I’m not Catholic
And I probably never could be, regardless any changes made to their ideology or institutions
Though I do REALLY like the Maronites
Compelling history
Worth learning about
But I do have a suggestion that would change some of my feelings towards the catholic institution
Maybe even heal the bitter divides that the current and long running abuse scandals have created
One of the clear instructions that Jesus gave was disestablishment of institutions
He definitely did not like the idea of humans creating institutions and investing them with power
Did not like humans building their own traditions and claiming authority through that tradition
He believed in communities
Communities where the individuals look to each other’s strength to keep the community together, instead of power invested in one person or one office
Communities where the individuals tended to each other’s weaknesses so that everyone had the means to overcome them, instead of relying on authoritative positions and offices that have sole authority to render judgement
Lifting up the broken instead of casting them out
Supportive them in their struggle
Binding the community through compassion and forgiveness
Not institutional authority
In the catholic church the institution is old and running strong
But it’s a mess
The priests that run the institution are a mess
If they want to enact change; take the priests from power and put the sisters in charge
At least for a while
It may not make a difference I guess
More of an experiment
But at least it would be an attempt at something different
Since they’ve not been the agents of institutional authority
Maybe they will be able to institute the
Just look at the ongoing scandals and it’s clear
The current institution is not regulating itself
And new leadership is desperately needed.
That’s my advice
My informed opinion from the cross-sectional religious perspective
Put the sisters in charge
It would upend millennia of church teaching…which is why I could probably never be Catholic: I don’t mind upheaval
But maybe an upheaval like that would be what the institution would need to transform itself
Maybe under that new leadership it would become the community it should be
Community of self sacrifice
Community that lifts up without judgement
Community where the leadership takes responsibility for it’s failures
This is where I got all that junk I said about Jesus and institutions
Nested Hierarchy 