Posted on 02/04/2015 6:47:10 AM PST by BlatherNaut
Catholic World Report has an unfortunate piece which tries to make Faithful sensible Catholics feel guilty for honest direct criticism of bishops. Right out of the box we’re all disgruntled, full of pride and ‘cheap chatter.’ Oh, and if we knew anything of Church teaching, we’d be very careful with our ‘murmuring.’
While disgruntled criticisms of Catholic bishops are nothing new, there seems to be an increase of late, especially since the start of Pope Francis’s pontificate. There is clearly no denying that there are problems within the Church, but Catholic moral teaching makes it clear that murmuring against our bishops shouldn’t be taken lightly. Cheap chatter, intellectual pride, and unchecked emotions can often make it difficult to discern who is in the right and make such murmurs justifiable.
Don’t be sold. If you love your Church, you put the blame where it belongs. Try running a destructive problem in your parish upstairs and see how far you get. There’s no democracy in the Church, and to the Pope’s delight, no free market.
Next CWR’s Carrie Gress tells us how we’re putting cracks in the windshield of the bishops’ authority, how we’re just like Protestants, and how we need to be charitable, merciful, not gossip or vent - in short, sheepish before our shepherds. She aims for her conservative targets with an appeal to ‘subsidiarity’ meaning, “Don’t get over your head.”
Subsidiarity is the Church’s fundamental tenet that assigns responsibility for an issue or problem to the lowest appropriate authority; likewise, it restrains higher authorities from usurping the tasks of the lower. Embracing such decentralization liberates all of us back-seat drivers to let go and let the driver do his job. So too with our faith. If it is your job to voice criticisms of a bishop because you are in close proximity to him as an employee or trusted friend, then yes, using fraternal correction, you may have an obligation to do so. But for the rest of us, not so much, unless you are like St. Catherine of Siena, tasked with the project because of your personal sanctity (and not just in your own mind).
That one about - when you’re a great saint you’ll have to right to open your mouth - is tired. What should we do, all assume we’re not saints and sit down? Can’t we at least aspire a bit?
If in fact our bishops weren’t actively working against the Church and for its enemies, if most of them showed any substantial evidence of being Catholic, or if they didn’t generally have long records of collapse in their dioceses, then possibly this quietism might be in order.
The Catholic model works because it’s a living thing. It just needs to be permitted by those in charge. Inasmuch as it’s blocked by the hierarchy, then we must do our parts.
Our bishops are not politicians. They have been ordained to shepherd us. Are some corrupt? Yes. Are there some who are weak? Yes. Are there some who are sinners? Yes (we all are). But perhaps if we offered them more space to do their job and increased prayer to support them, they might do the right thing. And even if they don’t, at least we know we have.
"More space to do their job." Which one did she interview for that line?
Would Martin Luther put up with this?
If he were alive now, he’d fit right in.
Is it a sin to call a schmuck a schmuck?
Aren’t the words guilt and Catholiscm synonymous?
“Aren’t the words guilt and Catholicism synonymous?”
LOL! I’m Catholic and to a strong degree, it’s true!
Read the comments at the CWR site - nearly all take great exception with the article.
Yes, and the most important point is Jesus is here, he isn’t dead, he is walking among us and through us.
So basically they are saying Jesus to shut up. Not very Christian.
The big question that I came away from the article with was, “How much effort are we really putting into our prayer for priests and clergy?” Could it be that we are criticizing/complaining MORE than praying? That is something that we must constantly ask ourselves. When we do our regular examination of conscience, we need to be totally open to what the Holy Spirit shows us...having asked Him to guide us at the beginning.
We should also strive to mention something positive to our priests...thanking them for answering the Lord’s call. We could even use a point brought up in a homily to share how it caused us to think of (a great scripture verse, good quote from a saint or an ecclesial document. In this way, we can even help our priests to see from another perspective. Of course, all that we do with any of this must be within the context of LOVE...that is, within the will of our Triune God.
AND, all that we think and do with regard to such actions should be submitted to our own spiritual director for discernment.
It does not hurt our immortal souls to have a bit of guilt feeling now and then. It’s all a part of that ‘convert’ business.
Couldn’t agree more. Prayer for bishops and priests over the continuing effects of the past abuse issues is a source of great consolation and strength for those on the front lines.
Certainly true, but the author of the CWR article advocates obedience for its own sake rather than for the purpose to which it is ordered, i.e., obedience to God. When Bishops permit God to be mocked and blasphemed and allow their sheep to be led to the slaughter, we have a moral duty to object.
Check out this "American Football Mass". The altar is festooned with Seahawk decorations, and the priest whips out a Seahawk hat and blanket and dons them before the recessional, accompanied by raucous delight from the attendees. Clearly these people have jumped the shark. Should those who recognize the blasphemy never open their mouths? Even if only a single soul is awakened to the corruption by others speaking out, some good will have been accomplished.
http://cathcon.blogspot.com/2015/02/american-football-mass-surely-worst.html
**Prayer for bishops and priests over the continuing effects of the past abuse issues is a source of great consolation and strength for those on the front lines.**
Amen!
**obedience**
One of the vows taken by bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated religious, etc.
From the CWR article:
4) Gossip and Venting
St. Francis De Sales assigned a serial gossiper the task of spreading a large bag of feathers around town. After finishing the task, the young woman was told by the saint to gather them back up. Of course, the request was impossible to fulfill, proving his point.
Addendum to my previous comment:
I fully realize that those who’ve received Holy Orders are saddled with extreme burdens, and that cheap “sniping” is the last thing they need; I also realize that, especially with those who’re in a position of spiritual fatherhood (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:15, etc.), even correction needs to be done with greater mildness than usual. All granted.
However, the author doesn’t help her own point by trotting out a fallacy-ridden, imperialist-toned rebuke to the “upstarts” who dare to question what they see. (The comment about St. Catherine of Siena was particularly noxious: talk about your self-sealing fallacies... especially since the ones who’d be “diagnosing” the alleged “sufficient sanctity” of the objector would be the very ones who’re the subject of scrutiny! Conflict of interest, anyone?)
I’ve also had personal experience with diocesan “officials” (usually laity, actually) who use the idea of “subsidiarity” as a sort of cudgel with which they can beat the “upstart peons” back into their places, regardless of the merits of the criticisms. That’s just... dishonest and foul, frankly.
No, we’re not to go “looking for trouble” under every leaf, nor are we to be eager to “sniff out” the shortcomings of our spiritual fathers. But when problems arise, and when fallible men commit evil or error in a public—and sometimes spectacularly public—forum (I think especially of Cardinal Marx, et al., who’re undercutting the Church’s teaching on Marriage, as we speak), it does no one any service to keep it to oneself and let others be scandalized (i.e. led into error and sin). We have a *duty* to present the truth (and yes, we need to be morally certain that we *have* the truth on a given topic, and not just a strong opinion); not only is it a violation against truth to hide serious problems, but it’s uncharitable to the one spouting the errors/lies, since their own salvation can easily be jeopardized by their actions.
Excellent points, and eloquently stated.
Thanks. ;-) It took me awhile to understand just how important it is to continuously pray for our priests ... ALL of them. They NEED our support in every area. We should always ask God to keep them on the path of holiness (as well as ourselves) and to protect them from the Evil one.
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