Question:

What do you think of shedding the present system of supporting the clergy, perfected and utterly abused during medieval times until today, and establishing rigorous reform of the seminary system to produce a fully economically independent Clergy?

 

Answer:

Response by Kevin Connors

Most successful organizations review their opeating model from time to time to assess whether or not it continues to provide the best of available options by which the organization can accomplish its goals. The Church may be the lone exception. And the reason seems to be that the leaders of the Church (the hierarchy) continue to believe that the existing model provides the absolute control they desire, and therefore it works best for them.

But anyone who seriously looks at the Catholic Church today will quickly realize that the circumstances surrounding the relationship between its leaders and the faith community has changed, so that the ancient operating model no longer fits. The overseers of the hierarchical Church structure (few leaders with absolute power and everyone else expected to pay, pray and obey) have lost their moral authority to lead as a result of their failure to adequately address world-wide child abuse within the clergy, among other things. Believing Catholics are leaving the Church in droves. It has been said that the second largest group of Christians in the United States is former Catholics. There is a serious priest shortage. Parishes and schools are closing, and many of the parishes that remain open operate at a deficit. The clash between old and new is not theological, but it is real and it will eventually force a change to the operating model. Unfortunately, given the present Church leadership, change is still a way off.

The solution, it seems to me, will begin with greater participation of the laity in the affairs of the Church. And the first meaningful step in that direction will take place when bishops are selected by vote of the local faith community.