The perfectly ironed cuffs complete with cuff links

The Irish Times carries a photo today of Bishop Franz Peter Tebatz-van Elst.

The picture says so much about the poor man. The perfectly ironed cuffs, the cuff links and that 'six-inch' roman collar. And all the ecclesial clatter, rings, chains and smocks with a multitude of coloured buttons.

The picture says it all about the man.

It's not fair to knock a person when they are down and anyone with a heart must now feel a certain sympathy for this man.

Who allows this sort of thing to happen? And it is something that is happening every day in the Catholic Church.

The real issue is not at all  the money.

Anyone with eyes in their head will see what the real problem is. And not a word from the institutional church. Not one word.

The clerical madness will allow men to continue to prance about in the long flowing robes and coats and wear all the clatter and chains.

Isn't it so clear there is something terribly wrong.

According to today's Irish Times report van Elst was appointed by Benedict allegedly to combat 'progressive' tendencies in the German church.

Is it possible the dots are beginning to join up?

Note. The word 'clatter' is used intentionally.