To change catholic culture

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Joy2day said:
This is a great article, which only just touches on important changes which need to be made to catholic culture. Excellent reading, which of course needs to be accepted and then actively implemented. The first step is to remove the ‘deaf ears’ = the obstinate refusal to acknowledge the need.

vincentians.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/The-Culture-of-the-Catholic-Church.pdf
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Oh man is this another thing about why we should be less traditional in our Catholic faiths because of the abuse crisis?
 
ialsop said:
Oh man is this another thing about why we should be less traditional in our Catholic faiths because of the abuse crisis?
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I think you would have to define more clearly what you mean by “traditional”.

One of the issues which Pope Francis focused on early in his papacy is the issue of clericalism - which is an issue both for clerics and laity. Certainly one could say that in terms of culture, clericalism was “traditional”, in that it was practices by a number of clergy and laity. And clericalism was part of why bishops so seriously mishandled sexual abuse cases. Certainly not all of why cases were mishandled, but definitely a part of it.

There are many traditions in the Church; the article is not speaking about liturgical traditions, but rather other traditions.
 
Yes Otjm, I totally agree with you. I think priests have an important role within the parish, but they should not be the last word on everything. Women & men (both single & married) should also be organising figureheads in a parish, as well as social groups representing most sectors. Ministries should be rotated periodically to remove cliques etc. a bigger parish has more opportunities for everything. I do think that the priest’s sermon at mass is valid, however there could maybe other opportunities within parish life for talks/sermons given by lay people re. their spiritual journey etc.
& the parish secretary should not hold the only set of keys to the gate!! The parish secretary considers the priest her ‘boss’, & happy to please him & be favoured, becomes little more than the extension of his right hand. How many parish secretaries are men? The priests involve themselves in a ‘boys club’ & using the tool of their secretaries, decide who’s in & who’s out. Too much power given to too few. & how about some priests who haven’t come from devout catholic family backgrounds? Priests tend to support each other with an ‘us & them’ attitude.
Of course there are fundamental religious reasons things have gone this way, but nevertheless they are also the cause of the downfall. Life is too short to settle for this.
 
This is about power and influence, with the abuse crisis thrown in to mask that fact. The writer assumes that these changes will lead not to something perfect, though that is implied, but more power in the Church for some. The Church should never be viewed as a corporation.

Ed
 
edwest2 said:
This is about power and influence, with the abuse crisis thrown in to mask that fact. The writer assumes that these changes will lead not to something perfect, though that is implied, but more power in the Church for some. The Church should never be viewed as a corporation.

Ed
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The book is written by a bishop. Are you saying the bishop is trying gain more power? And where is he seeing the change in power?

I would be hesitant to say the bishop wants more power from Rome - it (the abuse crisis, which you seem to posit as a smoke screen for a power grab) was a result of the power of the bishops - power used to hide abuse, move priests without telling the next parish he had a fondness for their youth, power to silence victims…
 
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