Misery in Abundance
"To those I have offended, I apologize and ask forgiveness. To the Catholic Church and people of Scotland, I also apologize. I will now spend the rest of my life in retirement. I will play no further part in the public life of the Catholic Church in Scotland."
Cardinal Keith O'Brien
Who says that the elite of the Catholic church does not listen to the vociferous demands of a demoralized flock who lack forgiveness at the fallibility of human nature? Another down, only 114 more to go. At this rate there will be a much-diminished conclave assembling to determine the most qualified among them to take up the sacred duty of the Vicar of Christ.
Pope Benedict in his aged wisdom, has left it to his successor to continue to deal with the ruined reputation of the Catholic church that demands of its priests total abdication of their sexual nature. That which nature has designed must be denied. Priests must marry themselves to the church, to the vision of Christ, to the well-being of their faithful flock.
Is it the potential to be seen as unassailably pure and desexed by that flock that commends the priesthood to men who are troubled by their natural urges? Is it the potential that, held in such commanding respect they will be able to perform any acts and call them ordained by God? Is it the opportunity to remain an untouchable figure of great esteem irrespective of the disreputable acts conceived that calls them to the priesthood?
Is it true, as is claimed by some of those who have left the priesthood, that it is overrun with the presence of homosexuals who seek a higher purpose in their lives, and who feel that within the bosom of the church that loves them while deploring their sexuality, they will find a haven? A haven for many, an opportunity for many more? Cannot one ask?
It seems that Cardinal O'Brien was troubled by questions such as these. Celibacy, he felt, should be reconsidered, as an impossibly troubling demand of human nature, a doctrinal misery that "is not of divine origin". Thereby signalling something. A greater empathy with the stigmata of social rejection than evidenced by a pope made of far sterner stuff?
As Britain's highest ranking Catholic leader Cardinal Keith O'Brien has fallen spectacularly. "My sexual conduct has fallen below the standards expected of me as a priest, archbishop and cardinal.... I ask forgiveness." There was a time when forgiveness was assured, and that time was when public announcements were never made, when the church threw a dark cloak over the disreputable acts of miscreants within its bosom, shielding them from scrutiny.
The Observer reported that Cardinal O'Brien was alleged to have made "an inappropriate approach" to a seminarian after night prayers; this need not, evidently, be elaborated upon, one's imagination fills in the blanks. Another priest also reported "inappropriate contact", while yet another reported "unwanted behaviour" - following a what? why a late-night drinking session.
Wait, there's more; a priest claiming to have been taken advantage of when he sought counselling.
Truly this man appears to have outdone himself in sacrificing his place in the esteem and faith of those to whom he was a mentor, taking upon himself the sins they may have ascribed to themselves. Did he seek to comfort them by revealing to their incredulous ears that he had complete and utter sympathy with their struggles to contain their passions?
It would seem that his public pledge to defend church teaching on homosexuality, celibacy and contraception was too much to consider and expect of a mere mortal struggling with his identity issues and the guilt inspired by his feeble advances toward those of his underlings who sought him out for sage advice.
"Full and open discussion" on such matters reveals more than meets the eye, evidently.
Labels: Britain, Controversy, Human Fallibility, Human Relations, Vatican
posted by Pieface @ Monday, March 04, 2013
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