Different Views of Leadership

I am sorry, but when I saw this picture on the National Catholic Reporter website, I got ill. It was taken at the High Mass, in the Tridentine rite, which was celebrated at the National Basilica in D.C. by Bishop Slattery of Tulsa, OK. I really feel that this has no place in a post Vatican II Church. Seeing the bishop move majestically down the aisle, with the laity bowing to him, where is the image of the servant leader?

I know enough Church history to know how some of these practices came about. And I know there are those who feel that the dignity of the Church was decreased when Pope Paul VI cut back on the pomp, no longer wearing the papal tiara, reducing the number of papal processional escorts, getting rid of those “imperial” fans, and bishops and cardinals reduced the regalia. But I keep remembering what Our Lord said: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors,’ but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant.” (Luke 22: 25-26).

Through baptism, we all have a share in Christ’s priestly office, but there are those who are called by the Spirit to serve the faithful as ordained bishops and priests. When they forget that they are servant leaders, then we see a very least a low opinion of the laity, at worst, abuse of power. And what the Church really needs in this time of crisis are more servant leaders.

Picture from CNS

The Story Keeps Dribbling Out

Most scandals, whether it involves politicians, business men, or unfortunately clergymen, can be exposed all at once, or slowly, with little bits of information leaking out; “death by a thousand cuts.”

We are seeing this happening now with the clergy abuse scandal going global and Vatican connections coming to light. The National Catholic Reporter has been posting a continuous stream of stories concerning Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, a retired Vatican curialist, involvement with some cases of clergy abuse. The uproar resulting from these stories have caused the Cardinal to decline being the principal celebrant at a High Mass in the Tridentine rite. This Mass is being celebrated on April 24th at the National Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

Those of you have been regular readers of this blog know my feelings about the continued celebration of the Tridentine liturgy. When I heard about the High Mass being celebrated at the main altar of the Basilica, I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I know there those who will disagree with me, but I still feel that the Tridentine liturgy has no place in a post-Vatican II Church; we are a different laity, with a new understanding of our role in the Church.

And as a faithful laity, we deserve full disclosure from the leaders of our Church, not having to endure constant snippets, day after day, month after month, year after year. We deserve to have our church leaders be accountable for their failures, and ready to work towards healing our Church. We deserve an institutional Church we can be proud of, that we can rejoice in.