"Crisis" was a Catholic magazine before the crisis of priests as sexual predators made headlines.
In the April issue of the magazine, co-founder Ralph McInerny offers an explanation for the
scandal that has captured the attention of the media, for the most part no friend to religion.
McInerny believes that the Catholic Church in America has a problem with some priests
molesting children because "our bishops have permitted a culture of dissent, largely defined by
bizarre conceptions of sexuality, to flourish in the Church."
Too many American Catholics along with Protestant and Jewish liberals, have cared more about
democracy than about orthodoxy; more about what they think and feel than about theological
absolutes.
The problem of predatory priests arose, writes McInerny, "because bishops acted like CEOs rather
than shepherds." Theological dissent over basic doctrines became equated with political dissent
guaranteed by a constitution, which may have been "inspired" but not divinely so. What's good for
the country—dissent—also became viewed by some as good for the Catholic Church.
McInerny dates the modern decline from Catholic orthodoxy to 1968 when liberal theologians
rejected the pope's "Humanea Vitae." which re-stated certain boundaries for sexual expression.
The "moral theologians" who rejected the document displayed an attitude, says McInerny, which
was "antithetical to Christian morality."
His point, and it is a good one, is that the leaders of the Catholic Church in America were
compromised because they feared the criticism of the world more than they feared disapporval
from God.
The same attitude prevails in many churches today. Some no longer affirm the validity of the
Resurrection, the central doctrine of the Christian faith to be celebrated this Easter Sunday. Nor
do they accept the many miracles performed by Jesus, or proclaim that one should live in any
way other than to please one's self. Too many churches abandon doctrine at the first sign of
secular disapproval for fear of being called names and being rejected by the unchurched masses.
Do they not know? Have they not heard? Jesus said: "You adulterous people, don't you know
that friendship with the would is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the
world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4)
Too many Catholics, as well as others who call themselves Christians, think they should be able
to create God in their image. Catholics want to remain Catholic while at the same time rejecting
some of the basic teachings of their church. Can one be a member in good standing of the
NAACP if he's a racist? Whether the issue is divorce, or sexual expression of any and every
kind, these theological lone rangers think they are God and get to decide right from wrong. Did
God die and leave them in charge? In their minds, apparently He has.
The best approach to solving the problem of a few priests who prey on minors, and theological
liberalism in general, is for the Catholic Church to return to the original rulebook, Scripture,
which was written and delivered for the protection and redemption of humanity, and stop listening
to the siren call of the world, which is headed in another direction.
Contributed by & Copyright © of Cal Thomas.
of Tribune Media Services
Comments/Feedback are welcome at his
e-mail box.
Originally appeared
in Green Bay News-Chronicle
on Friday March 29, 2002
Plain Papers on the Holy Spirit
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