EDITORIAL Seismic shift leads to the local parish
Theres talk of a seismic
shift in the U.S. Catholic church provoked by the sex abuse crisis. In
some discussions -- and hopes -- the post-Dallas direction is seen as leading
to a greater openness, though without much clarity on what that
might mean or how it is to be achieved.
The church in this country is more complex than these generalities
allow.
On the sex abuse issue, as in other matters, there is no
one American Catholic church.
For Catholics in those fortunate dioceses untouched by sexual
scandal, the matter does not press as hard as on those in cities plagued by
constant headlines.
Rather than suggest a detectable seismic shift, a shift that moves
power around, there is at best in Catholic circles the realization that we are
being freshly sensitized. Theres a new awareness to how weak
and strong the church is.
Look at it this way: In those parishes where an openness already
exists between priests and people, the parish discussion over the prevailing
disgust alters the priest-people relationship -- toward an even greater mutual
trust.
In those parishes where little is ever discussed, the people are
left with their disgust. Their confidence has been eroded.
The news story on Page 7 tells of a California parish that
sent its regional bishop to Dallas with the parishioners own summary of
their feelings. The point here is less what they said than, having said it,
they can move on as Catholics to grapple with life with a greater maturity and
feeling for the burdens both priest and laity carry in a church where
the leadership has failed them.
One pastor, not at this parish, said the sex abuse scandal has
huge implications in that the ethics, mores and structure of the church
will be dictated by the local church [the parish] in ways the leadership
fails to realize.
He suggests, and we tend to agree, that in faith communities where
there is open discussion theres a redefinition of ecclesiology
underway. The redefinition accelerates the tendency toward Catholic
congregationalism, a congregationalism the leadership is unable to prevent and
would be wise to let be. Let be, that is, until the matrix can be seen more
clearly in its implications.
This pastor spelled out the congregationalism. If you have a
local church that wants to be visionary, wants to be cutting edge or do things
ecumenically, you can have that. If you want one that is more traditional, that
can work. If you have a local church that is open to gay people, then that is
something that can happen. Three models of church, three different styles
of congregation, in three parishes in close proximity.
This is not the moment to examine how all this is, or is not, now
linked to the center. Here the local picture, not the frame, is the focus.
And theres more to reveal the picture in its entirety. There
are differences in response according to region and ethnicity. In Southern
California, for example, several Latino parishes and organizations have erupted
in spontaneous public displays, parades and processions affirming their trust
in their church and faith.
These were not events orchestrated from the top.
Jesuit Fr. Alan Figueroa Deck of the Loyola Institute for
Spirituality in Orange, Calif., commented, The Hispanic culture is
perhaps more anchored in earthly reality. Mediterranean peoples separate the
ideal from the reality -- theres always a gap between the two, and they
can live with that ambiguity. Northern Europeans have a harder time with
gray.
The downside, Deck cautions, is that while the Mediterranean
culture is more likely to be forgiving, it is also slower to acknowledge some
of the problems.
The Encino, Calif., pastor who encouraged his parishioners to air
their views at five parish meetings sees the situation as tough for
everybody. Through a thorough mishandling, the leadership lobbed a nice soft
pitch over the presss plate. And the secular press is hitting a home run
with it. Thats their job. But its hard to open up the paper every
day. And the people are not hearing what to them sounds like an honest
response, he said, or the responsible response theyre hoping
for.
The implication of what he says is that in those parishes where
the people are hearing an honest and responsible response from their pastor,
community is being built. And when community is evident, more people needing it
flock in.
The days of parish boundaries have long since been eroded. The
loyalties of the young have been lost. Direct ties of loyalty to the hierarchy
and Rome have been severed.
The parish is what remains.
The lay people involved in the open parishes realize it and will,
as Deck said, be delighted to roll up their sleeves and work more
intelligently to create a church where there is great transparency.
Theres a shift, certainly. Seismic and local.
National Catholic Reporter, June 21,
2002
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