To be honest with you, as it regards clericalism, I'd rather not say; I won't say a word about this. Just kidding, that attitude would be clericalism. But what is it really?
I think, and this is just my humble opinion, there are two types of clericalism, benign and malignant.
Benign clericalism isn't really clericalism, it is the laity being nice to clergy because they respect the "institution" of the priesthood and what it is meant to represent, Jesus Christ. Thus, I have been a "victim" of this clericalism when anonymous laity pay for my dinner in a restaurant and don't tell me that they are doing this. I think most priests have had this happen to them. And they don't know who paid for it; the server tells them that someone paid for their dinner.
Within this year, I was in the check-out lane at our local Publix. I purchased about $70 worth of food. As I was placing my card in the machine, the cashier said,"your bill is paid already!" And I said, by whom? "The lady behind you!" I turned and had no idea who she was. I think I turned many shades of red and insisted she didn't have to do it. But then I thanked her profusely. I didn't deserve it, but it was a kind act of a complete stranger to me.
The malignant form of clericalism is when priests feel they cannot be held accountable for failing to do what they are called to do--they don't do their job. Often it is the kind of incompetence a lay person would be dismissed from their jobs, but the priest gets away with it.
As a pastor, I can fire incompetent laity who work for the parish. Of course I have to follow best practices protocol in all of this. But I can't fire a member of the clergy. I can only tell the bishop of the problems. If the bishop doesn't act, this fuels this kind of clericalism.
When a priest breaks the law in ways that would get most laity fired from their job, clericalism is when the priest feels secure in his profession knowing that the major disciplinary procedure required of him might be, (and I say might be) psychological treatment that will allow him to be recycled into another ministry in another town or diocese.
Malignant clericalism allows a bad priest to get away with murder, child molestation or other ways they he might break his vows/promises. Who is the blame for this? His bishop and those who cover for him.
But this is at the core of our current meltdown and we have to name it liberal clericalism of the highest order in the hierarchy:
The questions posed in (a recent) women’s letter (to Pope Francis) include, “What did Archbishop Vigano convey to you in June 2013 about then-Cardinal McCarrick? When did you learn of any allegations of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct with adults by then-Cardinal McCarrick? When did you learn of Pope Benedict’s restrictions on then-Cardinal McCarrick? And did you release then-Cardinal McCarrick from any of Pope Benedict’s restrictions?”
The letter added, “Please do not turn from us. You’ve committed yourself to changing clerical ways in the church. … We need to know we can trust you to be honest with us about what happened. The victims who have suffered so greatly need to know they can trust you. Families, who will be the source of the church’s renewal, need to know we can trust you, and thus trust the church.”
7 comments:
Clericalism isn't the kindness some show to members of the clergy as you describe. Like you I have been the recipient of such in the past, and I am always humbly grateful for such unexpected generosity.
Clericalism is the desire of some clerics to be treated with deference simply because they are clerics. Father wants all new bed linens, not because they are needed, but because it's what he wants. Father thinks his ideas about the design for the expanded narthex are better than anyone else's simply because he's a priest. Father thinks that his understanding of canon law is better than anyone else's, including the tribunal officers who have been trained in the law and its application. Father thinks that it is a "best practice" to hide bank accounts from parish and diocesan staff, to follow accounting practices that hide the true income of his parish from diocesan taxes, or to pay some people under the table in order to circumvent IRS rules.
Father thinks his actions should not be questioned by non-clerics, even when those actions are clearly detrimental to himself, the people he serves in a parish, or the Church at large.
That's clericalism
Of course there is Father's creativity during the liturgy, changing the words at Mass because Father's words are better and then there is the clericalism of lay staffs who resent father and his authentic leadership. Lay clericalism in the post Vatican II Church is something to behold as well.
Bee here:
Clericalism is arrogance, in all its many ugly manifestations...(including refusal to answer tough or embarrassing questions under the guise of piety...)
God bless.
Bee
I think you’re both onto something here, and both equally right. The laity could add to this list, but it’s more important for clerics to keep all this in mind and pray about it as we all try to move on in these troubled times.
And, BTW, it’s been my experience that “clericalism” can also be found in Parish Advisory Councils, etc. The “I’m important and you’re not” attitude is a very human failing.
Wikipedia: "Clericalism is the application of the formal, church-based, leadership or opinion of ordained clergy in matters of either the church or broader political and sociocultural import."
Cunningly changing the meaning of words, such as by those prone to human abuse, is what George Orwell warned us about.
Of course, for neo-Modernists, the laity are equal to the ordained priests, by virtue of the priesthood of all believers, which is why clericalism and ad orientem liturgy is taboo. The "egalite" of the Enlightenment is very important for them. Some probably even believe that all people are born equal.
As a general rule, when a word is used outside of its agreed definition and becomes a pejorative expression which can have diametrically opposing definitions according to the mindset and opinion of the person using it, it is best avoided.
That's clericalism.
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