Layman Chris Gillibrand posted the text. Another layman, Damian Thompson has given the homily an excellent analysis whilst a further layman, Richard Collins, has his own observations. Layman Laurence England points out the obvious fact that the sins which were committed showed precisely that the clerics concerned forgot that they were priests. Layman Mundabor also has characteristically trenchant comments.
Tut tut. The laity just have no respect nowadays.
4 comments:
'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master — that's all.'
We're looking for a good and holy Bishop to put us in our place.
I'll keep praying for one.
I suggest the bishop's remark's about clericalism and were somewhat off course - by about 180 degrees.
The abuse scandal peaked in the 70/80s, when false ideas about the clericalism of the laity were at their peak and the status of the Ordained Priesthood was at its lowest.
It involved a tiny percentage of priests, much lower than in other churches or secular institutions, and was predominately homosexual in nature involving mainly adolescent males (80%).
It was caused by the flood into the Church of then current secular thinking. It should be remembered that there was a campaign at that time in "liberal" circles and in the press which would have made much of that abuse legal.
It does the bishop no credit to link this phenomena with Traditionalism, and I trust that was not his intention.
A slight link to your patch, Fr Tim: Bishop Burns was originally attached to the Marist-administered parish at St Lawrence in Sidcup; he also taught at the attached secondary school.
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