Structures exist in most societies because people usually benefit from parameters that contain us and systems to guide us. That is the general rule; but exceptions accompany most rules. Whether our nation’s political structure or our church’s ecclesial institution or our society’s justice system, there are corruptible flaws that harm citizens and communities; and there are some people in leadership roles who damage others.
Those with influence, money, power, or other privileges tend to fare better in our legal justice systems than do underprivileged citizens. The Innocent Project has revealed numerous cases of convicted people who are innocent of the crimes for which they were accused and punished. In Kansas City, Miracle of Innocence, led by Darryl Burton and Lamonte McIntyre, both wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for a combined 47 years, sheds light on the injustice of our American judicial process and encourages citizens to learn more so that we can reshape the system so it can work better for those victimized by it.
Similar things can be said about political bureaucracies. With billions of dollars spent on election campaigns, we accept that this process also favors candidates with clout in one of the two dominant parties. Subsequently, corporate politics houses a big chunk of injustice and corruption. The power and control wielded by those in executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government cannot be denied. “Power corrupts…” proclaimed the 19th Century British Lord John Acton, “…and absolute power corrupts absolutely!” He urged political networks to carry forth checks and balances so that inevitable destructive viruses will be better managed and controlled.
The Catholic Church, like other ecclesiastical institutions, is similar. Though divinely inspired, it is operated by humans. Just as human bodies suffer corruption, so do human institutions. There may be exceptions found in the incorrupt bodies of some saints, perhaps reminding us that we ought to strive for perfection, but the corporate body of our ecclesial government has numerous flaws that get revealed to every generation. Jesus loved His Jewish religion and believed that it shared a covenant relationship with God. But He also admitted, and tried to change, the immense corruption that existed within its leaders who possessed clout, influence, privilege, and political power that they lorded over others.
Many Catholics of this generation have been made aware of corruption spotlighted in the pedophilia scandals and institutional cover-ups that revealed horrendous sins, mismanagement, and lack of care for victims and families. Overwhelming numbers of parishioners and parishes distance themselves from hierarchical structures because the corporation diminishes the good work of common people and their efforts to carry on the mission of Jesus in our times. As the bride of Christ, the church tries to be an incorrupt system but placed on the shoulders of sinners and put in the hands of flawed humans, it cannot be. Though there are many godly people leading and serving our church, there are some unjust ecclesiastics and other bureaucrats with power, who are corrupt and who do much harm; they sometimes cause innocent people in our communities to suffer.
Though I continually preach that our chancery, diocese, Vatican, and other hierarchy are not enemies of common Catholics, I hear numerous stories from those who have been hurt by structures and systems and/or by those who control them. You and I have friends whose lives have been severely damaged or destroyed by unjust business; some of us have also suffered because of corrupt or misguided people in power. In the end, there is no such thing as an incorrupt system, but I hope that we will help to improve the political, judicial, and ecclesial structures that exist. Though they are necessary, we can shape them to better carry out the message of Jesus and thereby reshape our systems into healthier and holier structures.
UPON THIS ROCK 
good one, father don
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The timing of this is absolutely Divine… we have been fighting g for a system to address priest abuse that is not sexual, as one does not currently exist. But, as we know “absolute power, absolutely corrupts.” Our son suffered because of a priest who abused his power. The Archbishop refused to even look into it. The vicar general did not do his duties of documentation. The papal nuncio responded that this kind of abuse is handled but the leaders in the diocese where it occurs. So, the circular finger pointing holds no one accountable, and in the meantime my 14 year old son died by suicide in part because of the trauma from this priest.
You are correct that no system is perfect, but, if we don’t do anything to try to address that…then it becomes dangerous. I am praying that our Catholic Church will one day have the courage to address all abuse, not just sexual abuse.
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Hi Don,
This is why the pope says clericalism must be dismantled. It sets up a class system where clergy has a structure to hide behind. A wall behind which they can appear incorrupt. The old church seems to think that we laity need incorrupt clergy so we have a good example to follow. But it denies us the important lesson you point out. That nothing is perfect and we all have flaws. The book by Ernest Kurtz, The Spirituality of Imperfection, explores this very nicely.
Imperfection is what we all have in common, and it’s what allows us to help each other stay on a non judgemental platform. Since we are all imperfect, (we all are sinners) then no one can judge themselves superior without judging themselves. This is probably the hardest thing for me. We so much like to think we are the smartest. Its pride.
As Thomas Merton says in New Seeds of Contemplation:
“And when he gets what he wants, he thinks his sense of satisfaction is the unction of the Holy Spirit. And the secret voice of pleasure sings in his heart: “Now Sum sicut caeteri homines” (I am not like other men). Once he has started on this path there is no limit to the evil his self-satisfaction may drive him to do in the name of God and of His love, and for His glory.”
So then, assuming clericalism is dead, the class system it created is also dead, and we begin to take for granted that our church leaders are imperfect just like us. It humanizes them, makes them vs. us melt into just us. Priests are people with us laity on the journey, we are one, (which is very Eucharistic), but priests are the members trained in Catholic spirituality.
Ultimately, I think parish priests could become wandering holy men who visit new parishes for a while, give their own view of Jesus’ message, then move on. No one can claim to own the whole of Jesus’ message. We all have our own ideas about it. It’s part of the imperfection. It’s the human condition. With the priest shortage, some weeks could become a study of a mystic or contemplative, like St. Francis, or one of the St. Teresas, or Thomas Merton. There are so many!
The parish would be run by the laity. The rotation of priests is set up by the bishop in conjunction with the parish leadership. This enables some guidance from both constituents. The bishop knows the religion, the parish knows its people. This way the laity gets a broad view of more of the richness that christianity holds instead of a reflection limited to pastor perspective.
This is a far cry from the way parishes are set up now, but I think that if we take this idea of embracing imperfection to the limit, it makes sense because it yields richer christian laity who are empowered to run their own parish. The way it is now, with priests in charge, cements the clerical/laity barrier. It keeps the priest as a class in charge and laity as the obedient children.
Radical, I know, but this is the kind of change the church needs to break free and move us all into the next stage of spirituality. Heretical some will say. Protestant others will say. Takes away power from the bishops? Definitely, but that’s what ending clericalism does, and the pope seems to agree. He has stated repeatedly that clericalism is one of the biggest problems the church has.
What do you think?
Greg Immethun
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Yes!! Clericalism absolutely is one of the biggest problems the church faces today.
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