Spiritual/Political/Philosophical Blog on the Nature of Truth and Falsehood and Heaven
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| Sunny Days in Heaven Spiritual/Political/Philosophical Blog on the Nature of Truth and Falsehood and Heaven |
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Sunday, June 16, 2002 The Church as we know it Well, the fiasco in Dallas went about as I expected. The bishops agreed to look remorseful while a few were given the privilege to chastise them. They said they were sorry. Some may even have shed a few crocodile tears. Once that was taken care of, business as usual - a cover up and abdication of responsibility. Let's look at their great new policy. One strike and you're in. They haven't bothered to explain to the laity what this actually means, but we know they want to be merciful and forgiving (how sweet of them). Yet, these one-strikers will be supported for the rest of their lives by who? The laity. Molest a child - get a pension. What a curious consequence. The bishops proved they they truly do believe themselves (and the priesthood) to be holier than thou. I mean that literally. They believe that ordination confers upon them a status which raises them above ordinary laws, consequences for bad behavior, and grants a right to be financially supported for their entire lives. It is blasphemy that they consider themselves greater than the merely baptized, but that doesn't really matter when you own a Church. All the other issues of importance were ignored, swept away, and any accountability among bishops and cardinals was marvelously ignored. Folks, the foxes own the hen-house - what did you expect? Also, these supposed monasteries that such aberrant priests are intended for - what did they do to deserve someone who doesn't belong among them? Monastic life is for volunteers, and presents a need for honesty, integrity, prayer, diligence, and such in very constricted quarters. Chapter meetings are intended to be community building like AA meetings where folks can examine themselves openly and honestly, where vulnerabilities are exposed and tenderly handled. It is not the place for a criminal who may simply be serving time. Plus, they will have to be paid for by someone. Or they are going to end up where? In the bishop's chancery, or some treatment facility for life? It makes no sense for the Church to assume responsibility for such men. But it makes perfect sense if you are certain that you were called by God and raised to an office which is holier than others and given to a promise which you can't break and which God won't. If you get through some seminary - that's it - you're set because, well, that's doctrine. (I wonder what priests in Hell have to say about that unbreakable covenant and promise?) Jesus did not call anyone to become a mixture of good and bad. He calls us to be perfect as our father in heaven is perfect. No one expects us to never fail in that process of sanctification, though; yet, it does not excuse responsibility ever. What we saw in Dallas was a collective washing of bishops' and priests' hands. It was an abject surrender to expediency and clericalism. All feelings of sorrow were temporary breast beatings followed by self-absolutions. The bishops and priests in general are exceptionally good at the pretended sincerity and unctuous gesture and lip service. If any man were truly sincere and able to recognize the horror inflicted upon a child by the rape of a man, a priest - and that that man knew he had helped to make that horror happen - why such a man would be close to suicidal despair over his culpability. Have we seen any such depth of shame among any of the bishops and cardinals? Heard any convincing expressions of remorse and guilt? Weakland, for all his faults, at least had the soul and courage to admit his guilt and shame, and to act accordingly. posted by Mark Butterworth | 2:20 AM | |
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