Thursday, September 12, 2002
Dale:
This is a good letter, for the most part. There has been a vitriolic reaction to the bishops and their leadership for the better part of the year. Some of it no doubt crosses the line (mea culpa). Even I'm getting tired of talking, albeit for different reasons. More on that below. However, it misses a vital point: the reason there has been a nonstop "bitch fest, an endless loop" is because nothing has been done to satisfy the craving for justice. Yes, justice, not self-righteous posturing. An honorable few recognize this (e.g., Bishop Wilton Gregory), but the fact is the bishops have shown that they are not accountable to anyone on this earth for the scandal, nor have they suffered any consequences. Because of this, every new outrage that comes to light (qualified non-apologies, the Reflections document, Abp. Weakland's $450K payoff, Cardinal Mahony's apparently mendacious posturing, blaming America and ignoring the victims on 9/11, etc.) is another fistful of salt in an unhealed wound. No wonder there's so much shouting--it hurts.
But that in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing, even if the language is regrettable. At least it shows that those doing the shouting still care about the Church. Be worried when the voices grow colder, quieter, and finally still. It's a bad sign for rescuers searching for people trapped in rubble, and its a bad sign for the Church. Rest assured, many voices have grown still, and they have gone off in search of new homes.
As I said earlier, I'm tired of talking about it. People on my side of the aisle have to face this fact: nothing--nothing--is going to happen to the bishops responsible--not because of the scandal, not for the mendacity, not for the bizarre theological novelties. Some have tried to counsel a wait and see approach, but this is whistling past the graveyard. There's no precedent for removal or even discipline in these cases. Sure, there may be--perhaps--a quickly-accepted resignation or two at the mandatory retirement age, but removal? Nope. Not even a rebuke. Go ahead--check back in a thousand years...
None of our shouting is going to make an iota of difference. Look--nine months of near-rebellion in Boston has resulted in what? Zilch.
It's pointless to argue about it any longer. Time to hunker down, put our heads to the storm, pray, and hope for the best, whatever that may be.
This is a good letter, for the most part. There has been a vitriolic reaction to the bishops and their leadership for the better part of the year. Some of it no doubt crosses the line (mea culpa). Even I'm getting tired of talking, albeit for different reasons. More on that below. However, it misses a vital point: the reason there has been a nonstop "bitch fest, an endless loop" is because nothing has been done to satisfy the craving for justice. Yes, justice, not self-righteous posturing. An honorable few recognize this (e.g., Bishop Wilton Gregory), but the fact is the bishops have shown that they are not accountable to anyone on this earth for the scandal, nor have they suffered any consequences. Because of this, every new outrage that comes to light (qualified non-apologies, the Reflections document, Abp. Weakland's $450K payoff, Cardinal Mahony's apparently mendacious posturing, blaming America and ignoring the victims on 9/11, etc.) is another fistful of salt in an unhealed wound. No wonder there's so much shouting--it hurts.
But that in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing, even if the language is regrettable. At least it shows that those doing the shouting still care about the Church. Be worried when the voices grow colder, quieter, and finally still. It's a bad sign for rescuers searching for people trapped in rubble, and its a bad sign for the Church. Rest assured, many voices have grown still, and they have gone off in search of new homes.
As I said earlier, I'm tired of talking about it. People on my side of the aisle have to face this fact: nothing--nothing--is going to happen to the bishops responsible--not because of the scandal, not for the mendacity, not for the bizarre theological novelties. Some have tried to counsel a wait and see approach, but this is whistling past the graveyard. There's no precedent for removal or even discipline in these cases. Sure, there may be--perhaps--a quickly-accepted resignation or two at the mandatory retirement age, but removal? Nope. Not even a rebuke. Go ahead--check back in a thousand years...
None of our shouting is going to make an iota of difference. Look--nine months of near-rebellion in Boston has resulted in what? Zilch.
It's pointless to argue about it any longer. Time to hunker down, put our heads to the storm, pray, and hope for the best, whatever that may be.
