The Pope and the College of Bishops should be one, as indeed they are. However, our Lord entrusted the care of His Church not to angels but to men, imperfect and sinful as we are. Thus, as might be expected, over the last two thousand years some individual bishops or groups of bishops have strayed from the authentic teachings and discipline of the Church. Others, while professing orthodoxy themselves, failed to see to it that those who assisted them in transmitting the faith adhered to it themselves. Still others, including some Popes, showed themselves to suffer human weaknesses to such a degree that their own faith as well as their effectiveness as shepherds was called into question. Sadly but not surprisingly, we have seen some of these difficulties continue in our own age. While they will not be eliminated, the question remains: Can they be alleviated? In my mind, this depends upon two things. The first is insuring in so far as possible that those called to the episcopate possess the qualifications required by law. The second is finding more effective ways to support, guide and correct diocesan bishops in the exercise of their offices; or, if all else fails, to intervene by the application of canonical penalties, not excluding deprivation of office.
Christifidelis July 11, 2005
How high ought that standard for removing a bishop be? Like the legal standard for deprivation of parental rights? Or like removing a shepherd for animal neglect (the "better than mutton" standard)?
Anent the discussion above (liturgy trainwrecks,) Wilson also stated that it's rather difficult to obtain redress from the [perp,] thus Canonical suits often simply fail.
ReplyDeleteWould you call that 'scandalous suit-failure?'