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PDF versionLiving in Limbo
by Nicole Sotelo on May. 14, 2009
In Catholic thought, limbo was the state of those who had died but, because they were not yet baptized, were denied entrance to heaven. While the Vatican put the traditional theory of limbo to rest in 2007 with a document declaring that “unbaptized infants who die will be saved,” it continues to consign large swathes of the faithful to their own terrible wilderness: lay ministers in the church today live in an earthly limbo, suspended between the promises of church teaching for worker justice and the reality of injustice within church structures.
Ruth Kolpack, the church employee who was recently fired for her thesis on inclusive language, is just one of the 30,000 lay ministers in the United States who live without workplace protections, including no right to unionize, no right to just wages, no recourse for unjust terminations. Well, at least that is what often happens in day to day practice.
What is striking is that Catholic teaching supports workers’ rights, even within the church itself. In the document “Economic Justice for All, the U.S. bishops state:
“On the parish and diocesan level, through its agencies and institutions, the Church employs many people; it has investments; it has extensive properties for worship and mission. All the moral principles that govern the just operation of any economic endeavor apply to the Church and its agencies and institutions; indeed the Church should be exemplary.” (Economic Justice for All, #347).
The document goes on to quote the 1971 Synod of Bishops that proclaimed: “While the Church is bound to give witness to justice, she recognizes that anyone who ventures to speak to people about justice must first be just in their eyes. Hence, we must undertake an examination of the modes of acting and of the possessions and lifestyle found within the Church herself.”
So, let us hold the Church and its officials to their own pronouncements and precepts by considering a few recent examples of laity pressing for their rights:
Hundreds of Catholic school teachers in Scranton, Pa., lost their right to unionize last year when Bishop Joseph F. Martino refused to recognize the long-established Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers. The teachers appealed, but in September the Vatican upheld the bishop's decision. Contrast this with the Catholic document Rerum Novarum which says that among all the workers’ associations, “[t]he most important of all are workingman’s unions” (Rerum Novarum, 49).
NCR: February 3-16, 2012
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New study by Notre Dame researcher about parish involvement in America
Or consider a friend of mine who as a Catholic chaplain struggled to support her family on less than $30,000 a year. Because as a lay minister she was without recourse to a living wage, she eventually had to leave her position. Compare this to the Catechism of the Church that declares that “[a] just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. To refuse or withhold it can be a grave injustice….” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2434).
I think also of Charles Philyaw, a well-loved parish liturgist in the Madison diocese, who Bishop Robert Morlino fired eight months ago for being gay. There was no appellate system to challenge the decision, and yet, Catholic canon law pledges the right of church employees not to have their employment terminated without due process (C. 231:2).
When lay ministers do try to seek redress, they find themselves caught between civil law courts that will not hear the case due to the separation of church and state and canon law courts that will often side with a bishop, despite the Church’s own legal code on worker justice.
Until lay ministers unite for worker protections, they will continue to be fired at the whim of priests and bishops. They live in the gap between what is professed by the church and what proceeds on a day to day basis, the wretched interstice between theory and practice. The Vatican may have abolished the theory of limbo for unbaptized children, but it is a lived reality for thousands of lay leaders in our church.
Nicole Sotelo is the author of Women Healing from Abuse: Meditations for Finding Peace, published by Paulist Press, and coordinates www.WomenHealing.com. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, she currently works at Call To Action.
I recall around 1980 or so my
I recall around 1980 or so my diocese, Oakland California, started a program
called "Emmaus Workers." New college grads, with suitable degrees, to go out
to parishes and work for a year or two as Youth Ministers.
In return for their time, they'd be given dontated housing with a volunteer
family and a "stipend" (they couldn't call it a wage, it was too low) of a
couple of hundred dollars a month.
It was, frankly, embarrassing and demeaning.
The program was put together by a diocese Youth Ministry coordinator who
had an office in the Chancery, a living wage, health benefits, etc.
When I asked about the social justice aspect of paying people so badly,
and said something about "the worker is worthy of his hire" I was told
dismissively that I had a "burning issue" and there really was no response
of substance.
In fact, the Diocese used these low-paid "interns" in place of hiring
young ministers at decent wages. So as a result the first requirement
for ministry became "be willing to work for nothing" and the second
was "have ministerial skills and training."
Good intentions and delicate
Good intentions and delicate sensibilities are not moral arguments. Justice untouched by mercy is minimalistic and stinting in its response to persons. Justice is incipient love and thus has some native ties to generosity and enthusiasm. A society (--- or church?) whose "justice" is calculating, cold and miserly will not rise to the needs of persons.
Daniel Maguire, A New American Justice, 1980.
I love the analogy of lay
I love the analogy of lay ministry being limbo! Yes! I have retirement benefits from more than a few of my lay ministry jobs that are in limbo. I've have promises of dental benefits that might as well be in limbo. I've heard lots of words about support for lay ministry that hang like a foggy meaningless limbo. Lay ministry does, too often feel like a dance in which I have to bend backwards to get under another bar. I remember once trying to "unite" lay ministers back in the 80's and the effort being squashed so fast I didn't know what hit me. Fr. Richard McBrien put this in an interesting form in his recent book, the Church. Evolution of catholicism. In it he said, "the church's social teachings have yet to apply directly the principle of subsidiarity to the inner life and structures of the church." In my almost 40 years of ministry in the church as a lay minister, I have heard so many stories, witnessed so many tears. I have been impressed at the many men and woman who continue, witnessing to the strength of their vocation and the depth of their love of the church despite the pain and anguish to their person and their families. Let's play for a while with the concept of the dance. It's time to dance to a different music? It's time to stop bending over to go under the bar? It's time to seize the damn bar (carpe diem!) and paint it colors and use it as a may pole? My arthritis doesn't allow as much movement as I once had, but I would be personally happy to join another dance party!
Thank you for your very fine
Thank you for your very fine column. Does anyone else wonder what our church is doing with its 'do what I say not what I do' attitude?
'Economic Justice for All'? I just don't get it. How can a church who says it follows Jesus do this?
And what was Pope Benedict saying in Palestine? 'Treat your women better?' Geez! Oh my. Justice for all! May the real Catholic Church stand up and be a leader. Right now we have a catholic church saying one thing and acting in the most unjust of ways.
This is a fine, well-pointed
This is a fine, well-pointed position paper. I applaud Ms. Sotelo's orderly presentation of some very sad facts which represent so very much of the Roman Catholic hierarchy's unchristian, uncatholic, unjust treatment of the people who want to and do serve US, the church. Unfortunately this kind of treatment is not limited to us laity. In the diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for example, priests can only retire with full pensions if they serve until 75 years of age (with some exceptions for poor health, I understand). At retirement, our priests are given the grand sum of about $1,200 per month. Imagine, some of these men have served with great faithfulness and selflessness for more than 4 decades; and then?
I continue to wonder why any thinking Catholic, devoted to the teachings of Jesus give any credibility to what our bishops or our curia have to say, and why more laity and more priests don't stand up to the bishops. The vow of "obedience" must not take precedence over the fight against injustice. We must continually be vigilant and remember at all times that the hierarchy and the Vatican are NOT Jesus, nor are they the church-- WE are the CHURCH. It is OUR responsibility to fight against these and all other injustices.
Oh, for those who might why I remain a Roman Catholic if I'm so antagonistic. My reply: Just as Jesus challenged the injustices and superstitious traditions of the his upbringing; as did Paul of Tarsus, as did Bernardine of Sienna, as did Francis of Assisi, I/we have the same responsibilities toward "our religion." I take that responsibility seriously.
ALDUS
you say: I continue to wonder
you say: I continue to wonder why any thinking Catholic, devoted to the teachings of Jesus give any credibility to what our bishops or our curia have to say, and why more laity and more priests don't stand up to the bishops.
perhaps because they take the teachings of jesus christ and his church more seriously than you care to admit:
"For as the faithful are subject to their priests, so are priests to their bishops, whom 'the Holy Spirit has placed ... to rule the Church of God.' So, too, every bishop is subject to the Roman pontiff, the successor of Saint Peter, whom Christ called a rock and made the foundation of His Church. It was to Peter that Christ gave in a special way the power to bind and loose on earth, to strengthen his brethren, to feed the entire flock."
...
"We are sure it is unnecessary for us to mention it, but priests should be careful to be always obedient and submissive to their bishop. As Saint Ignatius of Antioch said: 'Since you are subject to your bishop as to Jesus Christ, ... whatever you do must be done in union with your bishop. All who belong to God and Jesus Christ are in union with their bishop.'"
...
"[catholic laity] would work, of course, in union with their bishops and in constant obedience to them."
pope john xxiii, ad petri cathedram
"The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not. For they say, and do not."
matt 23 v 2-3
you presume to judge your fellow catholics, but how often is the 'judge not' thrown around on this site? i guess people feel free to toss that whole 'judge not' thing out whenever it is inconvient for them.
Please keep in mind that with
Please keep in mind that with the $1,200 a month that the priest receives in retirement, he has no housing, food or health insurance expense. He often can still pick up a little extra each month by saying mass or participating in weddings or other church related functions. Also, when a priest is out socially with lay people, often the lay person picks up the tab. &1,200 a month can go a long way when it is just car and recreational expense.
Often even a car is provided.
Often even a car is provided.
A good article overall...but
A good article overall...but you might want to clarify the Church's teaching on limbo. In that 2007 document to which you referred in the beginnig, the Church said, "We emphasize that these are reasons for prayerful hope, rather than grounds for sure knowledge."
Article says: “Ruth Kolpack,
Article says: “Ruth Kolpack, the church employee who was recently fired for her thesis on inclusive language …”
Diocese of Madison says: “Ms. Kolpack was let go because the Bishop is not confident she can or will present the complete and authentic teaching of the Church, the presentation of which he is responsible for in every parish in the diocese …
“Statements that … Ms. Kolpack was fired (because of her thesis) are false(Q: 1, 3)
http://www.madisondiocese.org/Portals/0/Kolpack%20FAQs%20-%20for%20Web%2...
Fr. Steve Kortendick, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Beloit says: "Be assured Ruth’s release from her job as pastoral associate was not made in a hasty way. For over three years Bishop Morlino has received letters of concern about Ruth’s positions on several matters. The Bishop asked me to meet with himself and the chancellor to review these concerns, and I then discussed them at length with Ruth"(Q. 20).
Diocese of Madison says: “The serious concerns brought to the bishop’s attention should not have been news to Ms. Kolpack” (Q. 10).
Finally, the Diocese points out Ms. Kolpack's public support for "gay marriage" and "women's ordination," each of which means she is "no longer in full communion with the Catholic Church"(Q. 16). This means she has publically verified Bishop Morlino's concerns about her orthodoxy, revealing she is, in fact, a serious and aggressive dissenter, not even "in full Communion with the Catholic Church." In other words, she is a Protestant.
Conclusion: This entire article is based on a false premise and any graduate from Harvard should certainly know better. It must therefore be a deliberate misrepresentation, a violation of the eighth commandment. In short, shoddy, misleading work, consistent with the tactics and dissenting agenda of Call to Action.
"Conclusion: This entire
"Conclusion: This entire article is based on a false premise and any graduate from Harvard should certainly know better. It must therefore be a deliberate misrepresentation, a violation of the eighth commandment. In short, shoddy, misleading work, consistent with the tactics and dissenting agenda of Call to Action."
People who bite and then are too cowardly to leave their name rather than post their comment under "Anonymous" are like cowardly dogs that tuck their tails between their legs and attack from behind.
Why are the conservatives in the Church so angry? Why do you feel so afraid that you cannot express your ideas without attacking the author on a personal basis?
I can only conclude that the angry, conservative catholics are shakey in their faith. Otherwise, they would not be bothered by those that hold opinions that disagree with their own.
My "attack" was not personal.
My "attack" was not personal. An example of a "personal" attack would be likening a person to a "cowardly dog." Congratulations.
I attacked the author's "shoddy, misleading work." A Harvard graduate should know better than to treat an unsubstantiated allegation as an established fact, especially when the diocesan statement to the contrary is on their home web-page for the entire world to view and read. It is absolutely evident that the Harvard divinity school grad didn't do enough very simple research for her column, but rather felt inclined to falsely accuse a Bishop of the Church. This is called "rash judgment," and "libel," sins against truth. Look it up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty .. of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor" (2477).
The author went on to misrepresent the facts a second time in stating another person was "fired" by Bishop Robert Morlino "for being gay." More libel and misinformation. She thus lacks credibility and reveals herself and her employer to be much for committed to their agenda of doctrinal dissent and generating libelous publicity, than the simple honest truth in public discourse.
And this has nothing to do with one's "faith" but simple justice ... and, most ironically, the author has committed an injustice here against Bishop Robert Morlino.
BRAVO! Yes, what a joke.
BRAVO! Yes, what a joke. While the author postures herself as a righteous crusader for social justice, she whimsically commits an obvious injustice against Bishop Morlino. What do Catholic principles say about that? It appears they would call this a "sin" ... a term which remains valid, even if the NCR feels squishy about it.
Looks like the simple truth
Looks like the simple truth struck quite a cord. "Cowardly dogs"? Who's angry? Who lacks faith?
The author of the story plainly misrepresented the facts in an effort to make a shaky argument.
I assume the 2007 document is
I assume the 2007 document is "The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptized".
FIRST: The document DOES NOT say "unbaptized infants who die will be saved." That is an outright FALSE quote.
SECOND: The document is from the International Theological Commission, which is not an official branch or arm of the Vatican, so the document is not from "the Vatican". I am amazed at how often some Catholics will say that a document from some organization which is NOT an official branch of the Vatican is from "the Vatican" whereas documents from official branches of the Vatican (like the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) are dismissed summarily.
THIRD: The document concludes by saying: "What has been revealed to us is that the ordinary way of salvation is by the sacrament of Baptism. None of the above considerations should be taken as qualifying the necessity of Baptism or justifying delay in administering the sacrament. Rather, as we want to reaffirm in conclusion, they provide strong grounds for hope that God will save infants when we have not been able to do for them what we would have wished to do, namely, to baptize them into the faith and life of the Church."
Definitely, a great article
Definitely, a great article about the "limbo" experience of lay people in ministerial positions. I had a friend, Jean, from the Episcopal tradition, who recognized my position as a hospital chaplain as a Catholic laywoman (1981-1987). She expressed concern about my livelihood / financial needs as did others at the hospital where I worked as a chaplain. It was disheartening to hear about the per-hour rate of registered nurses in contrast to my wage.
The sisters in the pastoral care department established the practice of "volunteer time" when chaplains would be on-call from 5 pm to 8 am the next morning. Often, we were awakened to be present with families of loved ones who were dying, whether in the emergency room or on the hospital floor. When the patient was Catholic, we called the priest living at the hospital to give the "Last Rites". After the ritual, he would then leave, and the sisters or myself would continue to be present with the family members to provide support and listening.
I continued in full-time ministry for another six years, including college campus ministry. I was terminated from this position along with four other campus ministers as the diocese wanted to have younger campus ministers for the traditional-aged college students. Very interesting, the director of campus ministry (at the age of 43) died within two years from cancer. She was directly involved in the reduction of her staff of campus ministers.
I (and others) have observed that sickness and death are often prevalent in women who serve in ministry. The stresses of ministry (especially difficult dealings with bishops, male clergy and challenging parishioners) are many and can contribute to a decrease in one's immune function which eventually leads to sickness.
With the ending of full-time ministry, I returned to work in the secular environment where I found the Spirit of Jesus present in the midst of the public arena.
Dearest Catholic folks (and
Dearest Catholic folks (and other dear assorted blog-readers),
Talk about SURE KNOWLEDGE...I for one, have sure knowledge that for more than a decade in my parish area, and adjoining parish areas; full-time lay ministers have NOT been paid a living wage. It simply is not fair, nor kind.
Another side of the coin: I have seen countless Catholic "volunteer Friday night/Sunday morning lay ministers", who barely knew Scripture, had close to zero knowledge of the Vatican II documents, and who came from a very negative Catholic background (or something); stand up and pontificate all kinds of SIN, SIN, SIN "teachings" week after week.
So the dilemma is education of the unschooled Catholic proletariat, who are the ones running many less-than-inspired Parish Councils, WHO SEE NO NEED FOR VALUING TRAINED (BALANCED, AND DEDICATED) LAY MINISTERS. That is because the uCp (above) do not know the depths of a Vatican II-informed faith life.
Be careful, you trusting, ardent, recently trained lay ministers. These uCps will tar and feather, BESIDES not paying a living wage.
The sad reality is that if the parish you are applying to work at, does not have at least a small base of authentically-in-touch-with-Vatican II spirituality people, you could be walking into an emotionally TOXIC environment. And they don't believe in going to Counseling either.
There are so many GAPS between beautiful theory and the reality of pockets of profound Catholic ignorance since Vatican II, we should just call ourselves "Gappy". Interstice problems to the max.
Lay ministers can either do the "birds of a feather flock together" thing and stick with people who speak informed Catholic language, finding 100% healthy lay ministry positions in rare places; or choose to be a prophetic voice (and be rejected and maligned at least some of the time) do part of your work as a volunteer, and get a day job.
ahh the rising clericalism of
ahh the rising clericalism of the lay pastoral minister class! We are educated and so much smarter than the unwashed masses in the pews.
Hilarious!
Hilarious!
Great article Nicole! When
Great article Nicole! When will the clergy understand that they are not ABOVE the laity but AMONG and WITH the laity? I think only when the laity are once again given their voice to choose their episcopal leaders within the Church will a true justice and equality for all workers within the Church be recognized.
If the laity expected that
If the laity expected that professional & theological training would lead to better treatment as Church employees, they should have been forewarned by considering the case of nuns during the last several hundred years.
What were the salaries, perks & pensions of the good Sisters who were in all those Catholic schools and hospitals, compared to priests who were doing similar duties??
The Catholic hierarchy seems just like the US Congress, which was the last major employer to cover its own staffers under Social Security & the Civil Rights laws, long after the rest of the country had conformed.
I want to know what kind of
I want to know what kind of person cant support their family on $30,000 a year? They must either have 10 children, or expensive tastes. What an insensitive and unrealistic position. Many Many Many people (that I know personally) survive and support their families with much less than that. Anyone who has a job which pays them $30,000 a year in this country, at this point in time should feel grateful. Besides, I didn't think that people started off their careers as church employees because they wanted to make lots of money.
As far as Ruth Kolpack goes, maybe she should have thought about how her work as a homosexual activist would affect her employment in the Catholic Church, before she decided on the endevor. Any employer on the planet would fire an employee who was not at all supportive of the institution they worked for, and had been warned several times.
What a silly and poorly supported article! Why doesn't NCR actually find a "young voice" that doesn't consistiently express distain for the Catholic Church?
I am halfway through a
I am halfway through a master's program in lay ecclesial ministry and I receive support from both my parish and diocese in this endeavor. Despite this support, we are a small, rural diocese, and I am in a smaller, even more rural, parish. I have no expectations of a paid position when I finish my degree. I will continue to support myself through my day job as a public school teacher. Whatever ministry I do will be as a volunteer and part-time; reality dictates that this be so.
However, a parish, or diocese which desires full-time lay ministry should expect to pay a living wage, including benefits. Nobody does ministry to get rich, but a reasonable chance to support one's self is not an unrealistic desire or expectation. I accept my circumstances with eyes wide open, but religious organizations should not be surprised by others who make different choices.
Why is it said Ruth Kolpack
Why is it said Ruth Kolpack supported things contrary to Catholic teaching? This appears to be slander against Ruth for there is much testimony that those who received instruction , catechism lessons, communion preparation ,lessons, were not taught any unorthodox views.
It is wrong to malign Ruth Kolpack like that. She was fired for the thesis and that is the reason given. She was correct, received her degree from the Roman Catholic seminary, and there are indeed lots of female expressions of God, in both Old and New Testament. Jesus calls himself Bakerwoman making the bread of life, Mother Hen gathering her chicks under her wings, Widow Searching For Lost Coin and not giving up. Lots of female images of God are in the bible. So she was correct and in line with Catholic and biblical truth.
Hi Beverly, From interviewing
Hi Beverly,
From interviewing Ms. Kolpack, newspaper reporters have included, due, apparently, to her direct statements, that she supports (at least) "gay marriage" and "women's ordination." The Diocesan Q&A (#16-17) explains authoritatively why this means Ms. Kolpack is "no longer in full communion with the Catholic Church."
There is a word for Christians who are "no longer in full communion with the Catholic Church": They are called "Protestants." If Ms. Kolpack is a protestant in belief, why is she not a protestant in expression? And why would she believe she has a right to teach at a Catholic parish? Or, if she is not "in full communion with the Catholic Church," why does she approach Holy Communion ... the reception of which is an expression of such full communion (among other things)? Where, exactly, is the hypocrisy in this situation? It is NOT with the bishop of Madison who is merely fulfilling his duties before God. It is with Ruth Kolpack whose lack of competence in Catholic doctrine is such that she seems even unaware that dissent on such issues severely and clearly compromises her own communion with THE Church founded by Jesus Christ on the foundation of the apostles with their successors the bishops to whom Christ said "Those who hear you hear me." She thus has compromised her communion with Jesus Christ Himself.
The Q&A is here: http://www.madisondiocese.org/Portals/0/Kolpack%20FAQs%20-%20for%20Web%2...
Does anyone wish to argue against this point? Does anyone wish to challenge the reasoning? If it is correct, it must be acknowledged this manufactured anti-Catholic controversy is built on a fallacious foundation. If it is incorrect, take your best shot at arguing against it.
Thanks for the
Thanks for the comments..."Anonymous"
I don't wish to argue any of your points on Ruth Kolpack. But something about your post did catch my eye. Never in all my years of interacting with RCIA, two Bishops, one Archbishop, and countless Priests have I ever learned that Protestants cannot achieve salvation through Jesus Christ.
You may not have meant that, but it sounded as if you might have.
Hi JG, Of course, recognizing
Hi JG,
Of course, recognizing a doctrinal distinction between Catholics and Protestants in no way implies or suggests Protestants cannot achieve salvation. Indeed, such an assertion would be contrary to Catholic teaching. This of course does not mean Protestants are qualified candidates to professionally teach the Catholic Faith, the fullness of revelation, in a Catholic parish.
So, yes, I did not say such a thing, nor did I intend to imply it.
Thanks for reading and responding to my post.
Have a great weekend.
The Big "A" ;->
The Diocese of Madison seems
The Diocese of Madison seems to have responded to the questions raised by this article here: http://www.madisondiocese.org/Portals/0/Communications/Press%20Releases/...
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