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Were our Hearts Not Burning? (Lk 24:32)
Reply to a question
Q: Father Paul, I'm am becoming disappointed in my pastor and in many others. Seldom is heard a homily about the lack of morals in our society or about the consequences for abandoning our Catholic morals. So many Catholics are misinformed and lacking any direction, and the priests stay silent. How does one communicate to their pastor about this concern, should we send him an anonymous letter?
For starters, see Ez. 34, on the bad shepherds of Israel.
A: N., in Christ, Thank you for taking the time to write to me. To answer your question, let me begin encouraging you to be both courageous and charitable, surely a hard mix. The question you ask is a very important one, a problem which causes SO MANY Catholics grief, so allow me to expand a little. Many ask me this question, so I'll write this to post it to my web site later. I will write expansively, then summarize at the end. Your assessment of the situation is sadly true. The causes are simply diabolical. The devil has been working his tail off, ever since the time of Adam and Eve, to procure our eternal damnation. But he's not as clever as he thinks. In the days of iron and steel, when war was waged from hand to hand on battlefields, so too the devil waged war against Jesus Christ and the members of the Church by persecution of similar style: brutal, violent death. Today war has taken on a different form: the cold war. It's a war of infiltration, deception. So, too, the devil, lacking any originality, has infiltrated the Catholic Church, and through deception, even moves pastors to do his dirty work. There's fundamentally nothing new here: it's just a copy of the evil ways of our days. It is with great sadness we witness this dismaying scene, that the pastors (clergy at every level) are the first ones to mislead the sheep. In various places and regions, Catholics wouldn't even recognize real Catholicism were they to see it, so mislead have they been. "Zeal for my Father's house consumes me." (Ps 69:9; Jn 2:17) There is a righteous anger that we feel when we see these things; now, there's anger which is a passion, and there's anger which is a sin. The passion we feel when an evil presents itself to us; the sin is when we consent to anger in those cases where it's not justified, the cause does not merit it, it's too much, or it's expressed in a way detrimental to one's own good or the good of another. Channel that passion of anger to muster the courage to point out your pastor's defects. Let that not be mere nagging because of personal imperfections that he's most likely striving to overcome; no one needs that, we all need encouragement, for the Lord himself never discouraged his disciples, so we should never discourage one another, all fellow disciples of Christ. But when scandal and serious neglect of office come into play, it would be an omission to keep quiet. And the Lord himself tells us to correct one another (Mt 18:15 ff.). Then comes the element of charity. Charity doesn't mean we condone the evil of others, or that we make others feel good about the evil they do. It means we seriously try to procure the objective good for another person. Stop and think what's the best way it can be said, so that the hard news be as pleasant as possible; follow the steps the Lord gives us in Mt 18:15 and following, rather than, for example, open up by publishing an attack against your pastor in the local newspaper. As to the concrete question of whether to remain anonymous. Write out your objections serenely and simply, getting right to the point. If you can present your writing to him in person, that's even more effective, for anyone can take a piece of paper and drop it in the trash without reading it. I myself don't read anonymous mail: I have the honesty to put my name on my writings, and the honesty to accept correction should I err; I expect others too as well. Anonymous writings? Why, are you ashamed? If it is the truth, don't be: proclaim it from the rooftops. Furthermore, it is good to do it not just orally but in writing, so there's a paper trail of the discussion you have had, should one need to appeal to a higher authority. Nothing like showing a bishop the letters you and your pastor have been exchanging; or mailing to the Pope things that your bishop has been telling you. In all this, let truth be one's guide. Make sure you have all your ducks in order: what scripture says, what the Catechism says, what the liturgical norms say (for which I recommend two sources: the GIRM (http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/current/revmissalisromanien.htm) and the Document on Liturgical Abuses (http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20040423_redemptionis-sacramentum_en.html), both of which are recent and authoritative). Cite Vat. II texts, and don't let him get away with ambiguities such as "the spirit of Vatican II." Work off what the Church really says, and if you have any doubts, just say, "Show me where the Church says that; if you can't I know you're just making it up." Some people adhere to a false interpretation of "Charity" and "unity." They interpret it at a completely political level: get along, try to climb to a position of influence, and then - only then - address the abuses you see. The problem is that in the mean time, one is creating habits, perhaps for years, of sacrificing one's principles. Then such a habit is not easily overcome when one is there where one hoped to climb. Especially at the height, where pressures, stresses and tensions are most unpleasant, if one hasn't acquired the virtue of fortitude in adhering to one's principles, how in the world should one hope to suddenly "turn on the virtue switch" and have fidelity come out? Furthermore, the price of redemption is one: sacrifice. When we are attacked and calumniated, even by our own pastors; when we are ridiculed even by priests; when we are rejected even by bishops; when we are conspired against even by our own fellow parishioners, dissenting parishioners at that; then we take upon our selves the image of Christ:
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[1] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature[2] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:6-11)
Concluding, allow me to summarize my points like this: 1. Study what the Church actually promulgated in print, and be very certain that what you are thinking corresponds to the Church's doctrine and discipline. 2. Courageously correct your pastors, especially following the teaching of the Lord in Mt. 18:15 ff. Write a letter, but if possible present it to him face to face. 3. Find the kindest way to say it, but say it. And if he proves you wrong, have the humility to say you were mistaken. 4. Stand behind your words: don't be anonymous. 5. If there is no correction of the problem, appeal to a higher court. 6. Entrust the entire endeavor, beginning, end, and every step in between, to the powerful intercession of Mary. Whatever you do, don't just sit there. Good soldier of Christ, get up and fight. There's no need to tolerate people shoving sin, deceit, error, apostasy and heresy down your throat, for all these things do not come from God. There's no reason to fear the Devil and his agents; Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, and therefore the devil has been vanquished. Be not afraid! "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" (Rom 8:15) In Christ, Fr. Paul Ward
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