Spotlight On Embarrassment

Along with the new movie “Spotlight” profiling the Boston Globe’s 2002 investigation of clergy abuse and cover up by church hierarchy – a movie for which Roman Catholic Church leaders have provided talking points highlighting progress we have made in preventing and responding to sexual abuse of children by clergy – we’re now faced with another embarrassing event.   

Although very far from the seriousness of abuse, this new yet not very surprising event makes it clear that Pope Francis, who is praised for his vision of the church (especially by the poor and the disenfranchised and certainly by the vast majority of Catholics), is embattled and being resisted from within by those still focused on power, prestige, privilege, and money.  Yesterday's Boston Globe explains in an article entitled "Pope calls on church to shun power."  

The Associated Press article begins: "Pope Francis insisted Tuesday that the Catholic Church shun all temptations of power, prestige and money as he pressed his reform agenda amid a new scandal at the Vatican.   Francis outlined his vision of the church in a lengthy speech to Italian bishops gathered in Florence, leaving behind a Vatican reeling from revelations of internal resistance to his reform agenda.  The Argentine Jesuit told the bishops he wanted a church that was humble and poor and not obsessed with preaching doctrine or acquiring power." 

The coverage continued, "Francis' visit comes as the Vatican copes with a new 'Vatileaks' scandal, after two books laid bare the pope's uphill battle to reform the Italian-dominated Vatican bureaucracy and get a handle on its finances.  Citing leaked confidential documents, the books exposed the greed of cardinals and monsignors, mismanagement of Vatican assets, and the resistance to change...Francis had denounced the leaks as a crime but vowed to press ahead with his reforms..."

We should all echo the Pope's concern expressed this way: "May God protect the Italian church from every pretense of power, image, and money."  I suspect we could expand that sentiment to protect our world-wide Church - including here at home - from the same temptations else our future will be bleak indeed.    

Deacon David Pierce