Advent Group (UK)

The stress now on “Rights and Duties” is a case in point. Let us look at a few examples.

1)       Parishes are being closed all over this country (England) and throughout the world. Communities are being decimated. Elderly people are being left without the Eucharist. They are supposed to go to a central parish, often miles away. Some have difficulties just getting to the shops or the doctor. And all because of what? Because the Pope et al insist on “celibate” males only as priests. So a man-made law is depriving the people of Eucharistic food -- if parents starved their children of food they would be taken to court. Are our Bishops shouting from the rooftops? “Rights & Duties”

2)       We have had a plethora of abuse cases with enormous efforts at a cover-up; vast sums are being       spent on legal fees; the pennies of the poor wasted; property having to be sold off etc. Do our Bishops and clergy appear as if they are living less high on the hog? Designer clothes in the Vatican and £6000 on installation vestments at Westminster? A touch of banking morality?? “Rights & Duties”

3)       The Vatican knows that across the world in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America there are thousands of priests and even Bishops who do not live “celibate (chaste?)” lives. In fact many have more than one family. Huge amounts of money are being spent for totally personal reasons and not to assist in the spread of the Gospel. What is the hierarchy doing? It “cannot” see the elephant in the room!!  “Rights & Duties”.

4)       Church employees are traditionally paid peanuts (well maybe there are backhanders !!!).  Many have families to feed. Take a look at the nunciatures around the world. Look at the Bishops’ palaces. Look at the church property. Did someone retire to Chiswick recently? --- to a one or two bed flat, was it??  “Rights & Duties”

5)       How are priests treated if they give up ministry? Do they quickly get an up-to-date professional reference so that they can find employment? Is the “paperwork” processed rapidly if they want to marry? Have contributions been made to their pensions etc. Usually the answer is “NO”. If employers did anything similar they would be taken to court. I know a man who left a religious order after 40yrs, no pension contributions had been paid and he was given £500 as he left!!  £500 for 40yrs work -- that sounds like devotion to the teaching of the Nazarene !!!.  “Rights & Duties”

6)       “Parishes are too poor to support a married priest”. We have heard this over and over again. But is it true?  There is usually a parish house bigger than the houses of most of the parishioners. A priest’s wife would not be “Mrs. Priest” but, like most parishioners, would have a career of her own and would, of course, contribute financially to family life. “Rights & Duties”  

7)       “A priest’s salary is tiny”. Is it true? Well,  there is a “salary” and then there are: (1) the mass stipends, (2) the baptismal fees, (3) the marriage fees, (4) the funeral fees, (5) the special collections at Easter and Christmas, (6) the special collection when he moves parish and (7) all the other gifts and offers from well-heeled parishioners. (Have these monies been declared to The Inland Revenue?) Just how poor is the priest/bishop/cardinal/pope? Are you sure we couldn’t afford married priests? Should our parishes be closing down and our praying communities be broken up? “Rights & Duties”

8)       In view of the failure of the hierarchy to “feed my lambs, feed my sheep”, and this to uphold “the discipline of celibacy”, should they be daring to tell the “lay people” about “Rights & Duties”? If the hierarchy is manifestly failing to carry out the task it has set itself, in part because of in-house rules, how is it possible that it is allowed to continue with “CHARITABLE STATUS”? The task could be carried out, churches could remain open and communities remain intact if the celibacy rule, which the Vatican admits is not necessary for priestly ministry, did not exist.

9)       Is there a common denominator ? ---- BANKERS , MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, THE CHURCH HIERARCHY AND OF COURSE THE “LEADERS” OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES ( let’s not talk about secret services and the military !!!). There is clearly a group of colluding people across the world which is feeding off the marginalised, the poor, the rejected, the different etc. Governments and global companies are abusing the “garden of eden” and its inhabitants for personal financial gain and political power.

10)   Where do we find Jesus of Nazareth ? ALWAYS WITH THE POOR , THE REJECTED, THE PROSTITUTES, THE LEPERS, THE ETHNICALLY DIFFERENT, THE FISHERMEN (out there on the edge !), THE SICK , THE INSANE etc.

11)   How often do you see him consorting with the “crème de la crème” of society? What does he say about those who invent rules/laws that are a weight upon the backs of the children of God?  “WOE TO YOU SCRIBES AND PHARISEES….”

12)   Jesus has always been on the periphery – out there on the edge – always gentle and understanding, even with the greedy and the powerful, yet willing to “TALK THE TALK AND WALK THE WALK”. When he needed to confront the powerful there were no choices.

13)   Where did the Nazarene die??  WITH THE CRIMINALS.

14)   Jesus lived on the perimeter, on the edge of “acceptable” society. How did we move from that challenging place to the current awful certitude of “ PROTECTING THE DEPOSIT OF FAITH”?(Catechism of the Catholic Church). How did we lose faith in the clear teaching that growth only comes through “CHANGE”. Newman said that TO GROW IS TO CHANGE, TO HAVE CHANGED OFTEN IS TO BECOME PERFECT ( we want to get him declared a “saint” next year!! Do we believe in change??). Vatican 2 --- betrayed by all the “hierarchs”.

15)   I will not live to see where this leads us. What I do know is that the “Pater Noster/Our Father/Notre Pere etc” is quite clear: “thy kingdom come” has happened – but only in part!! – it is an on-going process and unless we accept that we have been given a role in the continuing creation we have failed to reach out to the other members of the “garden of eden” ie we have failed totally to “love God and love your neighbour”.