I understand that, brother. What I mean is, for example, I don’t think that I have contradicted the Pope in my posts (I even quoted him). I support the environment and efforts (both locally and globally) to limit damage to the environment. But, those are vague pronouncements. Are you saying, for example, that you receive very direct guidelines - “you must support any agreement that comes out of Copenhagen?”
Mendicant Orders of men follow the monastic tradition in matters of obedience. The guidelines are pretty specific. A monk and a friar are people whose opinions must always coincide with those in authority, unless you are asked for an opposing view.
I know that you did not oppose the Holy Father. That’s why I said that your post was sensible. I was referring to me. Let’s use Copenhagen. If the Holy Father endorses Copenhagen (THAT’S AN IF), we may not say anything to the contrary. It’s not a question about Copenhagen. Benedict, Augustine, Basil, Albert and Francis had no way of knowing anything about Copenhagen or whatever is happening in the world today. But they were very wise men. What they taught and demanded of their sons was absolute fidelity to those in authority.
There was a reason for this. It is only through total submission of one’s self that one becomes truly poor. Only when one becomes poor does one come close to being like Christ who accepted the will of his Father without murmuring. Our silence is not an indifference, but love. It can also be penance. There are times when we have feelings and opinions that differ from those of a pope, bishop or superior. But the act of recognizing them and remaining silent requires great discipline.
We live in a society where men feel that their opinions must be heard. At times we even find people in the Church who believe that the Church only has authority to govern in matters of faith and morals, which is not true. According to Apostolic tradition, the Church also has temporal authority over the faithful. She has the right to govern on matters concerning the world and to dictate to the faithful what they must do or not do.
Monks and friars try to model for the imitation of the laity what is called a loving silence. We speak when we are given permission to speak, on the things that we are allowed to speak, and only to support and uphold what eclesial authority teaches, demands, decrees, or forbids. It’s a beautiful way of living, because you surrender your mind, will and thought to the Lord, through your order and the Church.
In a case such as this. If the Holy Father calls for action on climate change, we support his call. Those monks and friars who may disagree with him, have a moral duty to change their mind, not his. This is interesting. They have a moral duty to change their thinking, not because they may be wrong, but because they recognize the temporal authority of the Pope and bishops.
This does not happen in a vacuum. That’s what community life is for. You share your misgivings with your brothers and your brothers are there to help you make the ultimate sacrifice of self, the renunciation of your point of view for the sake of love.
I truly believe that this kind of renunciation is far more difficult, at least for me, than giving up material things, sex, power, money and chocalate. But, because it requires so much love and trust, it becomes a beautiful act of detachment that one unites to Christ’s detachment on the cross.
The point is that the Holy Father has said what he wants to see happen. As a friar, my role is to show the laity how to conform to Peter’s wishes. Now, you must remember, you never have to conform in matters of sin. If you are asked to commit a sin, to conform is not love.
I often find myself in situations where the pope or the local bishop will say something and people will share their disagreement with me and they get frustrated because I always say the same thing. “Once authority has spoken, I have no opinion on the matter other than that which authority has stated.” People always go, “But Brother, what do you think?” I’m always forced to tell them, “A brother is not a person who thinks, wishes, has opinions, likes or dislikes that are different from those of the people who are above him in rank and dignity.” Yes, we all have the dignity of the children of God. But we do not all have the dignity of authority. That’s different. Catholicism is not a democracy. Monks and friars have a mandate from their founders to show the laity how to do this. It’s not just a matter of applying the rule of submission to ourselves. That would not be charity. We do not live for us. We live for the Church. We show the Church how to live the Gospel message. I beleive that Mother Teresa said it best when she told her sisters that they would be judged on their fidelity, not their accomplishments. Fidelity is the key word. A monk and a friar are to be as faithful to authority as Christ is to the Church. Our fidelity becomes our sermon.
I’m not sure if I’m being clear or making it more confusing.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
You are too funny. Let me help here. Though I usually just muddy the waters.