Herding cats and “getting over it”
Msgr Pope likens being a Bishop to herding cats now days. There may be some unwarranted projection of distrust because of the scandal. Then again, does “Trust but verify” apply really? Is Being a Bishop Like Herding Cats?
I have written here before, (often to the great consternation of more than a few readers) of my concerns about disunity in the Church. In particular my concerns center around the dismissive attitudes many have developed toward the bishops. While this attitude was once the domain, largely, of dissenters on the theological left, it has now become quite a common attitude among many theological and ecclesial conservatives as well.
I am well aware of the (often legitimate) frustrations by some Catholics that the Bishops, either individually or collectively have not always shepherded in a clearer way; a way that both disciplined dissenters and corrected liturgical abuses and also encouraged those who tried to remain faithful. I get that. These have been difficult decades for the Church and for our culture.
There is a lot of food for thought in this. What I didn’t like particularly is the response Dr. Peters was given by one seminarian in response to the reasons some might not give blank trust to authority figure “Well, time to get over it”. That doesn’t comfort me nor mend any ruptures caused by a few and allowed by many.
I still think the “Trust but verify” approach is the road to go. I really hope our seminarians are learning better approaches in reconciling people.
If I were to respond to a Bishop or someone in likewise manner who had been lamenting over the lack of trust and disunity in his diocese with “Get over it”, I’m sure I wouldn’t be picked for the reconciliation team. Just a guess.
More reading: Blind Obedience
There are some people who trust lawful authority to direct them without fail. When faced with a
directive, they neither seek to know options and consequences nor deliberate their choices. They simply trust
that lawful authority will stay within the bounds of its power. This attitude is not true Obedience nor is it
virtuous.
