Church cries out for prophetic and brave voices

The editorial in today's Irish Times comments on Ian Elliott's report earlier in the week. It again brings to notice his comments on clericalism.

"Until clericalism is completely behind us, we are not going to see change," Morgan argues. "Clericalism is the antithesis of what the church is supposed to be about." And he challenged lay Catholics 'to take initiatives, to put it up to church leadership.

All our views and opinions are partly formed by our own experiences and sometimes it can be difficult to be wise and objective. Notwithstanding, it seems that at present a greatly worrying 'clericalism' is spreading across seminaries and clerical institutions. And not a word of worry or protest is to be heard.

Simply look at some of the men who are placed in charge of those studying for priesthood. Look at their dress, their interests and style. Examine how perfectly coiffured they are, whether in their monastic habits or their fashionable glitzy apparel for dinners in top class restaurants. Listen to their conversations and note the misogyny and total disdain for the 'material world'.

Simply examine the links between a worrying closet homosexual behaviour and style with an obsessive 'obedience' to church 'dogma'.

Not for a moment is this a comment about homosexuality or homosexual practice. But it is an observation about clerics, who hide their sexual orientation and there seems to be a real link between this closet 'behaviour/atmosphere' and an unhealthy interest in Rome and all its gossip.

Watch their inordinate interest in liturgical dress and practice and above all listen to their bizarre sermons.

Surely this has nothing to do with church but everything to do with the clericalism that Ian Elliott is talking about. That anyone should think that this form of clericalism is on the wane is another sign of how far removed people actually are from the 'clerical church'.

The Irish Times editorial ends with the following sentence. "That essential recognition of the necessity for a revolution of lay empowerment in the church remains a battle unwon."

Clericalism will never allow that battle to be won. Alas the damage and pain, that clericalism causes is an untold story. The recent revelations about the Legionaries of Christ give some, just some insight into the realities of clericalism.

Is this what Dermot Martin was speaking about last week? Maybe.