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Tuesday December 7, 2004

I was thinking more about the principle of equalization. Actually, I don’t really know if such a ‘principle’ has ever been coined or phrased but the notion sure has been operative over time.

What I wrote earlier still holds and so I will repeat it as an intro to additional thoughts.

Upon the departure of a leader no matter how great or small, the process of equalization sets in almost immediately. Though the qualities of a great leader remain in the mind and memory of many, in time his weaknesses and his failures begin to show. “He was a great leader, but he wasn’t perfect…” This is not a bad thing.

The ‘sins’ of great presidents did not weaken their contribution to democracy. Bill Clinton is looking a lot better to some who never voted for him. Whether you agree or not about his politics, I think most will agree that is in an intelligent man and was a ‘shrewd’ politician. He knew how to talk to both sides of the aisle but he also knew how to listen. As my grandmother used to say, “He knew what side his bread was buttered on!”

On the other had, the departure of a mediocre leader brings at first sentiments of relief but in time, his good points begin to show up. Just as there is no perfect leader, even the weakest leader has something to offer if only the opportunity for other leaders to shine.

Many people liked Jimmy Carter but felt that he never stopped believing in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny! He was a micro manager and found it difficult to delegate. He was a ‘faith-based president long before it was popular for presidents to quote from the Bible.

No one gets out of life alive and no one remains ‘king of the mountain’ forever. George Bush will move out and move in fours years. I think most of my ‘parishioners’ know that I’m not one of George’s fans. I have tried to convince myself that as my mother would say, “he means well,” but I’m not always sure about that. I don’t think he is intentionally deceptive but I do think his denial is culpable.

How will history judge him? Well, in truth, history is the great equalizer and it has a way of being kind to most.

And now, just a few ‘cracks’ at Church leadership, if you don’t mind.

At the risk of being overly judgmental, I will state categorically that our Church has come upon hard times. For several years, even prior to the abuse crisis, I have struggled with and been disheartened by the absence of visionary leaders among our bishops. This is not to suggest by any measure that there have not been outstanding examples of such.

I can name several bishops who have been outstanding ‘shepherds’ after the heart of Christ. Most of them have died and those who remain active have been ignored by their confreres and what I would call ‘church politicians’ in both the pulpit and in the pew.

Bishops who challenge us to be our best selves tend to allow us to challenge them to be their best selves. This was the mind of Saint Augustine of Hippo. Whatever you may think now of his theology, he was a bishop for the people. As I said above, history is the great equalizer. Augustinian theology on women and sex has come upon hard times.

Nevertheless, his temptation to Platonic distinctions and Manichean dualism, Augustine was articulate about his love for God and God’s love for him. Forgiveness was a primary virtue for Augustine. “You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts will not rest until they rest in thee.”

But Augustine had this to say about the role of bishops: “We have two roles to play; we are Christians and we are in authority. Our being Christians is to our own advantage; our being in authority is for yours. Our being Christians serves us; our being in authority serves you.” He preferred ‘service,’ not ‘control’ as the definition of authority.

He continued, “But we bishops are not only Christians who must render an account of our own lives to God; we are also overseers and must render him an account of our stewardship as well.”

One could replace the title bishop with ‘pastor’ and continue in the same vein for the remainder of his sermon on the episcopacy.

He is very harsh on bishops who love titles and who, in the words of Matthew, the evangelist, “They tie up heavy burdens hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and he best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the market places and to have people call them rabbi… The greatest among you will be your servant. All exalt themselves will be humbled and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” [Matt: 23:4-7; 11-12]

This text came to mind years ago when in the face of the raging controversy over artificial birth control, the American bishops were asked by the Apostolic Delegate to send a letter to the Holy Father stating that their Catholics in their respective dioceses were receptive of the Church position against the practice of artificial birth control. We reminded the bishop that he could not in conscience send the letter. He responded, “This is not about morality; it’s about the Holy Father’s authority!” Case closed but not for the faithful. Many anguished over the prohibition but in time most simply ignored it.

But there are some shining lights among our bishops. Bishop Brown in the Diocese of Orange, California posted a document on the doors of his cathedral church stating that he was categorically committed to the healing of victims and to the disclosure of sexual predators.

Here is the result of his efforts as reported in the LA Times:

The bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange told parishioners Sunday that he can finally sleep through the night now that he has ended a long and at times bitter legal battle by agreeing to the nation’s largest settlement for victims of sexual abuse by clergy.

“I am at peace with the settlement,” Bishop Tod D. Brown said in brief remarks after Mass at Holy Family Cathedral. “The victims will be fairly compensated and, at the same time, our diocese will be able to continue our mission of service.”

Brown did not disclose details of the settlement – saying he will do so only after it is finalized, which is expected this week – but said it involves “many millions of dollars” and will be “very painful” for the diocese.

Brown said he was moved by those victims who embraced him after the settlement was announced late Thursday night, welcoming his personal apology for the conduct of priests and lay officials that in some cases dates back 20 years or more.

Some victims, Brown said, told him they want to return to a church that many felt previously had abandoned them to protect itself during the nationwide abuse scandal.

“We welcome all those who wish to return, welcome them back warmly into our community,” he said. “Let us pray for that important goal of forgiveness and reconciliation with these victims who through no fault of their own became tragic figures in the history of our church.”

The remarks drew applause from many of the several hundred people in the pews on a rainy morning. Afterward, parishioners echoed the bishop’s relief.

“It’s a good thing for the church to get it behind it so we can move forward,” said Kevin Erwin, a 38-year-old attorney from the city of Orange. “I think that a lot of people realize that this isn’t a Catholic problem. This isn’t a priest problem. It’s a problem of society in general.”

Irene Adams, a retiree from nearby Tustin, agreed.

“I hope they can take care of it all over the country,” she said. “This is something that’s been covered up and I think it will be good when it’s all brought out and the people who are guilty are punished.”

What a refreshing alternative to the efforts of New Jersey bishops to stonewall victims and lobby against legislation that would hold the Church accountable for past negligence.

Bishop Tom Gumbleton, Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit was ‘promoted’ many years ago but will never be the ordinary of a diocese because of his outspokenness against war, sexism, and for his defense of the rights of gay men and women. Yes, he is liberal but he is faith-based in his teaching and testimony. Tom and I were colleagues in graduate school in Rome during the Vatican Council.

Bishop Lucker of the Diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota passed away last year after an unsuccessful bout with Cancer. Though several years older than I, he was a graduate student in theology during my years in of graduate work in Canon Law. Ray was a gentle person, loved and respected by all who knew him. As a bishop, he was essentially a pastor but he also challenged Rome to listen the hearts of people in the pew. Roman officials rebuffed him.

Bishop Ken Untener, the late Bishop of Saginaw, Michigan, was a shepherd who gave his life for his sheep without distinction, priests, deacons and people in the pew. He challenged his ‘congregation but never hassled them. He is the bishop whose Advent, Lenten, Easter and Pentecostal meditations have spread far and wide. One of his confreres, the bishop of a neighboring diocese withdrew access to these wonderful reflections in his diocese because they were theologically suspect. To be sure, they were far from radical. They were right down the middle of the road where, in the words of St. Thomas, true virtue rests.

The Bishop of Baton Rouge Louisiana, whose name escapes me at the moment, is another shepherd who knows how to feed the flock and reach out to his wounded sheep. In face of allegations against his predecessor, now deceased, he conducted the investigation and concluded that the allegations were credible. He removed the name of Bishop Sullivan from a diocesan school named in his honor and made a heartfelt apology to all the faithful of the diocese.

Here are some ‘learnings’ from this men and the tradition they represent:

Data based processes and decisions work better than power-based processes and decisions.

The process is as important as the product or, the way we do things is much more important than what we do.

“Assumptions” work better than hard and fast rules. Every assumption needs to be tested and validated and when it has been validated, it becomes a rule of thumb but never absolute or final.

Interim measures work better than deadlocked “solutions” because deadlocked solutions usually turn out to be dead end streets.

Invitations work better than edicts and expectations are better than mandates.

Collaboration is difficult, a modern hair shirt for most but competition is even more difficult and in the end, ineffective. We are partners in service not competitors in sales.

Be deferential to the meek and gentle toward the strong.

Those who recognize their powerlessness will eventually come to know their strength.

And don’t forget the salami technique-one thin slice at a time. It takes longer but tastes better and you’ll always go back for more.

Look for the best in people and you get the best out of them.

When those you love and those you have not yet learned to love fail to live up to your expectations, don’t scold them. ‘Engage’ them in conversation. Listen to their heart as well as to their words. You may learn something in the process. You and they may come to a new truth and common ground.

And when you listen, listen! Don’t think about what you are going to say when the other person stops talking. Let him/her know that you heard what they said.

Is this all common sense or what!

God loved us into being and invited us to partner in Christ to make the world a better place. We are not subservient or to Christ or to one another. We are collaborators on a pilgrimage to our true home the doors of which are here on this earth, wide open for all who wish to enter.

That’s it for now. More to come…

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