If the bishops want to lead, they must first listen

[rug]

Sep. 12, 2012
By Brian Cahill

Opinion

A friend who is a faithful Catholic and is at daily Mass once told me the Catholic hierarchy's idea of communication and public relations seems to be purchasing thousands of gallons of kerosene to pour on the flames they themselves ignited.

The loss of credibility and moral authority of American bishops comes from the abuse scandal, the insensitive treatment of women and gays, and the emphasis on orthodoxy and authority. But the bishops also have been ineffective at public relations. There are many examples.

Cardinal Raymond Burke, head of the Vatican's highest court, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, said the failure of "knowledge and application of canon law" was a "significant contribution" to the sex abuse scandal. He seems to be saying that if only those pedophile priests had paid more attention to their canon law class, they would have behaved themselves, and if all the delinquent bishops had just consulted their canon lawyers, they never would have covered up any of this.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan navigated his way through the national conventions, but commenting on President Barack Obama's health care mandate, suggested that if contraception is available, perhaps prostitution services should be available for men with erectile dysfunction. Dolan also compared homosexuality to incest and reminded us that "we bishops are pastors, not politicians," and reassured us that "it's not that we hold fast, that we're stubborn ideologues, no." Dolan has trumpeted his friendship and admiration of vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, saying he "wants to see him in action."

http://ncronline.org/news/people/if-bishops-want-lead-they-must-first-listen

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1. Many of the bishops have forgotten about listening to the laity

Some of them seem to think they have to replace the dictatorship of relativism, as Benedict XVI put it, with a dictatorship of fundamentalism. It has a lot more to do with the Opus Dei mentality of blind obedience at all costs than one would think.

Some of the bishops are coming across as dictatorial, partisan repukes who equate faithful Christianity with Republican political talking points. It sounds as if they're more concerned with wielding political power than shepherding their flocks.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

2. Indeed, listening is required of them by their own dogma

There's a quote from the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium:

[T]hrough the light of the Spirit of truth, [revelation] is scrupulously preserved in the Church and unerringly explained. The Roman pontiff and the bishops, by reason of their office and the seriousness of the matter apply themselves with zeal to the work of enquiring by every suitable means into this revelation and of giving apt expression to its contents; they do not, however, admit any new public revelation as pertaining to the divine deposit of faith.

Pope and the bishops must use “every suitable means” to discover the revelation affirmed in the faith of the believing community. This faith is embodied in the Scriptures, in the writings of the Church fathers, in the prayers of the liturgy, the teachings of councils, and the living convictions of the baptized. It is not enough for Church leaders to pray, to reason, to reflect, and to remember. It is necessary to inquire.

Here is another quote, from Cardinal Wojtyla, later John Paul II, “The structure of a human community is correct only if it admits not just the presence of a justified opposition, but also the effectiveness of the opposition which is required by the common good and the right of participation.” The Acting Person, page 343. When Cardinal Wojtyla wrote this, he was one of the leaders of the opposition to the Polish communist government. After he became the highest authority in the Church, he backed off from this stance, or, rather, he felt that it does not apply to the Church.