Cafeteria Bishops
Cafeteria Catholic Bishops Pick and Choose
Some bishops objected to the content of the Pastoral Letter on Marriage
drafted at the USCCB meeting in Florida
not for any doctrinal errors
but because "it relies too heavily on the social sciences
at the expense of a systematic presentation of
Catholic doctrine on marriage and family."
The bishops have no qualms about rejecting secular science,
just as they do with birth control, abortion, use of condoms to prevent HIV/AIDS, etc.
But, it is a very different story
when it comes to their own involvement in clerical crimes against children.
Several bishops urged the John Jay Study team
to take a hard look at what mental health professionals advised
on the question of priests who have abused someone
if they could safely return to ministry.
The John Jay team
considered the mistaken advice given to the bishops
by mental health counselors and therapy centers and
what attorneys were telling bishops to do,
whether it was productive or not.
When it suits their purpose
(like protecting themselves from the consequences of secrecy and cover-up)
the bishops do not hesitate to use secular science and expertise.
We are not supposed to notice their careful picking and choosing.
If a study defends their position,
they use it,
if it exposes guilt,
they bury it.
This demonstrates the Bishops’ cafeteria mentality
in pursuit of truth.
We deserve better.
An edited and reformatted article by
The Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church,
http://arcc-catholic-rights.net/
rschutz1@prodigy.net 1-877-700-2722 (ARCC).
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Keeping the lid on? The
Keeping the lid on? The bishops and the church in general seems to be like the Emperor-no clothes. Faith, charity,compassion,humility, love of simplicity, honesty,depth of spirituality,fearlessness,openness,love of families....These seem to be what the church should look for in a bishop.
Unfortunately I'm afraid that the selection committee would rather have the organizational man and the man who can keep the pot simmering, with 'the lid on'
In the interim between popes
In the interim between popes a respected priest said to me half (if not more) seriously that he wished we would return to Italiam popes. Why, I asked bemused. He said that the Italian popes seemed to have a propensity to legislate with abandon and forget to enforce. Poetman is right I think, the so-called monolith of 'magisteriuum' is a "boy's club" (stand by your...) in many respects but in many other respects as much or more of a cafeteria than any of the lesser light lay-people.
It seems to me that 'faith' is less significant in the selection and work of bishops than organizational expectations. Not necessarily experience and talent but expectations of 'keeping the lid on'.
Since this topic was
Since this topic was originally posted by Poetman, the story of Cardinal George has come out of the Archdiocese of Chicago. As a result, we now know that there is no accountability within the magisterial structure of the Church.
It is sad to say, but the only thing the hierarchy seems to respond to is strategically applied blunt force trauma to a sensitive part of their corporate anatomy. Today, that trauma is in the form of multi-million lawsuits, criminal prosecution of the clergy, and public humiliation in the press and rebellion against the hierarchy's heavy-handed tatics (excommunications). It would be wonderful if the magisterial authorities would listen and act, but they don't. They are too busy obfuscating justice to admit they might be in error. Too busy trying to find scapegoats and straw men to blame for their problems. Too busy protecting their corporate image to put the needs of their flocks first.
With the "cafeteria mentality" of cardinals, arch/bishops so adept at sending the real truth down the disposal system (with them claiming that it is garbage), Catholics will have to keep a wary eye upon what the hierarchy is trying "to feed them."