Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Clericalism And Its Corroding Effects in the Catholic Church


Pope Francis 
Photo courtesy: Conde Nast Traveler
“There is that spirit of clericalism in the Church, that we feel: clerics feel superior; clerics distance themselves from the people. Clerics always say: ‘this should be done like this, like this, like this, and you – go away!’” It happens “when the cleric doesn’t have time to listen to those who are suffering, the poor, the sick, the imprisoned: the evil of clericalism is a really awful thing; it is a new edition of this ancient evil [of the religious ‘authorities’ lording it over others].” But “the victim is the same: the poor and humble people, who await the Lord.” -- taken from Pope Francis’ homily in a Mass in Casa Santa Marta, December 13, 2016 (courtesy: https://aleteia.org/2018/08/23/5-of-the-many-times-pope-francis-has-railed-against-clericalism/)

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines 'clericalism' as a policy of maintaining or increasing the power of a religious hierarchy [consisting of priests, monsignors, bishops, archbishops, cardinals, and the pope]. 

 Let's see below the quotes [taken from an article, 'Clericalism,' in  BishopAccountability.org website] on clericalism: 

 “I speak, of course, of clericalism, that culture of self-interest which promotes and sustains the presumption of superiority among clergy and their practice of protective secrecy. It is something that priests share with all would-be elites, such as professional associations in law and medicine, bureaucrats and the military.” - Michael Kelly SJ, in "Next Item on the Catholic Reform Agenda", Pearls and Irritations (May 2, 2014)

“By clericalism,” Shaw writes, “I mean an elitist mindset, together with structures and patterns of behaviour corresponding to it, which takes it for ­granted that clerics—in the Catholic context, mainly ­bishops and priests—are intrinsically superior to the other members of the Church and deserve automatic ­deference. Passivity and dependence are the laity’s lot. By no means is clericalism confined to clerics themselves. The clericalist mindset is widely shared by Catholic lay people.” – Russell Shaw (Quoted by Richard John Neuhaus, “Scandal and the Scandal of Clericalism,” First Things, April, 2008)

”True clericalism is an anomaly and an aberration in that it engenders disdain and disrespect for others, especially for those who are not clerics (ordained). Hence, real clericalism is when a deacon, priest or bishop has an attitude of superiority over his flock in that he believes he is ‘better’ than they are, whether spiritually, intellectually or otherwise. Clericalism patronizes and denigrates the unordained (laity). It seeks to be treated with privilege rather than seeking to be of service.” – Robert Trigilio, (in “Need to explain to the Laity,” The Black Biretta, 13/01/2014)

“It also happens to me that when I meet a clericalist, I suddenly become anti-clerical. Clericalism should not have anything to do with Christianity. St. Paul, who was the first to speak to the Gentiles, the pagans, to believers in other religions, was the first to teach us that.” – Pope Francis (in his interview with the La Repubblica newspaper, Italy, Oct. 1, 2013)

“It’s sad when you see a man who seeks this office and who does so much to get there and when he makes it, he doesn’t serve, but struts like a peacock, living only for his own vanity,” – Pope Francis (In his weekly general audience at the Vatican, Nov. 5, 2014)
To understand more on different aspects of clericalism in the Catholic Church, please read the following: 


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(Updated on Oct. 4, 2018)

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Posted by Jerome D'Costa at 1:57 PM
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