‘People of God’ an inspiration

I REFER to the article entitled “Three Wise Men” published on July 31 relating to the intention of Irish Catholic priests to set up a forum, the purpose of which is to articulate their particular concerns — and reading between the lines, to improve their public relations.

It is quite understandable that, given the current deficit in leadership and pastoral care among the Irish Catholic hierarchy, with some exceptions, priests feel both isolated and hence the need to take some leadership. It is a welcome move.

However, the model that is being proposed is entirely problematic and will do little to lead the church in the present and into the future. Vatican II heralded a breath of fresh air that we have seen stifled since. In particular, the Avery Cardinal Dulles model of Church as “the people of God” was an opening of minds and hearts to the truth all Catholics are called to be “church”, ie the body of Christ loving and serving in the world.

The proposed priestly forum, will inherently continue the clericalism that has dominated and ruined the Catholic Church in Ireland.

Incidentally, the same principle holds true in relation to the formation of priests in seminary. The traditional model at Maynooth and elsewhere has been to divorce candidates for the priesthood from the very communities that they are meant to return to and serve. We have had a priest forum before. priests meeting priests to discuss theological, ecclesiastical and pastoral issues will not lead us to the Promised Land. Its milk and honey, to use a biblical phrase, will amount to little. This is not to say that all the priests of Ireland are a homogenous bunch and without voices that challenge and sometimes disturb. But its nuances considered it lacks what it sets out to achieve, a truly representative group of Catholics, who love their tradition and care for those who carry it now and hope to pass it on to the next generations.

The model I’m proposing is the one of “the people of God”. Surely to take real leadership now and promote real renewal and growth we need all the people of God involved in key decisions and directions for the Church. To do otherwise will glean more of the same and recent history has warned us that clericalism is a disease that we can do without. So why not direct one’s energy into a forum that includes clergy and laity?

As an educated active lay school chaplain I plead with those who are inspired to rise up from the ashes, to dispel the myth that church is priesthood and vice-versa. If you truly care, then model what you hope to achieve; a Church where the least is the greatest, where all belong and maybe even have an equal say at the table of fellowship with Christ.

Paul Montgomery, BA Theol, MA Chap

Kilcaragh

Lixnaw

Co Kerry