{"id":37065,"date":"2019-05-28T22:54:15","date_gmt":"2019-05-29T04:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/?p=37065"},"modified":"2019-06-01T07:25:02","modified_gmt":"2019-06-01T13:25:02","slug":"on-criticizing-the-clergy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/on-criticizing-the-clergy\/","title":{"rendered":"On Criticizing the Clergy","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-37070 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/clericalcriticism-989x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"593\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/clericalcriticism-989x1024.jpg 989w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/clericalcriticism-290x300.jpg 290w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/clericalcriticism-768x795.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/clericalcriticism-640x662.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/clericalcriticism.jpg 1319w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>WE\u00a0<\/b>are living in super-charged times. The ability to exchange thoughts and ideas, to differ and debate, is nearly a bygone era. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_37065_1('footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_1');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_37065_1('footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_1');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[1]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_37065_1_1\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">see\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/11\/surviving-our-toxic-culture\/\">Surviving Our Toxic Culture<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/17\/going-to-extremes\/\"><em>Going to Extremes<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_37065_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> It&#8217;s part of the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/08\/toward-the-storm\/\">Great Storm<\/a><\/em> and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/16\/the-diabolical-disorientation\/\">Diabolical Disorientation<\/a><\/em> that is sweeping over the world like an intensifying hurricane. The Church is no exception as anger and frustration against the clergy continues to mount. Healthy discourse and debate have their place. But all too often, especially on social media, it is anything but healthy.\u00a0<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>TALK THE WALK\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If we must\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/24\/walk-with-the-church\/\">Walk With the Church<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>then we ought to be careful, too, how we\u00a0<em>talk\u00a0<\/em>about the Church. The world is watching, plain and simple. They read our comments; they note our tone; they watch to see if we are Christians in name only. They\u00a0wait to see if we will forgive or if we will judge; if we are merciful or if we are wrathful. In other words, to see <em>if we are like Jesus<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s often not what we say, but how we say it. But what we say counts too.\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;\">By this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:5-6)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In the face of the sexual scandals that have surfaced in the Church, the inaction or coverups by some bishops, and the various controversies surrounding the papacy of Pope Francis, the temptation is to take to social media, or in discussion with others, and use the opportunity to &#8220;vent.&#8221; But should we?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>CORRECTING ANOTHER<\/p>\n<p>The &#8220;correction&#8221; of a brother or sister in Christ is not only moral but considered one of the seven <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usccb.org\/beliefs-and-teachings\/how-we-teach\/new-evangelization\/jubilee-of-mercy\/the-spiritual-works-of-mercy.cfm\">Spiritual Works of Mercy<\/a>. St. Paul wrote:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;\">Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>But there are, of course, all kinds of caveats to that. For one:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;\">Judge not, that you be not judged&#8230; Why do you see the speck that is in your brother&#8217;s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (Matt 7:1-5)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A &#8220;rule of thumb,&#8221; born from the wisdom of the saints, is to consider one&#8217;s own faults first before dwelling on those of others. In the presence of one&#8217;s own truth, wrath has a funny way of sputtering out. Sometimes, especially regarding another&#8217;s personal faults and weaknesses, it is better to simply &#8220;cover their nakedness,&#8221;<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_37065_1('footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_2');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_37065_1('footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_2');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[2]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_37065_1_2\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/19\/striking-gods-anointed-one\/\"><em>Striking God&#8217;s Anointed One<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_37065_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script>\u00a0or as St. Paul said, <em>&#8220;Bear one another\u2019s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.&#8221;<\/em> <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_37065_1('footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_3');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_37065_1('footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_3');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[3]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_37065_1_3\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Galatians 6:2<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_37065_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Correcting someone else has to be done in such a way that it respects the dignity and reputation of that person. When it is a serious sin causing scandal, Jesus gave instructions in Matt 18:15-18 on how to deal with it. Even then, the &#8220;correction&#8221; <em>begins<\/em> in private, face to face.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>CLERICAL CORRECTION<\/p>\n<p>What about correcting priests, bishops, or even the pope?<\/p>\n<p>They are, foremost, our brothers in Christ. All the rules above apply insofar as charity and proper protocol are maintained. Remember, the Church is not a secular organization; it is the family of God, and we ought to treat each other as such. As Cardinal Sarah said:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>We must help the Pope. We must stand with him just as we would stand with our own father.<\/strong> \u2014Cardinal Sarah, May 16th, 2016, <em>Letters from the Journal of Robert Moynihan<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Consider this: if your own father or your parish priest made an error in judgment or taught something incorrectly, would you go onto Facebook in front of all your &#8220;friends&#8221;, which might include fellow parishioners and people in your community, and call him all kinds of names? Probably not, because you have to face him that Sunday, and that would be pretty uncomfortable. And yet, this is precisely what people are doing online with the present shepherds of our Church today. Why? \u00a0Because it&#8217;s easy to cast stones at people you&#8217;ll never meet. It&#8217;s not only cowardice,\u00a0but it&#8217;s also sinful if the criticisms are unjust or uncharitable. How do know if that&#8217;s the case?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>THE GUIDELINES\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>These imperatives from the Catechism ought to guide our speech when it comes to the clergy or anyone whom we are tempted to disparage online or through gossip:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva, sans-serif; color: #000080;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva, sans-serif; color: #000080;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">&#8211; of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva, sans-serif; color: #000080;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">&#8211; of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another&#8217;s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva, sans-serif; color: #000080;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">&#8211; of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva, sans-serif; color: #000080;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor&#8217;s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva, sans-serif; color: #000080;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another&#8217;s statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva, sans-serif; color: #000080;\"><strong>Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one&#8217;s neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity.<\/strong> <\/span>\u2014<em>Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em>, n 2477-2478<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>ALTER CHRISTUS<\/p>\n<p>There is something even more delicate here regarding our clergy. They are not mere adminstrators (though some may indeed act so). Theologically speaking, their ordination makes then an <em>alter Christus<\/em>\u2014&#8221;another Christ&#8221;\u2014and during the Mass, they are there &#8220;in the person of Christ the head.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>From [Christ], bishops and priests receive the mission and faculty (&#8220;the sacred power&#8221;) to act <em>in persona Christi Capitis<\/em>.<\/strong> \u2014<em>Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em>, n 875<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>As an alter Christus, the priest is profoundly united to the Word of the Father who, in becoming incarnate took the form of a servant, he became a servant (Phil 2: 5-11). The priest is a servant of Christ, in the sense that his existence, configured to Christ ontologically, acquires an essentially relational character: he is in Christ, for Christ and with Christ, at the service of humankind.<\/strong> \u2014POPE BENEDICT XVI, \u00a0General Audience, June 24th, 2009; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/w2.vatican.va\/content\/benedict-xvi\/en\/audiences\/2009\/documents\/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20090624.html\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">vatican.va<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>But some priests, bishops and even popes fail to live up to this great responsibility\u2014and sometimes fail miserably. This is a cause of sorrow and scandal and potentially the loss of salvation for some who proceed to reject the Church altogether. So how do we respond in situations like these? Speaking about the &#8220;sins&#8221; of our shepherds <em>may<\/em>\u00a0be just and even necessary when it involves scandal or correcting a false teaching. <span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_37065_1('footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_4');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_37065_1('footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_4');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[4]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_37065_1_4\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">Recently, for example, I commented on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/11\/only-jesus-walks-on-water\/\">Abu Dhabi statement<\/a>\u00a0that the Pope signed and which stated that &#8220;God willed&#8221; a diversity of religions, etc.. On its face, the wording is misleading, and in fact, the Pope <em>did\u00a0<\/em>correct this understanding when Bishop Athanasius Schneider saw him in person, saying it was God&#8217;s &#8220;permissive&#8221; will. [March 7th, 2019; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifesitenews.com\/news\/bishop-schneider-extracts-clarification-on-diversity-of-religions-from-pope-francis-brands-abuse-summit-a-failure\">lifesitenews.com<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_4').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_37065_1_4', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> Without entering into &#8220;rash judgment,&#8221; one can simply bring clarity without attacking the character or dignity of a cleric or impugning their motives (unless you can read their mind).\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But what a delicate thing this is. In the words of Jesus to St. Catherine of Siena:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"page\" title=\"Page 2\">\n<div class=\"layoutArea\">\n<div class=\"column\">\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">[It] is My intention that Priests be held in due reverence, not for what they are in themselves, but for My sake, because of the authority I have given them. Therefore the virtuous must not lessen their reverence, even should these Priests fall short in virtue. And, as far as the virtues of my Priests are concerned, I have described them for you by setting them before you as stewards of&#8230; My Son\u2019s Body and Blood and of the other Sacraments. This dignity belongs to all who are appointed as such stewards, to the bad as well as to the good&#8230; [Because] of their virtue and because of their sacramental dignity you ought to love them. And you ought to hate the sins of those who live evil lives. But you may not for all that set ourselves up as their judges; this is not My Will because they are My Christs, and you ought to love and reverence the authority I have given them.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><em>You know well enough that if someone filthy or poorly dressed were to offer you a great treasure that would give you life, you would not disdain the bearer for love of the treasure, and the lord who had sent it, even though the bearer was ragged and filthy&#8230; You ought to despise and hate the Priests\u2019 sins and try to dress them in the clothes of charity and holy prayer and wash away their filth with your tears. Indeed, I have appointed them and given them to you to be angels on earth and suns, as I have told you. When they are less than that you ought to pray for them. But you are not to judge them. Leave the judging to Me, and I, because of your prayers and my own desire, will be merciful to them.<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>\u2014Catherine of Siena; <em>The Dialogue<\/em>, translated by Suzanne Noffke, O.P., New York: Paulist Press, 1980, pp. 229-231\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Once, St. Francis of Assissi was challenged on his unshakeable reverence for priests when someone pointed out that the local pastor was living in sin. The question was put to Francis: \u201cMust we believe in his teaching and respect the sacraments he performs?\u201d In response, the saint went to the priest\u2019s home and knelt before him saying,<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>I don\u2019t know whether these hands are stained as the other man says they are. [But] I do know that even if they are, that in no way lessens the power and effectiveness of the sacraments of God\u2026 That is why I kiss these hands out of respect for what they perform and out of respect for Him who gave His authority to them.<\/strong> \u2014 &#8220;The Danger of Criticizing Bishops and Priests&#8221; by Rev. Thomas G. Morrow, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hprweb.com\/2007\/03\/the-danger-of-criticizing-bishops-and-priests\/\">hprweb.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>CRITICIZING CLERGY<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s common to hear those who accuse Pope Francis of this or that saying, &#8220;We can&#8217;t be silent. It is just to criticize the bishop and even the pope!&#8221; But it is vanity to think that lambasting a cleric who lives in Rome is sitting there reading <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft  wp-image-8261\" style=\"margin: 2px 5px 2px 5px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Our_Lady_of_Sorrowssmall.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"336\" height=\"462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Our_Lady_of_Sorrowssmall.jpg 642w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/Our_Lady_of_Sorrowssmall-218x300.jpg 218w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/>your comments. What good, then, does unleashing vitriol do? It&#8217;s one thing to be confused and even angry about some of the truly puzzling things coming out of the Vatican these days. It&#8217;s another to vent this online. Who are we trying to impress? How is that helping the Body of Christ? How is that healing the division? Or is it not making more wounds, creating more confusion, or possibly further weakening the faith of those who are already shaken? How do you know who is reading your comments, and whether you are pushing them out the Church by rash statements? How do you know someone who might be considering becoming a Catholic is not suddenly frightened by your words if your tongue paints the hierarchy with a monstrous broad brush? I&#8217;m not exaggerating when I say I read these kinds of comments nearly every day.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace; font-size: 10pt;\">You sit and speak against your brother, slandering your mother\u2019s son. When you do these things should I be silent? (Psalm 50:20-21)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>On the other hand, if one speaks to those struggling, reminding them that no crisis, no matter how grave, is bigger than the Founder of our Church, then you are doing two things. You are affirming the power of Christ in every trial and tribulation. Second, you are acknowledging the problems without impugning the character of another.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Of course, it&#8217;s ironic that I write this on the day that Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigan\u00f2 and Pope Francis have entered into a painful public exchange accusing one another of lying over former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.<span class=\"footnote_referrer\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToReference_37065_1('footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_5');\" onkeypress=\"footnote_moveToReference_37065_1('footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_5');\" ><sup id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_5\" class=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text\">[5]<\/sup><\/a><span id=\"footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_37065_1_5\" class=\"footnote_tooltip\">cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/cruxnow.com\/vatican\/2019\/05\/29\/vatican-omitted-part-of-popes-crucial-quote-about-mccarrick\/\">cruxnow.com<\/a><\/span><\/span><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_5').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_37065_1_5', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top right', relative: true, offset: [10, 10], });<\/script> These are indeed the kinds of trials that are only going to increase in the days ahead. Still&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A CRISIS OF FAITH<\/p>\n<p>&#8230;I think what Maria Voce, President of Focolare said a while ago, is so very wise and true:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>Christians should bear in mind that it is Christ who guides the history of the Church. Therefore, it is not the Pope\u2019s approach that destroys the Church. This is not possible: Christ does not allow the Church to be destroyed, not even by a Pope. If Christ guides the Church, the Pope of our day will take the necessary steps to move forward. If we are Christians, we should reason like this&#8230; Yes, I think this is the main cause, not being rooted in faith, not being sure that God sent Christ to found the Church and that he will fulfil his plan through history through people who make themselves available to him. This is the faith we must have in order to be able to judge anyone and anything that happens, not only the Pope. <\/strong> \u2014<em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.lastampa.it\/2017\/12\/23\/vaticaninsider\/eng\/inquiries-and-interviews\/the-approach-a-pope-takes-is-not-what-destroys-the-church-6Fuj9bpkX7PoTKwomNPdEL\/pagina.html\">Vatican Insider<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>Dec. 23rd, 2017<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>I agree. At the very root of some uncharitable discourse is a fear that Jesus really isn&#8217;t in charge of His Church. That after 2000 years, the Master has fallen asleep.\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;\">Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, \u201cTeacher, do you not care that we are perishing?\u201d He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, \u201cQuiet! Be still!\u201d The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, \u201cWhy are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?\u201d (Matt 4:38-40)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>I love the priesthood. There is no Catholic Church without the priesthood. In fact, I hope to write shortly how the priesthood is <em>at the very heart<\/em> of Our Lady&#8217;s plans for her Triumph. If one turns against the priesthood, if one raises their voice in unjust and uncharitable criticism, they are helping to sink the ship, not save it. In that regard, I think many of the cardinals and bishops, even those more critical of Pope Francis, are giving a good example to the rest of us.\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>Absolutely not. I will never leave the Catholic Church. No matter what happens I intend to die a Roman Catholic. I will never be part of a schism. I\u2019ll just keep the faith as I know it and respond in the best way possible. That\u2019s what the Lord expects of me. But I can assure you this: You won\u2019t find me as part of any schismatic movement or, God forbid, leading people to break away from the Catholic Church. As far as I\u2019m concerned, it\u2019s the church of our Lord Jesus Christ and the pope is his vicar on earth and I\u2019m not going to be separated from that.<\/strong> \u2014Cardinal Raymond Burke, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifesitenews.com\/news\/new-interview-cardinal-burke-says-i-will-never-be-part-of-a-schism\">LifeSiteNews<\/a>, August 22nd, 2016<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong>There is a front of traditionalist groups, just as there is with the progressivists, that would like to see me as head of a movement against the Pope. But I will never do this\u2026. I believe in the unity of the Church and I will not allow anyone to exploit my negative experiences of these last few months.\u00a0Church authorities, on the other hand, need to listen to those who have serious questions or justified complaints; not ignoring them, or worse, humiliating them. Otherwise, without desiring it, there can be an increase of the risk of a slow separation that might result in the schism of a\u00a0part of the Catholic world, disorientated and disillusioned.<\/strong> \u2014Cardinal Gerhard M\u00fcller,\u00a0<em>Corriere della Sera,\u00a0<\/em>Nov. 26, 2017; quote from the Moynihan Letters, #64, Nov. 27th, 2017<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>My prayer is that the Church may find a way in this present Storm to become a witness of dignified communication. That means\u00a0<em>listening\u00a0<\/em>to one another\u2014from the top down\u2014so that the world may see us and come to believe that there is something greater here than rhetoric.\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;\">By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">RELATED READING<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/11\/surviving-our-toxic-culture\/\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Surviving Our Toxic Culture<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/17\/going-to-extremes\/\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\">Going to the Extremes<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/19\/striking-gods-anointed-one\/\"><em>Striking God&#8217;s Anointed One<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2016\/06\/15\/so-you-saw-him-too\/\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt;\"><em>So, You Saw Him Too?<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"CENTER\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/26\/mark-in-ottawa-and-vermont\/\"><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><em><span style=\"color: #850404;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\">Mark is coming to the Ottawa area and Vermont<br \/>\nin Spring 2019!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/26\/mark-in-ottawa-and-vermont\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-33007\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/MarkYEP21-890x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"355\" height=\"409\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/MarkYEP21-890x1024.jpg 890w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/MarkYEP21-261x300.jpg 261w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/MarkYEP21-768x883.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/MarkYEP21.jpg 1187w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 355px) 100vw, 355px\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>See\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2019\/04\/26\/mark-in-ottawa-and-vermont\/\">here <\/a><\/em>for more information.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Mark will be playing the gorgeous sounding<\/em><br \/>\n<em>McGillivray hand-made acoustic guitar. <\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/mcgillivrayguitars.com\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-33034\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/mcgillivraybnrlrg.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"410\" height=\"200\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a>See<br \/>\n<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/mcgillivrayguitars.com\">mcgillivrayguitars.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div align=\"center\">\n<p align=\"center\"><b>The Now Word is a full-time ministry that<br \/>\ncontinues by your support. <br \/>\nBless you, and thank you.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/b><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/donations\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/07\/Donateovalbtnonbeige.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"112\" height=\"48\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">To journey with Mark in\u00a0<strong><em>The <\/em><\/strong><em><strong>Now Word<\/strong><\/em>,<em><br \/>\n<\/em>click on the banner below to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/subscribe\/\">subscribe<\/a>. <br \/>\nYour email will not be shared with anyone.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/subscribe\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-25916\" src=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/now-word-banner.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"469\" height=\"153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/now-word-banner.jpeg 850w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/now-word-banner-300x98.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/now-word-banner-768x250.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 469px) 100vw, 469px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"speaker-mute footnotes_reference_container\"> <div class=\"footnote_container_prepare\"><p><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_label pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_37065_1();\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/span><span role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button\" style=\"display: none;\" onclick=\"footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_37065_1();\">[<a id=\"footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_37065_1\">+<\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/div> <div id=\"footnote_references_container_37065_1\" style=\"\"><table class=\"footnotes_table footnote-reference-container\"><caption class=\"accessibility\"><h5>Footnotes<\/h5><\/caption> <tbody> \r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_1\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_37065_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_1');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>1<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">see\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/11\/surviving-our-toxic-culture\/\">Surviving Our Toxic Culture<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/17\/going-to-extremes\/\"><em>Going to Extremes<\/em><\/a><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_2\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_37065_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_2');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>2<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/19\/striking-gods-anointed-one\/\"><em>Striking God&#8217;s Anointed One<\/em><\/a><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_3\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_37065_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_3');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>3<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Galatians 6:2<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_4\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_37065_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_4');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>4<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">Recently, for example, I commented on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/2019\/02\/11\/only-jesus-walks-on-water\/\">Abu Dhabi statement<\/a>\u00a0that the Pope signed and which stated that &#8220;God willed&#8221; a diversity of religions, etc.. On its face, the wording is misleading, and in fact, the Pope <em>did\u00a0<\/em>correct this understanding when Bishop Athanasius Schneider saw him in person, saying it was God&#8217;s &#8220;permissive&#8221; will. [March 7th, 2019; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifesitenews.com\/news\/bishop-schneider-extracts-clarification-on-diversity-of-religions-from-pope-francis-brands-abuse-summit-a-failure\">lifesitenews.com<\/a>]<\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n<tr class=\"footnotes_plugin_reference_row\"> <th scope=\"row\" id=\"footnote_plugin_reference_37065_1_5\" class=\"footnote_plugin_index pointer\" onclick=\"footnote_moveToAnchor_37065_1('footnote_plugin_tooltip_37065_1_5');\"><a role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" class=\"footnote_plugin_link\" ><span class=\"footnote_index_arrow\">&#8593;<\/span>5<\/a><\/th> <td class=\"footnote_plugin_text\">cf. <a href=\"https:\/\/cruxnow.com\/vatican\/2019\/05\/29\/vatican-omitted-part-of-popes-crucial-quote-about-mccarrick\/\">cruxnow.com<\/a><\/td><\/tr>\r\n\r\n <\/tbody> <\/table> <\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> function footnote_expand_reference_container_37065_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_37065_1').show(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_37065_1').text('\u2212'); } function footnote_collapse_reference_container_37065_1() { jQuery('#footnote_references_container_37065_1').hide(); jQuery('#footnote_reference_container_collapse_button_37065_1').text('+'); } function footnote_expand_collapse_reference_container_37065_1() { if (jQuery('#footnote_references_container_37065_1').is(':hidden')) { footnote_expand_reference_container_37065_1(); } else { footnote_collapse_reference_container_37065_1(); } } function footnote_moveToReference_37065_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_37065_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } } function footnote_moveToAnchor_37065_1(p_str_TargetID) { footnote_expand_reference_container_37065_1(); var l_obj_Target = jQuery('#' + p_str_TargetID); if (l_obj_Target.length) { jQuery( 'html, body' ).delay( 0 ); jQuery('html, body').animate({ scrollTop: l_obj_Target.offset().top - window.innerHeight * 0.2 }, 380); } }<\/script>","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; WE\u00a0are living in super-charged times. The ability to exchange thoughts and ideas, to differ and debate, is nearly a bygone era. [1]see\u00a0Surviving Our Toxic Culture\u00a0and\u00a0Going to Extremes It&#8217;s part of the Great Storm and Diabolical Disorientation that is sweeping over the world like an intensifying hurricane. The Church is no exception as anger and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily-journal","category-time-of-grace"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>On Criticizing the Clergy - The Now Word<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.markmallett.com\/blog\/on-criticizing-the-clergy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"On Criticizing the Clergy - The Now Word\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&nbsp; WE\u00a0are living in super-charged times. The ability to exchange thoughts and ideas, to differ and debate, is nearly a bygone era. [1]see\u00a0Surviving Our Toxic Culture\u00a0and\u00a0Going to Extremes It&#8217;s part of the Great Storm and Diabolical Disorientation that is sweeping over the world like an intensifying hurricane. 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