A Time for Reform...

Today we have pleasure in presenting an article that Bishop Pat Power sent in to us. It was actually written as on op-ed piece for the Melbourne Age in 2002 but is particularly relevant at this time as Bishop Power will be one of the keynote speakers at the forthcoming Australian Reforming Catholics Annual Conference on 13-14 October (see notice below). In this article he articulates some of the areas in which he believes reform is necessary and he seeks to outline some of the characteristics he sees the institutional Church needing to embrace if it is to surmount the challenges it is presently facing. For our readers outside Australia, Bishop Power is well known in this country as the most articulate of our bishops calling for reform as the needed response to the various crises the institutional Church faces today. He is the Auxilliary Bishop in the nation's capital Canberra which is part of the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese.

A time for every purpose under heaven...

The Catholic Church has faced many challenges in its 2000 year history, but many would say that the current crisis around sexual abuse is the greatest since the Reformation. At stake is the Church's moral authority, its credibility, its ability to interpret the "signs of the times" and its capacity to confront the ensuing questions.

The Book of Ecclesiastes teaches "There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven: A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted." If the word "crisis" includes the notion of opportunity, this surely is the time for the Catholic Church to tackle some much-needed reform.

The new growth which emerges so quickly after a bushfire is truly amazing. But in order for new life to bloom in the Catholic Church out of its present deep troubles, there must be an honest acknowledgement of the harsh reality of sexual abuse and other shortcomings in the life of the Church.

Victims of sexual abuse have been damaged in a way that only they can fully understand. Any attempt to minimise the evil of such abuse, or worse still, turn it back on the victims themselves is unpardonable. At every level, the Church needs to respond with justice, compassion and sensitivity. It is vitally important as well that principles and protocols be adhered to and the human dignity of all involved be respected.

Given that cases of sexual abuse have been so numerous within the Church's present structures, surely it is time to ask some serious questions about the institutional life of the Church.

On a number of occasions since 1996 I have spoken about my hopes for the future of the Church. Its shape would be:

• a more human Church
• a humbler Church
• a less clerical Church
• a more open Church
• a more inclusive (and therefore more catholic) Church
• a Church which finds unity within diversity
• a Church which embraces the whole of its tradition
• a Church which truly reflects the person and teaching of Jesus.

Much of that reform agenda is now being forced upon the Church in the light of such widespread abuse among its members. A Church which has been overly triumphal, hierarchical and dominated from the top has been brought to its knees. Yet it is from such a lowly position that Catholicism can again become a truly servant Church modelling the person of its founder.

In recent days I have been erroneously quoted as saying that abolishing clerical celibacy is the answer to its sexual abuse problems. What I did say was that an examination of compulsory celibacy is one element of the reform needed in the light of present abuse problems.

More important is the consideration of the issue in view of the diminishing numbers of priests and those offering themselves for the priesthood. Many good potential candidates for the priesthood are deterred by the fact that they must also accept celibacy as part of a "package deal". There are, too, many good men who have left active ministry, married and are now debarred from exercising a priestly ministry. All this is happening at a time when more and more is being demanded of remaining priests in terms of providing pastoral care and a sacramental ministry to their people. Add that to the burden they carry in the opprobrium around sexual abuse and it is little wonder that they are "doing it tough" in so many ways.

Over concern about sexual morality...

Over the years the Catholic Church has come in for a deal of criticism for being overly concerned about sexual morality. The sexual revolution within the wider community opens up many new questions. The number of couples living together before marriage and greater openness about homosexuality are just two examples.

A few years ago when I was approached in Canberra by a group of Rainbow Sash people I did not give them Holy Communion but I did accede to their request for greater understanding, dialogue and readiness to question the Church's approach to homosexuality. I said honestly that I believed it necessary for the Church to revisit its teaching not just on homosexuality but on sexuality in general.

Clearly, that is even more important today and it is imperative that any reformulation of its teaching must call upon the wisdom and experience of all the faithful, not just be handed down from "on high". Such teaching must also emphasise the relational aspect of sex and the harmony between sexuality and spirituality.

The Second Vatican Council's empowerment of people at the grassroots must be encouraged; even while the ordination of women is officially off the agenda, women need to be part of the Church's decision-making at all levels. The reforms in the liturgy which are currently being impeded (and even reversed) must continue. The climate of secrecy which allowed sexual abuse to flourish must be removed from other areas of church life where it can be similarly damaging.

I applaud the many good things being done today by Australian Catholics: standing in solidarity with refugees and asylum seekers, with poor people, our Aboriginal sisters and brothers, with the unborn and the dying. They are truly bringing the love of Jesus to people in need.

Yet daily I meet Catholics who weep for the Church they love and feel powerless to do anything about it. While what I have written may not be palatable to everyone, I trust it will give heart and voice to many of my fellow pilgrims.

(Bishop) Pat Power

October 14 and 15, 2006 Chatswood NSW Enquiries: John Buggy (02) 9451 8393 or jbuggy@ozemail.com.au Registrations close September 30 www.e-arc.org

PHOTO CREDIT: In Montréal City, Photographer: Benoît Meunier, Montreal Quebec, Canada. Image released through stock.xchng.

What are your thoughts on Bishop Power's letter?
You can contribute to the discussion in our forum.

©2007 Bishop Pat Power

[Index of Articles and Letters by Bishop Pat Power]