Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The time between Christmas and the New Year is a slow time in the parish where I minister – St Simon Stock-St Joseph in the Bronx. In fact, for most parish priests, Christmas begins after the last mass of the day is celebrated and continues well into the New Year since few parish groups meet and many people spend time with their families. I like the time after Christmas day. It gives me some time to reflect, reenergize and even think and gather some thoughts for another article on my blog.
As the year comes to an end I am conscious that we are entering another decade. Certainly the 2010’s were perplexing years both for our country and the Catholic Church. Some would say the cultural, religious, political and technological developments made in the past 10 years were astonishing. I tend to think that it just seems that way since we are in the midst of change which always brings a certain amount of discomfort as well as readjustments. In this blog I would like to focus on the future by looking at what has been accomplished in regard to the Church and then briefly look at what I think still needs to be addressed The past is important. It helps us to understand the present and can help to guide us in the future.
Most people would agree that Pope Francis was elected to reform the church, especially the Curia. By most accounts he was elected because most electors felt he could bring about the change that was needed. The financial scandals, the sexual abuse crisis and autocratic, “Roman-centric” functioning style of the Vatican made change necessary.
Pope Francis, by most accounts, since his election in 2013 has taken up the mandate to bring about the needed change in the church. Despite strong opposition within the Vatican and outside, he has remained consistent to his core values that were demonstrated by the way he lived his life up to his election and is gradually bringing about the change that is needed. There is still much to do but I would like to highlight a few of the accomplishments so far that have made the Church more merciful, more humble and much more attractive to the ordinary Catholic and non-Catholic.
Synodality
Massimo Faggioli, a Church historian, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University believes that the decisive “baby steps” that Francis has taken in implementing a “Synodal” approach in the decision-making process is the most important institutional reform of his pontificate. I tend to agree.
Synodality is in many ways the heart of his reform. It was not something he created but a process that he was familiar with from his years as a Cardinal in Argentina. During those years he participated in the CELAM gatherings of Church leaders. He participated in the 5th one which was held in Aparecida, Brazil which was characterized by open conversation and honest reflection on issues and needs in the Church in Latin America. He was chosen by his peers to lead the committee that would draft the concluding document for the conference which became known as the Aparecida document. This document in many ways is the basis for the Synodal approach that Pope Francis is using in his pontificate.
In the Aparecida document the bishops spoke of the importance of evangelizing by helping all to have a personal encounter with Christ. All are called to be evangelizers by living the gospel in their lives. It also pointed out that there has to be a preferential option for the poor, a serious concern for the environment.
There is no doubt that the Aparecida document has influenced what the Pope says, does and writes. Three of his most important documents, considered blueprints for his papacy, are heavily inspired by the key themes of the Aparecida document: the 2016 document Amoris Laetitia about the challenges facing the family, 2015’s Laudato Si’ on human ecology and caring for our earth, and the 2013 document Evangelii Gaudium or Joy of the Gospel, about the new evangelization.
The Synodal approach of Pope Francis has certainly ruffled a lot of feathers mostly among the conservative elements in the Church. The Synods of the past few years have included not only clergy but religious, lay people and outside experts some of whom were women. The dialogue and open discussions led to a greater understanding of the issues being discussed and left more room for all to listen to the Holy Spirit.
This past Christmas eve Pope Francis addressed the Roman Curia as he has done since being elected. In this address he attempted to reassure and encourage the Curia during this time of reform. He warned against the temptation to rigidity and pointed out that change and reform is in the very nature of a church that is called to be missionary. The reform of the Curia will continue into the New Year. But, it is well on its way of being accomplished.
Consistent Ethic of Life
Pope Francis has often spoken about the call of all Christians to have a consistent ethic of life. He often does this by speaking out against the “throwaway culture” in which we live. The throwaway culture way of thinking only values a select few and discards all those who are unproductive. When a throwaway culture finds them inconvenient or burdensome they are ignored, rejected or even disposed of.
A consistent ethic of life on the other hand sees value in all people. All human beings have value regardless of what they have done, where they come from or their economic status. No one should be discarded. Pope Francis has consistently resisted what he identifies as a throwaway culture that uses violent methods like war, genocide, terrorism and the death penalty. He also points out that this same violent culture includes practices like abortion and euthanasia which treats the elderly like “baggage” to be discarded.
This consistent ethic of life stance of Pope Francis has led him to view abortion as one of many life issues that needs to be addressed. He sees abortion as part of a consistent global humanitarian ethic of life that includes these other issues such as war, concern for migrants dying at the Mexican border, Euthanasia, capital punishment, gun control, and infant malnutrition.
This consistent ethic of life stance can be seen in Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate (Paragraph 101) which he wrote in 2018. It states:
“Our defense of the innocent unborn, for example, needs to be clear, firm and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life, which is always sacred and demands love for each person, regardless of his or her stage of development. Equally sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, and every form of rejection.”
Catholics can no longer focus on one life issue and neglect to accept or speak out against the others. Abortion is an important life issue and sinful but other life issues such as the death penalty, gun control, euthanasia, genocide and the terrible care of migrants at the border are also important. All are life issues and all have to be opposed.
This change in emphasis and tone has met resistance from some anti-abortion advocates who view abortion as the dominant life issue. However, it has helped to frame the life issue conversations in a broader context which is needed in our world and society today.
The Gradual Passing of Clericalism
I have written before about the scorn of clericalism. Events of the past few years have done a lot of rid the church of this sin. Clericalism is the belief that clerics of any sort – bishops, priests, consecrated persons – are superior to non-clerics who are treated as inferiors, or children, whose task is to pray, pay and obey and not to question the cleric. Those with a clerical mindset have done much damage to the church. Ordination certainly gives powers to administer sacraments and to teach and govern to a cleric. But it does not confer superiority – morally, spiritually or intellectually over the non-ordained. Pope Francis has spoken out against the clerical mindset and has made it known that the church needs to be rid of it. There are two factors over the past few years that have helped to rid the church of this disease.
First, nothing could be better designed to bring about the death of clericalism than the revelation of extreme suffering inflicted by clerics on the vulnerable and voiceless, and the failure to stop it. While clericalism is not the cause of the sexual abuse of minors it is a leading cause in the cover-up, the failure of leaders to address the issue correctly and decisively. And, to be clear, the abuse of any human being, especially the vulnerable and minors is sinful and tragic. Yet more tragic is the cover-up and the failure of church leaders to address the issue promptly.
Thankfully in many ways clerics are no longer seen by many to be “above” ordinary lay people. Fewer people put clerics on a pedestal. More are questioning their motives and society is now holding clerics accountable for all their actions – financial, sexual and moral. This is good. It is healthy for the Church and for the clerics themselves.
Second, Austen Ivereigh in his book “Wounded Shepherd” makes the point that the opposite of clericalism is synodality. In the synodal approach that Pope Francis implemented, the process of discussion and participation in which the whole people of God can listen to the Holy Spirit and take part in the life and mission of the Church has put clerics more on an even level with laity and forced them to listen to the laity. This method is very much in line with the vision of the Second Vatican Council which called for mechanisms of consultation and participation of all God’s people. Pope Francis has given new life to broader participation of all God’s people. He listens to them and talks often in his homilies about the need for all leaders in the church to listen to the people. He has said that priests should be “shepherds living with the smell of the sheep”, to go out of themselves and be with the marginalized rather than be managers.
Mercy
Finally, Pope Francis has called for a more merciful church. For centuries the Church’s pastoral action was geared to imparting knowledge of doctrine and the fulfillment of commandments. While Pope Francis notes that this is important he says that we have to preach first a God who is merciful and offers His mercy and forgiveness to all people. Doctrine, following the commandments and teachings of the Church are important. But, to properly evangelize in today’s society and culture all ministers must first be “vehicles of mercy” to those in need of God’s forgiveness and love.
For this reason Pope Francis declared a year of Mercy a year or so ago. During this year Pope Francis invited all (not just Catholics) to reflect upon and experience God’s mercy which has become a central teaching in his papacy. Pope Francis views mercy as the first attribute of God. He has said that God does not want anyone to be lost and that God’s mercy is infinitely greater than our sins. For this reason, in his opinion, the church cannot close the door on anyone. How refreshing is this approach!
As Christians and Catholics we are called to go out into the world and help people assume responsibility for their actions, their sinfulness, knowing that God loves them despite their sinfulness. Pope Francis understands that the world is complex and each person’s experience in life is different. There’s that saying that you really do not know a person until you have walked in their shoes. For this reason he emphasizes individual experience over rigid doctrine. He presents God’s love in a new way without denying any teachings of faith.
Conclusion
There have been many other accomplishments but these I believe have been his most important ones. And, there is still much to address. Issues such as the environment, climate change, the treatment of refugees, further fallout from the abuse scandal will continue to make the news and will need to be address. We also cannot forget the persecution and murdering of Christians in Nigeria and Sri Lanka which is only now getting publicity and world attention. No doubt Pope Francis will continue his reform for the good of the Church. Some will resist change but that is to be expected. For too long the Church has resisted change and it will be difficult for those who like the way things were to adjust.
As the year draws to and end I look forward to the new year with hope. After all, the Christmas season is a season of hope! As we continue to celebrate the birth of Christ, let us pray for a more merciful church, for all those persecuted and for a greater tolerance among all God’s people.
Mike's Ponderings 