{"id":5131,"date":"2018-10-16T08:00:32","date_gmt":"2018-10-16T00:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/?p=5131"},"modified":"2021-10-18T15:08:42","modified_gmt":"2021-10-18T07:08:42","slug":"210-revisiting-the-theology-of-clericalism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/?p=5131","title":{"rendered":"210. Revisiting the Theology of Clericalism"},"content":{"rendered":"

25\u00a0<\/sup>But Jesus called them to him and said, \u201cYou know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.\u00a026\u00a0<\/sup>It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,\u00a027\u00a0<\/sup>and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave;\u00a028\u00a0<\/sup>just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.<\/span>\u201d<\/strong> [Matthew 20:25-28<\/span>, NRSV<\/em>]<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cTheology tends to ramp up the status and certainty of its models and theories so that what starts off as a theory morphs into unquestionable truth,\u201d writes Fr. Eric Hodgson, a senior priest in Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

He writes this in the context of a reflection on how the Roman Catholic \u201cordained\u201d priesthood has morphed from<\/em><\/span><\/strong> one of noble service and servant-leadership<\/strong> to<\/em><\/span><\/strong> one of ugly, arrogant, power-crazy, privilege-centered, status-driven, clerical culture<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, over time, the Catholic ordained priesthood has progressively deteriorated from what Jesus of Nazareth of the Gospels has clearly identified as what he desired to see the disciples he left behind (and those who came after them) do, to what now plainly runs counter to the \u00a0wishes of Jesus as he is portrayed in the Gospels. This is plain truth, which only rebels of the Word and interest-laden Catholic clergy (and the portion of the laity they have successfully inculturated and indoctrinated into the same heretical mindset) would deny. And yet, it is a reality so plainly seen that neither clever theological articulation, nor accumulation of clerical-interest-driven manouvres in preaching, and fossilised in official documents and even canon law, can repudiate. Openly acknowledging this as a severe malady that has systemically poisoned the soul of the Catholic clergy and indeed the rest of the Church, Pope Francis has repeatedly and consistently railed against it from the very inception of his papacy. Such an important, overarching, issue that affects the life of the entire Church ought to be raised to the consciousness of all within the Church; it must be studied and discussed. Our health depends on it. Our fidelity to the Lord demands it. For this reason, Hodgson\u2019s brief article titled \u201cRevisiting the Theology of Clericalism\u201d, first published on 9 October 2018, is reproduced in full below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clericalism is currently a hot topic: \u00a0the Australian Royal Commission\u00a0talked about it;\u00a0Pope Francis\u00a0is talking about it every so often, insisting that we have to get rid of it. In this essay\u00a0Hodgson looks back at how clericalism gradually crept into Catholic thinking and theology. He argues that \u201cknowing the history helps to work out a solution.\u201d His essay serves as a useful entry point for serious coffee-corner discussion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clericalism is on everyone\u2019s lips. The pope decries it. Australia\u2019s Royal Commission judged it a major factor contributing to child sex abuse by priests. Some bishops have joined the chorus denouncing it, even though other bishops resentfully bite their tongues.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, as the saying goes, you tell me what you do, and I will tell you what you believe. Follow that line and we find clericalism alive and well.<\/span><\/p>\n

The factional divide in the Catholic Church is becoming ever more political and militant. It parallels the identity politics <\/strong>which is currently enveloping many of the world\u2019s democracies.<\/span><\/p>\n

One faction places its focus on the church as institution \u2014 with its system, doctrine, law and clerical control. The other stresses the Christian vision, and sees system, doctrine, law and clergy as its servants.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 50 years since Vatican II have seen the pendulum first move from dominance of the clerical system as the Church embraced the new social order, followed by 25 years of restoration of clerical centralization and control.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seminary training followed the same pattern. Priests ordained between 1960 and 1975 were pastorally minded and well educated in theology, history and scripture. Since then ordination numbers have been minimal and the products more clerical, less interested in intellectual pursuits and jealous of their clerical rank. Sacristy priests rather than pastoral leaders.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is infighting in clerical ranks over in-house issues which are irrelevant to the laity. Meanwhile, formerly devoted Catholics, liberated from clerical control, have gone their own way \u2013 many leaving altogether.<\/span><\/p>\n

As ever, knowing the history helps to work out a solution. Theology follows practice and is an attempt to provide a rational explanation of that practice.<\/span><\/p>\n

The theology of the Constantinian church was formulated in an intellectual climate of the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle and in the Greek language. Much of it does not speak to today\u2019s world.<\/span><\/p>\n

How did clericalism become entrenched in the Catholic Church? The answer lies largely with the theology of early Christianity after Emperor Constantine made it central to the structure of his empire in the 4th century. Imperial patronage brought that great temptation \u2013 power. Bishops got status and power.<\/span><\/p>\n

A key pastoral question of the newly endorsed Constantinian church was how you deal with people who had become Christians, been baptized and then abandoned the faith under persecution. What do you do with them if they want readmission?<\/span><\/p>\n

The pastoral practice that emerged was to allow them back after doing penance, but not to baptize them again. How explain this policy? Here the tail wagged the dog.<\/span><\/p>\n

The answer the theologians came up with was that baptism causes an irreversible change in the essence of the person \u2013 like a seal on their soul. It caused an ontological change.<\/span><\/p>\n

This theory fitted the scene even better once clergy got power and ruled the community rather than led it. The sacrament had created a sacred person.<\/span><\/p>\n

Theology tends to ramp up the status and certainty of its models and theories so that what starts off as a theory morphs into unquestionable truth.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Christianity grew it became more organized. St Paul lists various ways members helped each other in his letter to the Corinthians. Different members had different talents which they used to serve the community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quite early, these were formalized as ministries. The Latin word for to designate or direct is \u201cordinare.\u201d The problem with translating this into English as \u201cordain\u201d is that it carries sacral overtones not in the Latin original.<\/span><\/p>\n

The elders (presbyters) of the early Christian community emerged as leaders along similar lines to the synagogue. Presiding over the Eucharist became reserved to them. Over time that role became sacralised; and their routine designation (or ordination) became a consecration. The priest was not only the elder. He was a sacred person<\/span><\/p>\n

The price paid by the clergy was pride and arrogance and a presumption of entitlement, which made them a cast which dominated rather than served \u2014 that enforced rather than led. It created two ranks of Christians.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clergy ranks have been breaking down for a long time. Priests have left in large numbers. Others have been dismissed due to scandal. Clerical sex abuse has de-authorized priests and, more so, bishops. Yet other former priests are working formally and informally in church ministries. The \u201cpriest forever\u201d tag just doesn\u2019t hold any more.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are plenty of suggestions as to how to eliminate clericalism: A conversion of heart in the clergy from power to service.<\/strong> Changing the lifestyle and curriculum of seminaries so that they cease to be academies of clericalism. Selecting only proved pastors as bishops. But none of these will work without re-visiting the underpinning theology of the seal.<\/span><\/p>\n

The theology of the seal has passed its use by date. A priest is no more sacred than any other baptized Christian<\/strong>. His or her designation to lead the Eucharist should arise from a calling by the Church<\/strong>; and any rite of designation a true ordination \u2013 not a consecration \u2013 by the community. His retaining of that ministry should be at the pleasure of the community.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Leadership of the community should be a quite separate ministry filled by someone competent and willing to do it.<\/strong> As the seal fractures, a more varied and adaptable community can be born.<\/span><\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 Dr. Jeffrey & Angie Goh, October 2018. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/p>\n

You are most welcome to respond to this post. Email your comments to jeffangiegoh@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/u><\/strong> You can also be dialogue partners in this Ephphatha Coffee-Corner Ministry<\/em> by sending us questions for discussion.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

25\u00a0But Jesus called them to him and said, \u201cYou know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.\u00a026\u00a0It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,\u00a027\u00a0and whoever wishes to be first among you must be Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfsi_plus_gutenberg_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_show_text_before_share":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_type":"","sfsi_plus_gutenberg_icon_alignemt":"","sfsi_plus_gutenburg_max_per_row":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Dr. Jeffrey & Angie Goh","author_link":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/?author=1"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"From Our Perspective<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"25\u00a0But Jesus called them to him and said, \u201cYou know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.\u00a026\u00a0It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,\u00a027\u00a0and whoever wishes to be first among you must be…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5131"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5131"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6728,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5131\/revisions\/6728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jeffangiegoh.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}