The above is from Bishop Daniel E. Flores. Clericalism at its worst. Translation: Fearless Leader is always right.
PopeWatch: Gag Me
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
I would agree with the bishop’s comments to the extent the question seems to presume the Pope should be treated as a political leader with an eye on public opinion polls. Regardless of who sits upon the chair of St. Peter, that is certainly the wrong attitude.
Aside from that the bishop’s response comments would allow for one to answer that indeed they love the Holy Father by virtue of their prayers for him and fraternal correction they may offer in charity when there is a serious reason to believe he may need it. In fact the Holy Father has more than once invited the faithful to challenge or question him if, in good faith, they disagree with him on something( in the spirit of “dialogue” perhaps?) and if need be to “make a mess”.
I love the guy, he said he’d make a mess, he’s making a mess … I wish he’d stop making a mess.
But such a ‘daring’ public stance by Bp. Flores (a) absolves him from any difficult decisions to challenge wrong by his superiors, (b) soothes his self-image needs (“I’m a good guy! I’m ‘loving!’), and (c) puts him in prime position for elevation to higher office.
Which is of course how he got to where he is today, positioning himself nearest to the ecclesiastical superior’s posterior for greatest advantage in being first to .. You know, the thing.
For the next pope, can they just draw straws? Think how cutting down on all that white smoke will help save the environment.
Steve,
So right, I’m seeing this in “some” parish priests also:
“But such a ‘daring’ public stance by Bp. Flores (a) absolves him from any difficult decisions to challenge wrong by his superiors, (b) soothes his self-image needs (“I’m a good guy! I’m ‘loving!’), and (c) puts him in prime position for elevation to higher office.”
In a corrupt institution, the you-know-what rises to the top of the bowl.
I have met Bishop Flores and I still think highly of him.
What he’s saying isn’t wrong, but it is so manifestly incomplete that I hope there’s more to his thinking than that.
That one must love a neglectful (or worse) father is mandatory. That one has to accept without question his neglect (or worse) is not.
In fact, I’d say protecting others in his care from the same misconduct is pretty well mandatory.
The question is “can we kick the pope out?”. Sooner would be better. I still pray he’ll change his ways.
Well, obviously, we can’t kick the pope out. But if they’re asking for our opinions, say in a Synod on Synodality, it’s definitely our place to talk about the relationship of the Vatican to different orthodox spiritual communities who prefer the Traditional Mass, for example, or to voice our concern that we balance our care for the souls in communist countries with the need to clearly proclaim the evils of their governments, et cetera.