Empowering the laity is something Bishop Galante promotes. In a
recent Philadelphia Inquirer article (click here to read article), the bishop states that priests need to be
"catalysts who will bring the laity in to share responsibility." Now I don't know about you, but I for one am only too happy to accommodate and agree with the bishop entirely on this point. Responsibility is good! My mother taught me well.
Five years ago, on March 15, 2003, the Times-Picayune of Dallas, TX reported that Galante said that "forty years after Vatican II the church is still suffering from a culture of clericalism in which 'a sense of privilege and entitlement' comes with ordination to the priesthood." He lamented that Church culture is still too secretive and that "we have to provide a sense of openness and ownership for everyone." Goody! I am thrilled to hear this. After all, a man who believes these things is sure to hear our concerns on the 27th and respect the sense of ownership that St. Mary's parishioners take. And our good pastor, Fr. Romanowski, is nothing if not not an honest and open man of God. But folks, it gets better!
Referring to the sexual molestation crisis, Galante said that bishops "underestimated the strength and wisdom of laypeople." The Catholic Church, said Galante, should be "a community of equals." Further, "You have to take us [clerics,bishops] off whatever pedestals may have been erected in our youth, and we have to be very happy to get off of them," he said. He feels that the Church ought to be more transparent and more power-sharing. His Excellency expressed that bishops cannot enact reforms and impose them on their colleagues.
As bishops have "underestimated the...laypeople," I fear that many of us have underestimated our bishop. After reading these things, I feel he truly must be a man of the people. Let us pray that our meeting with him next week will be truly fruitful!
(Here's the 2003 article if you want to read it yourself: Underestimating laypeople)
Five years ago, on March 15, 2003, the Times-Picayune of Dallas, TX reported that Galante said that "forty years after Vatican II the church is still suffering from a culture of clericalism in which 'a sense of privilege and entitlement' comes with ordination to the priesthood." He lamented that Church culture is still too secretive and that "we have to provide a sense of openness and ownership for everyone." Goody! I am thrilled to hear this. After all, a man who believes these things is sure to hear our concerns on the 27th and respect the sense of ownership that St. Mary's parishioners take. And our good pastor, Fr. Romanowski, is nothing if not not an honest and open man of God. But folks, it gets better!
Referring to the sexual molestation crisis, Galante said that bishops "underestimated the strength and wisdom of laypeople." The Catholic Church, said Galante, should be "a community of equals." Further, "You have to take us [clerics,bishops] off whatever pedestals may have been erected in our youth, and we have to be very happy to get off of them," he said. He feels that the Church ought to be more transparent and more power-sharing. His Excellency expressed that bishops cannot enact reforms and impose them on their colleagues.
As bishops have "underestimated the...laypeople," I fear that many of us have underestimated our bishop. After reading these things, I feel he truly must be a man of the people. Let us pray that our meeting with him next week will be truly fruitful!
(Here's the 2003 article if you want to read it yourself: Underestimating laypeople)