Michael K. Smith: Catholics in a quandary

VTdigger
January 06, 2019

https://bit.ly/2Fd49Of

Editor’s note: This commentary is by Michael K. Smith, a practicing Catholic who was the secretary of administration and secretary of human services in Vermont under former Gov. Jim Douglas.

This past year has been a tumultuous time for the American Catholic Church.

In Pennsylvania, a grand jury alleges that over the course of the last 70 years the leaders of the Catholic Church covered up the sexual abuse of 1,000 children, and possibly a thousand more. The attorneys general in several more states are now investigating abuse by Catholic priests in their states.

Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the former Vatican ambassador to the U.S., called on Pope Francis to resign. He accused the pontiff, and other high-ranking church officials, of covering up the sexual misconduct of Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, the former archbishop of Washington, D.C.

And recently, just before U.S. bishops were to vote on a package of reforms aimed at increasing transparency to curb sexual abuse in the church, an edict from the Vatican halted any action. There are two schools of thought as to why the Vatican intervened. Most observers thought it was done to prevent an action that went beyond reforms the Vatican felt comfortable with. But to others, it was a way for the Vatican to prevent actions that did not go far enough.

To most Catholics their leaders are sending mixed messages. On the one hand, they are promising to come clean and take further steps to curb sex abuse in the church, but then on the other hand, they are seemingly taking small steps to achieve that goal.

As Catholics reflect on this past year and then ponder the future of their church going into the new year, many are asking themselves this: What the heck is going on with their church?

By all outward appearances the leadership of the Catholic Church is divided. But the crux of this division doesn’t seem to be over how to address the serious issue of sex abuse among priests. Instead, it’s a fight about who will gain control over the future direction of the church. In essence, it’s a power struggle similar to what we often see in politics.

For U.S. Catholics, the Pennsylvania revelations, coupled with the accusations hurled at the pope and the underlying philosophical infighting taking place within the church are all undermining faith in church leadership. This is particularly dangerous territory for the church. If Catholics begin to compare their leaders to Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker — where a lust for power and money ultimately overtakes any devotion to doing what’s right — then leaders will lose their moral authority to attract followers. The shepherds of the church will be in danger of losing their flock.

Although some may revel in the church’s demise, most Catholics are begging for meaningful and rapid action from their leaders. The faithful know that church attendance has dropped precipitously over the years. In 1955, 75 percent of all American Catholics attended weekly Mass. Nowadays, that number is closer to 39 percent, according to Gallup polling. It’s fair to say the Catholic Church is at a critical point where decisions made today will have a profound impact of its future, perhaps even its survival. If Catholic Church leaders continue to stay the course then it’s likely that more parishioners will leave.

So what should church leaders do?

There are three immediate action steps that the Catholic hierarchy can take, the first of which centers on transparency. When the church opens up about its past and present transgressions then progress is made.

After multiple prosecutions and paying out millions of dollars in claims to victims of sexual abuse, the church finally instituted a series of reforms. Exposing horrific past and present behavior might disgust many of the faithful — and perhaps church leadership is concerned about this — but trying to pretend that these crimes didn’t happen might disgust many more.

With these newer revelations comes a need to expeditiously implement even more reforms. But so far, the Vatican has been slow to react and when it does, the message is muted or muddled. Catholics are often left to decipher what leaders are actually trying to say. And the longer the church delays in pursuing any corrective action, the more likely it is that the number of dissatisfied Catholics will continue to grow.

Next, church leadership needs to stop the infighting. Although disputes over the control and direction of the Catholic Church are nothing new, there’s a disturbing trend in how this power struggle is being waged.

Lately, cardinals and bishops appear to be more interested in demonizing their brethren with whom they disagree rather than trying to persuade them with the merits of their cause or opinion. They have taken a page from the playbook of modern American politics. Opponents and their opinions must be destroyed rather than to be reckoned with. Some worry that the viciousness of this ongoing fight could fragment the church beyond repair.

And lastly, decisive steps need to be taken to create meaningful roles for women in the church: roles that aren’t subservient. Women need to be welcomed participants in determining the future direction of the church and given more responsibility in its day-to-day activities. A thriving church is inclusive, a dying church isn’t.

Jesus challenged the religious hierarchy of his day to change their behavior and direction. Perhaps, it’s time for Catholics around the world to do the same with their leadership.