This article aims at presenting a theological difference of opinion between a bishop and a lay theologian brought about by the recent alleged papal endorsement of same-sex unions presented in a new documentary Francesco. The surprising thing was that while the lay person was on the side of the Pope and arguing that there was no change in the perennial teaching of the Church, he ended up at the receiving end of an episcopal dressing down for misleading those “differently abled intellectuals who may not be as highly gifted” than he was. The author argues that the real issue was clericalism and as long as he wore the ID “ex-priest” he had lost his place at the theological high table. The episcopal dressing down was a rude reminder that clericalism was alive and well and keeping the Catholic Church in the Stone Age. In his default position, he would have told the bishop to get on his bike but thanked him for clearing the air where he stood in the theological pecking order and to take his place under the table.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Anatomy of an Episcopal Dressing Down
- The Error of My Recent Ways
- The Episcopal Dressing Down
- Response to the Dressing Down
- What has Clericalism got to do with All this?
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This article examines the author's experience of being reprimanded by a Catholic bishop, analyzing the incident as a manifestation of clericalism within the Catholic Church. It argues that clericalism is a pervasive and damaging issue that needs to be addressed to prevent further harm to the Church.
- Clericalism in the Catholic Church
- The impact of clericalism on the Church's relationship with the laity
- The role of the Pope in addressing issues related to sexuality and same-sex unions
- The author's personal experience and perspective as a former priest and lay theologian
- The need for greater theological literacy among the laity
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The author recounts his dressing down from a Catholic bishop in Zambia and introduces the concept of clericalism as the root cause of this conflict.
- Anatomy of an Episcopal Dressing Down: The author provides detailed accounts of the Facebook post that sparked the dressing down, the bishop's response, and his own subsequent responses. The author highlights the differing interpretations of Pope Francis's views on same-sex unions and the controversy surrounding this topic.
- What has Clericalism got to do with All this?: The author explores the concept of clericalism, citing Russell Shaw's definition of an elitist mindset and behavior that prioritizes the authority of clergy over the laity. He argues that clericalism is a historical problem rooted in patriarchal religion and that its effects are exacerbated by the sex abuse scandal.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of the text include clericalism, Catholic Church, lay theology, Pope Francis, same-sex unions, homosexuality, sexual abuse, and the role of the laity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central theme of the article "Anatomy of an Episcopal Dressing Down"?
The article analyzes an incident where a lay theologian was reprimanded by a bishop, using it as a case study to discuss clericalism within the Catholic Church.
How does the author define clericalism?
Following Russell Shaw's definition, the author views clericalism as an elitist mindset that prioritizes the authority and status of clergy over the laity.
What sparked the conflict between the author and the bishop?
The conflict was triggered by a Facebook post regarding Pope Francis's alleged endorsement of same-sex unions in the documentary "Francesco."
Why does the author use the term "ex-priest" in this context?
The author argues that his status as a former priest affected his standing in the theological hierarchy, illustrating how clericalism marginalizes those outside the formal power structure.
What is the author's conclusion about the state of the Catholic Church?
The author suggests that clericalism is keeping the Church in the "Stone Age" and that greater theological literacy among the laity is needed to overcome this elitism.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dr Tarcisius Mukuka (Autor:in), 2020, Anatomy of an Episcopal Dressing Down and Clericalism. A Prince of the Catholic Church and an Ecclesial Irritant, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/948402
