Pride and corrupt power

by Letters Editor · June 7, 2010

From Tony Meehan, Cape Town:

The Church is not foundering because of paedophilia; it is the Roman curia which has failed and brought the Church into disrepute.� Because of its own grievous sins of pride and corrupt power, it has lost the ability to interpret and apply Christianity and Christian leadership. Disregarding Vatican II and the voice of the Holy Spirit has further added to its downfall.

Fr Russell Pollitt SJ (May 5-11) tells us in his �Point of Debate� article that the �the modus operandi of our Church is still autocratic; power is vested in a few and there is no real consultation with the wider Church community�. Surely, this is not acceptable? Who are these people? Why do they have such powers?

Fr Pollitt continues to say that the active and participative vision of Vatican II has been disregarded. In fact, �the experience of recent years suggests the opposite [has taken place] in areas such as collegiality, liturgy and inter-religious dialogue�.

Brian Jacoby, in his letter �Vatican III needed� in the same issue, correctly suggests a need for another Vatican council. Sadly, he also recognises the futility of expecting our so-called leaders to do anything positive and suggests, therefore, that �the �demand� must come from below�.

In spite of the world demanding reform, it seems we are on another road to nowhere. We will cry out, we will write letters, we will plead but nothing will deter the Roman curia from its retrogressive suicidal path.

As with the new and ridiculous adaptations of the liturgical texts, those wearing the broader phylacteries and longer tassles will remain forever foolhardy and continue to insult the faithful as they refuse to reform from sins of pride and omissions.

Once again Jesus hangs alone on the cross with a thief and a murderer at his side. The Pharisees are wringing their hands and the faithful are confused and confounded. Mea culpa is not enough. Justice must be seen to be done through penance, retribution and reformation.

Let us pray that the Roman curia in fact has the wisdom and humility to emulate the �good� thief and to stretch out its hand in contrition and the promise of true reform.