|
The Church
North Miami Beach, FL April 25, 2002
A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published now and
then. Opinions pro or con are welcome.
THE CHURCH
Everybody knows that when we talk about "THE Church" that we mean
the Roman Catholic monolith centered in the Vatican in Rome, Italy. We also
know that when we talk about Church matters that they include Papal
Infallibility and the present aging Pope John Paul. And, thereby hangs a
great many conclusions.
The present Pope has called his Cardinals together and given them
the charge of cleaning up the mess of abusive priests and their being
protected by the church hierarchy. The word is going around that the problem
is so bad that it can no longer be ignored or swept under the rug or the
priest switched around to yet another fresh, virgin territory. The word is
also going forth that almost everyone has an opportunity to log onto the
debate that is on-going. That means that even I have the opportunity to add
my THINKING ALLOWED essay to help stir up the mess. I do this gladly.
After all, every other person in the world has weighed in on the problem of
Jews in Israel and Jews in any other place around the world. People of all
persuasions want to do something about the mess in Israel and Palestine and
do so by reviving every anti-Semitic idea and bashing ALL Jews over the
heads with them.
But, this is not about Church bashing. It is about my
contribution to the problem besetting my Catholic brothers. They are
wrestling with the notion of a cold-turkey, no holds barred approach. The
choices are to 1. Let things stay as they are; 2. Modify a revolutionary
approach to a gradual solution; and 3. To allow a revolution in the church
and do something about the problem and allied problems all at the same time.
The Church is beautiful. Its rituals, colors and music are some
of the most imaginative and stirring anywhere in the world and in history.
Yet there are problems. My problem is with the Cardinals. How can ALL of
them be free of the taint now spoiling some priests? Most Cardinals and
most priests are free of sexual perversion and abuse. But some are guilty
and most are protected by the Church by being transferred when facts are
exposed.
Part of the problem of the Roman Rites of the Catholic Church was
solved in Vatican II that proclaimed the vernacular as equally important as
Latin in the rituals of prayer, sermons, Communion, the Mass and so on. It
is the equivalent of Jews using English translations for the ancient Hebrew
prayers that make up the Friday night and Saturday Services for each Sabbath
and each holiday. It is more meaningful to know what you are saying and
what the leader is intoning.
I really can't say anything about statues of the Holy Family,
Saints and the stained glass window stories that bedeck the walls of
churches. That is the approach of non-Jews AND non-Muslims who eschew
"idols". Protestant churches do without the idols and representations but
still use "human" personages in god-like fashion. But this also is none of
my business.
What I want to stress and conclude with is the notion that the
present hierarchy of the Church includes individuals, Cardinals and Bishops
who once were priests. Some of them were "problem" priests who advanced
because of other strengths and now sit in judgment of the Church and
changing it. This is not the only source of trouble in trying to get the
Church to modernize and rid itself of individuals who besmirch its name.
Getting rid of the individuals is only one part of the problem. Jesus never
told his followers to be chaste. In the so-called "imitation of Christ",
the Church's imposition of celibacy on its priests are probably the most
absurd rules and the primary cause of the problems now facing all Catholics
throughout the world. Making celibacy optional would be a first step.
Carol's Evaluation: 10 out of 10.
|
 |
|