cost of lost integrity
by Robert McClory on Nov. 22, 2011
In commenting on my article concerning the nonreception of church teaching ("When is dissent not just dissent?" Nov. 17), Jim McCrea made some valid points well worth considering: "How many of us know priests and lay people, active in parishes and dioceses, who compromise their core beliefs so as to carry on the good work they are doing within church structures? Whether the issue is Eucharistic inclusivity, option for the poor, a thinking laity, married clergy, women's ordination, homosexuality, contraception, our Church fosters a culture of keeping quiet so as to keep going. Sometimes the pressure from above is overt, but we are all subject to that subtlest form of institutional intimidation which everyone registers without it having to be articulated.
"We watch the few who persist in standing against it being marginalized or pushed out altogether; their whole lives can be taken apart. Many, both young and lifelong churchgoers, can no longer accept it and are walking away. Meanwhile those who slip into capitulating to it progressively deform their spiritual integrity.
"Of course, the Protestant tradition and secular society have long picked up the tenor of hypocrisy about Catholicism. After Vatican II, though, many of us felt we were on the way to being freed from it. But the volume now seems to be ratcheting up again. How can we commit to the Church we love without dancing to this particular tune?"
I believe a great number of priests and other church employees share Jim's discomfort in this atmosphere of 21st century Catholicism. It is not a healthy environment conducive to robust, confident breathing. In order to do their service to the church, they must hold their tongue on a variety of matters they consider important for the future of the church. And when asked what they think in public, they dissemble or just lie. If it's not hypocrisy, it is, as Jim states, a diminishment of their integrity so vital to authentic ministry.
I thought about this while studying the 2011 survey of Catholics, covered in detail in the Oct 28-Nov. 10 NCR. The several reports by the survey staff were overall upbeat in their reaction to the findings, noting the absence of any grave changes since these surveys began in 1987.
"American Catholics continue to maintain a moderate to high degree of commitment to the church," Michelle Dillon said. She explained that Catholic orthodoxy is itself "heavily encrusted with doctrinal shifts, institutional changes and theological nuance, characteristics befitting Catholicism's long history and constituting a pluralistic tradition that allows for more thoughtful individual autonomy than some might assume."
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I would like to believe this healthy Catholic pluralism Michelle speaks about was the norm. But the findings she reports on show an ever-increasing skepticism and unwillingness of Catholics to place their trust in those who expound on Catholic orthodoxy.
For example, the survey reveals that only 30 percent of Catholics claim "Vatican authority" is "very important" to them. Across the board, fewer than 50 percent of those surveyed indicate that being a Catholic is "among the most important influences in their life." And among the youngest group, the millennials, a scant 34 percent place it among the most important. With regard to Mass attendance, 47 percent acknowledge they attend "less than monthly" -- a response that covers a lot of territory, from those who go to Mass every six weeks or so, to those who go only on Christmas and Easter, to those who never attend Mass at all. There is an undeniable erosion of commitment and trust here that ought to stir the bishops from their preoccupation with in-house concerns including claims that they are victims of anti-Catholic bigotry on the part of government.
I may be wrong but I submit a direct link exists between these survey findings showing the withdrawal of trust people place in church leadership and the inability of church leaders to be open, candid and transparent about their convictions. You may include here a great number of priests, religion teachers, laity working in Catholic hospitals, universities and other institutions, pastors, chancery officials and those bishops who understand what's going on. They remain outwardly discrete and noncommittal lest honest candor cost them their jobs. And everyone sees through this thin disguise. The result is often not sympathy for their plight but sad disillusionment among many Catholics and angry cynicism among others.
Right. Deny what the studies
Right. Deny what the studies find. That makes you diverse and progressive, not hypocritical.
INTEGRITY AND FEAR ..........
INTEGRITY AND FEAR .......... Thanks, Bob, for again stimulating us to think. The pervasive intimidation of Catholic Church subordinates, ranging from priests and nuns to CCD directors and office workers, by Rome and/or bishops is a fact of everyday Catholic life. Sadly, given the pope's current strategy, it will likely only get worse, especially as prosecutors worldwide close in on the Roman rulers and their subordinate bishops.
What are one's options if trapped as a subordinate in this unjust Church structure? If married with a family, not many until you win the lottery or can quietly find other non-Church employment. If single, as with priests and nuns, there are at least four options:
(1) Stay and bite your tongue. This is a very depressing option.
(2) Leave and begin a new life. This is a very scary option.
(3) Stand up to the hierarchy alone. This is a very dangerous option.
(4) Stand up to the hierarcy as part of an organized group. This could work.
The US Leadership Conference of Women Religious recently successfully resisted an unwarranted and intimidating Vatican investigation of American nuns. Priests are presently organizing and resisting unreasonable hierarchical demands in Austria and Ireland, with other countries expected to follow.
For information on the major current efforts by priests in Austria and Ireland to stand up the the Vatican and their local bishops, please note the NCR comment and related cross links under the comment heading, "Austria First, Then ?? " , accessible by clicking on at:
http://ncronline.org/news/faith-parish/austrian-bishops-say-no-lay-led-mass
For more information on the current papal strategy that will likely only increase the intimidation on many Catholic Church subordinates, please see the NCR comment and related cross links under the comment heading, "Language Matters" , accessible by clicking on at:
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/new-mass-translation-significant-tu...
The bishops are subject to
The bishops are subject to anti-catholic bigotry fostered by themselves. Many Catholics no longer revere their bishops, and the cause is the bishops behavior.
Thanks Robert. While there
Thanks Robert.
While there are several important issues pushing Catholics to other Churches, in my circle of family and friends that have or are considering leaving...the global pandemic raping of children and the nefarious intentional cover is up IS THE REASON. We struggle with one question. How can a holy/pious institution neglect the victims and for decades probably centuries protect the guilty at all costs. Be transparent, admit the magnitude and duration of this rape and torture, make amends...then and only then, can the RCC move forward and perhaps grow.
I have seen it written many times in ncr comments but, it bears repeating.
THIS IS NOT GOING AWAY
Peace to all.
Robert McClory is right. You
Robert McClory is right. You don't magically believe in something contrary to your beliefs because someone tells you to believe. What you can do is to say you believe to keep them off your back.
A German theologian named
A German theologian named Ratzinger once wrote, "Evil draws its power from indecision and concern for what other people may think" (The Way of the Cross).
I cannot agree more with your
I cannot agree more with your analysis. For years I sat on the sidelines as a married priest rather than rock the boat. I recently took a leap of faith and joined a very inclusive intentional Eucharistic community. I have experienced a profound renewal of faith and hope and am at peace.
Thanks Gene for your sincere
Thanks Gene for your sincere personal comment. It made my day. I am so very happy for you. I went through your experience back in 1980 but having lived and worked as a “missionary Padre” 25 years on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua before I “chose out” I had also become imbued with some of our “spíritu latino” regarding “Church laws”.
With my Nicaraguan wife (a “nun” during 20 years) we began raising our two daughters and several foster daughters. When our elder daughter was 8 and asked to be baptized, we decided to “straighten out” our civil marriage with the Church. The local pastor (a Spanish Dominican Priest) at first did not believe me when I explained to him the simple form of “Iglesia suplet” in the “old cannon law” that I had studied back in 1950. But I presented him with our civil marriage certificate and my dispensation by the Vatican. He checked it out with the local chancery and within a month we received a document singed by our Cardinal Archbishop declaring that we had entered a valid sacramental matrimony on the date of our civil ceremony.
Several years later, the Dominican Friars were removed from the parish, and after a year and still unable to adapt myself to the Sunday “celebrations” of the new pastor I decided to latch on to a small group that had evolved around a popular community center within two kilometers of our home.
It has been a great success. And since in our “latino culture” everybody knows “who’s who and who’s your daddy” and we tend to be very inclusive, everyone knows our history. When the Dominican Padre on rare occasions has found it impossible to be with us for our Sunday evenings with some 100 people of the community, they ask me to lead the celebration. Each has its good points: his celebrations are beautifully done and without a missal but only in Spanish, while my celebrations are usually bi-lingual to accommodate a dozen or so English speaking tourists that flow through our community on Sunday evenings.
Now at my 84 years and working only half time on computer accounting just to keep the rice and beans on the table and the internet connection paid up to date, I finally have time and opportunity to read, study and blogg on line and enjoy our marriage and family life. We both wish all the same for you and your family Gene. God bless.
Justiniano de Managua el 25 de nov. 2011
Thanks Gene for your sincere
Thanks Gene for your sincere personal comment. It made my day. I am so very happy for you. I went through your experience back in 1980 but having lived and worked as a “missionary Padre” 25 years on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua before I “chose out” I had also become imbued with some of our “spíritu latino” regarding “Church laws”.
With my Nicaraguan wife (a “nun” during 20 years) we began raising our two daughters and several foster daughters. When our elder daughter was 8 and asked to be baptized, we decided to “straighten out” our civil marriage with the Church. The local pastor (a Spanish Dominican Priest) at first did not believe me when I explained to him the simple form of “Iglesia suplet” in the “old cannon law” that I had studied back in 1950 and presented him with our civil marriage certificate and my dispensation by the Vatican. He checked it out with the local chancery and within a month we received a document singed by our Cardinal Archbishop declaring that we had entered a valid sacramental matrimony on the date of our civil ceremony.
Several years later, the Dominican Friars were removed from the parish, and after a year and still unable to adapt myself to the Sunday “celebrations” of the new pastor I decided to latch on to a small group that had evolved around a popular community center within two kilometers of our home.
It has been a great success. And since in our “latino culture” everybody knows “who’s who and who’s your daddy” and we tend to be very inclusive, everyone knows our history. When the Dominican Padre on rare occasions has found it impossible to be with us for our Sunday evenings with some 100 people of the community, they ask me to lead the celebration. Each has its good points: his celebrations are beautifully done and without a missal but only in Spanish, while my celebrations are usually bi-lingual to accommodate a dozen or so English speaking tourists that flow through our community on Sunday evenings.
Now at my 84 years and working only half time on computer accounting just to keep the rice and beans on the table and the internet connection paid up to date, I finally have time and opportunity to read, study and blogg on line and enjoy our marriage and family life. We both wish all the same for you and your family Gene. God bless.
Justiniano de Managua el 25 de nov. 2011
Thank you for describing the
Thank you for describing the dilemna facing so many committed Catholics.
All those who believed the statements of Vatican II about the people of God and the role of the laity in the Church are now sitting disillusioned and depressed on the sidelines of the regressive institution we have become, stunned by the lack of integrity and loss of credibility by those who claim to speak in Jesus name.
What can we do to change things, to eupport and encourage the true shepherds, bishops and priests, who share our misery? We trust that the Holy Spirit will intervene in some way, but what can each one of us do? Simple protests have apparently failed to move those who should speak for their people. Even larger and more organized groups like Call to Action & SNAP are ignored or marginalized, while older organizations are seduced by the trappings of their national officers parading at flowery functions.
Some have argued for witholding financial support, thus leading to closing of parishes, schools and various charitable programs necessary in to-day's sconomy. I have suggested a less radical response, but on a national level: that we, the faithful, occupy every church in the country for one week-end, preferably the New Year week-end, from Saturday morning til Monday morning. This should be a reverent, prayerful week-end, fasting and praying quietly for the Church, leaving quietly on Monday morning.
We believe we represent the mainline Church, not a bunch of disaffected radicals. Let's see if we are right!
In my experience in
In my experience in Philadelphia's western suburbs, no sermons focus on birth control, for this very reason. Clergy who are anywhere near being good pastors cannot honestly preach the message of Humanae Vitae that every marital act must be free of obstacles to conception. And they therefore do not preach on this topic. I am sure that if quizzed on such silence, they could offer an "out": viz., there might be young children present, and everyone would be uncomfortable hearing a sermon about sex in such a situation.
I am glad to say I cannot recall any sermon where homosexuality was expressly raised (and condemned). Probably for the same reason.
But of course, I have heard rumors of some (few) clergy who, with their unbridled opposition to abortion, choose to include most gory and horrible details of abortions in their sermons. If I heard such a thing, I would stand up, turn my back, and then a moment or two later, walk out, without caring who saw me making such a statement. But I have not heard such a "sermon".
At Christmas, when families are reunited and then come to Mass together, the young adults who are home visiting (with grandchildren being carefully minded by parents and grandparents) are not warned by any clergy to avoid Communion if they are -- forgive me -- shacking up or remarried without an annulment. Another sign of this clerical ambivalence. (I wrote of this before in another comment, and someone sent a Reply saying shame on me for not warning my thirty-one-year-old remarried child -- who had not received an annulment -- not to receive Communion.)
When I was in a hospital last year with a lot of pain (and sent home soon after they determined it was only a kidney stone), I had asked my wife to make sure a priest stopped by my room. While I was still there, a priest did stop in and gave Communion to both my wife and me (not a word about confession possibly being needed) and then he annointed me (after reminding us that it is the Sacrament of the Sick, not only for those about to shuffle off). My point: he administered the Blessed Sacrament and was a good pastor. He did not pull out the rule book. He did not first ask, When did you last go to Mass? to Confession? We chatted briefly, and I knew he was a good priest. The same sort of story unfolds when lay people, bearing the Host, come to hospitals or nursing homes. They never ask whether the sick person needs a priest and confession, before giving Communion.
Just a few pictures to support your thesis.
Vincent
And wahat about the
And wahat about the suffering?
We seldom think about how people who are reduced to silence by the Vatican feel. The truth is that it can be a great source of pain. Please, take a look at this book review published in The Tablet:
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/issue/1000285/booksandart
Sunday homilies and Catholic
Sunday homilies and Catholic schools have both done a good job of teaching us what it takes to be a Christian. We see Jesus exhibiting love, compassion, and care for everyone that he comes in contact with, not just his disciples. He was inclusive of men, women, sinners and non-jews. He threatened those who did not take proper care of children. The biggest problem with the Pharisees was their legalism with no care or compassion.
The point of all of this is that if we apply the above to our Catholic hierarchy, they have more in common with the Pharisees that with Jesus' disciples. As a group, they are exclusive, turn away sinners, do not protect children and are excessively legalistic. As a group, they are the Catholic 'leadership', but I claim that they are not Christian. Jesus forcefully told us that if you just "talk-the-talk", but don't "walk-the-walk" that you are not disciple. How much clearer does it get! We will see improvement in the church only when we see conversion in the hierarchy.
I love McClory's articles.
I love McClory's articles. They make me think rather than react. Please keep it up. In a thanksgiving (USA) mood, I would like to thank NCR for helping me retain my sense of "being" Catholic.
It is also my opinion that most Catholics, hierarchy and minion like us, hold to a "private faith", our secret twist on a doctrine, teaching,demand that keeps us sanely catholic but "unorthodox" or "heretical if exposed. Why?
Maybe because we "believe" at a more basic level in what it means to be Catholic. For some, it is because we really don't think about what it means to be religious, to "be in faith" rather than just to "have faith". For many,it is the elevation of incidental, or "traditional" but unessential markers to exemplify the core. So who is fooling whom?
Though I am angry and lonely, that there is not an uprising of catholics which I can publicaly join, I am confident, in a way, that the spirit is cajoling us through our laic "unconscious" as well as conscious dissent. The advocates of things NCR seem to be dissident because they have rejected authoritarian patriarchalism, but, more importantly, because they have embraced inclusiveness, acceptance of women's equality, are trying to understand and be accepting to homosexuality and same-sex marriage, are troubled by unequivocal condemnation of abortion; see the world and earth, all peoples as the "matter" for the mystical body. The Spirit is working, just not through the hierarchy and we, the "carriers" are not really aware of or yet responsible for our "felix culpa".
I couldn't agree with you
I couldn't agree with you less: Catholics have found themselves in an appauling situation because many have NOT rejected the authoritarian patriarchalism. Tell me we would have these abuse issues if more women were in positions of power, excluding religious who are bound to their particular vows and bishops.
In the Victorian country town of Ballarat Australia, we have 25 suicides from one diocese alone, and a recent survey has shown at least another 10 from the Melbourne diocese. Judy Courtin a PhD canditate in law, has been studying the impact of sexual abuse of clergy on victims and is pushing for details of all those who have taken their lives, to be handed over to the coroner for re-investigation and with other's, calling on the Attorney General for an independant inquirey into the handling of abuse by the church.
So determined is this woman, she has organised a rally on Sunday December 4 in the heart of Melbourne.
What a validation for all those mother's who have lost their children.
As a by product, it also brings to mind the couragious clergy near and far, who too have given their lives trying to do something about the tragedy out of conscience.
Integrity means only
Integrity means only considering yourself Catholic if your "core beliefs" are the same as those taught by Catholic authority,and insisting upon penalties for disobedience to that authority.If your beliefs are otherwise your faith journey must take you elsewhere.
I am not religious myself,and oppose Catholic teaching on a number of issues,but those who oppose it on more issues than I do yet insist they are part of the church they defy leave me speechless.
Louis, why should anyone
Louis, why should anyone leave when the church is full of it's own contradictions, it's those who can't get theyr'e stories or they're lives right who should leave, no matter how far up the ladder.
Two instances comes to mind: Cardinal Law escaping prison in America and ex bishop, Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo and all the children he fathered, whilst holding his ministerial position within the church, one mother a mere 16 years old.
To be a teacher one has to first be a witness, in all things.
Great comments dennism.
Great comments dennism. Please if you use latin, could the English be provided too. It would be most appreciated, and might be quick and easy, for the writer to add. I realize we could go look it up however for ease of communication and because many are time-pressed, it would make the points people make more accessible to all. I appreciate the wise comments you have made and the frustration you express and experienced also by so many thinking Catholics today. Now I have to look up 'felix' which I only know as a name in English. (Lots of us never learned Latin. Never offered either in many schools. My parents do not know Latin either.)
I agree that there is
I agree that there is pervasive intimidation of lay church workers to speak only the doctrinal line. And I have seen the evil that can be done to those who don't. So I can understand that there options are limited and stay and biting your tongue is a necesary response. However, I have little simpathy for priests that do this. For most what can happen to them? If priests said at the pulpit that some of this new translations were goofy, would they be fired? I doubt it. If they publicly said, "the church needs to find a better response to divorced catholics," would they be fired. I don't think so. If there are priests who beleive these things, what are they afraid of?
Just a few comments. I have
Just a few comments. I have heard virulent anti-homosexuality sermons; not about needing to minister to the not sexually active homosexual but what an
abomination it was. The choir director had to talk several of the choir members into not leaving - denying who they were so they could continue to sing the praises of the Lord.
It is the heirarchy's legalism,their abuse of children, the cover-up, etc. I have problems with but I have also found so many priests and bishops just rude, lacking ordinary good manners.
And we also cringe at bigoted
And we also cringe at bigoted comments about Jews and Judaism in the sermons.
The difficulty is in
The difficulty is in exercising one's integrity. A fellow parishoner who noted my absence from Sunday Mass responded to my excuses/reasons by noting kindly:"We go to Mass for the Lord". So true. But is not the sacrament also an exercise of the mystical body as well as of the mystical faith? The Mass is worship, adoration, awe-full acknowledgement of God's ....etc., etc. It is also the acknowledgement by Christ of our humanity: sentient, passionate, needing nourishment and nurturing - spiritual, physical,intellectual, communitarian. He doesn't love our humanity; He loves us because we are human.
As a former disgruntled public servant, I am a firm believer that an organization and its representatives have an inherent obligation to organize and act internally and publicaly in a manner that is consistent with its mandate, its values, that is, its message. And if they don't?
Let's take the new transaltion as an example. Just words? No ulterior motivation? The considered exercise by legitimate authority of the better for the best and to the most? Nah. It is the demonstration that absolute authority has to act absolutely in defiance of right and reason to make a point. Is that the message of the Mass? Christ seems to be a pawn in the institutional arsenal.
The selective traditionalists will deride those who expect "humanity" in the Sacrament: My gawd, it's the suffering Christ of calvary you selfish..." They are "christlike" only in that they too are pawns of the institution.
How many of us understood the old latin? Sure, as an alter server, daily Mass goer I could repeat all the responses from memory. "From Memory"!! Did I understand it as my first language? Same thing in transalation - "under my roof" - is that my first language. I have to subjugate my intellect and my feelings to arbitrary exercise of authority and pietistic rationalizations contrary to my understanding of the mandate, message, values that I feel were Christ, but which are fully those of the institution.
It's not a "winner"/"loser" scenario. Along with so much else that is intrinsically connected with patriarchical absolutism, it is one layer, one example, one dimension of bullying.
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