By M L Satyan
Bengaluru, June 19, 2020: Of late we have been frequently hearing about sex scandals involving priests and nuns/lay women, misappropriation of church funds/properties, misuse of authority and murders in the Catholic church.
Some recent cases are Kadapa bishop who resigned, former bishop of Jalandhar, bishop of Mysore, the Archbishop of Bangalore, a cardinal and some priests in Kerala. Such incidences have occurred in the past, happening now and may continue in future too. It is time for us to look back and understand the life of Jesus and his followers.
Jesus, whom the church claims to follow, was born, lived and died as a poor person. By saying, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Lk 9:58), he clearly meant that he chose to be poor and wanted to be pro-poor. Right from his birth in a cowshed and his death on Calvary he demonstrated his poverty openly.
His disciples called him “Lord” and “Master.” He gave a different meaning to these words. By washing the feet of his disciples, he opted to be a servant and not a Master or King. He said, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (Jn 13:13-15).
On one occasion Jesus called the twelve together and said,“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.Not so with you. Instead whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt.20:25-28)
He did have many women disciples, some of them special friends like Mary and Martha (sisters of Lazarus) and Mary Magdalene whose life was transformed. Neither in the Scripture nor in any other church documents has he been presented as a sexual pervert. He had a healthy relationship with all of them.
The apostles personalized the values given by Jesus. The early Christians, following the example of the apostles disposed of their possessions and gave to the community for common benefit, so that all members would partake of them in equal portion. They ensured that there were no social and economic inequalities among them.
There was no personal attachment as yet to riches thus used, either on the part of the single Christian individual or for any autonomous Christian nucleus. The ownership, possession and enjoyment of any wealth were anonymous, impersonal and collective. There was also a deep concern for the poor, slaves, sick and prisoners. The disciples never banked on their properties and wealth. This apostolic tradition of poverty was eventually abandoned. They started accumulating wealth.
The clergy, for instance, began to ask for money in exchange for their work or made money out of church goods. The Patrimony of St. Peter had become, not a modest sum of liquid money to be distributed to the destitute, but the accumulated wealth of a rich religious system determined to become even richer in the years ahead.
At one stage Christianity witnessed the phenomenon of Francis Assisi, whose initial steps to sainthood were the renouncing of even the very clothes he wore, which he returned to his own father; after which he dedicated himself to a life of total poverty by asking the protection of the bishop, stark naked. The episode was a rebuff to the Church of his time, since Francis, following this symbolic gesture with practical concreteness, founded a new monastic order.
Bernard of Clairvaux had renounced all earthly riches as an individual. He gave new life to a corrupt and rich western monasticism. He fulminated again and again against a religious system with a voracious appetite for earthly goods, accusing her of worshiping Mammon instead of God. He did not spare priests, bishops or even popes.
The early church was married to poverty, prisons and persecution. Today’s church is married to prosperity, power/position and popularity. (Note: There have been some exceptions like Bede Griffiths, Deenabandhu and Swami Sadanand). The church authorities are never ‘transparent’ with regard to their wealth and properties. With this money power they do ‘some’ good things and ‘many’ bad things. Money has corrupted them to a very great extent. It is my view that the root cause of all evils prevalent in the church today is ‘money’.
Look at the church today! There is widespread corruption at all levels – in parishes, institutions, dioceses and religious congregations. The rampant caste disparities and the unending clerical sexual abuses are of grave concern. The palatial churches, the mansions of church prelates and the extravaganza of church celebrations do not in anyway bear witness to Jesus.
Can the church prelates and religious authorities shed the outdated titles/designations like Reverend, Very/Most Reverend, Superior, General, Monsignor, Lord, Excellency, Grace, Eminence and Holiness? Why can’t all the men prelates and religious authorities be called just ‘Brother’? Will it not pave a way for a new ‘Fellowship’?
A lot of disparities and discriminations will disappear. Are they also prepared to abandon the meaningless royal/kingly dresses and other paraphernalia? Are they really required for ‘self-identity’ and ‘true worship’? Whenever a clergy puts on the ‘glittering vestments’, he must recall the pictures of the semi-naked children/people living below poverty line.
Instead of thinking or planning to clean the corruption outside the church, it will be wiser to begin that process from within. Covid-19 pandemic has taught us many valuable lessons for leading a meaningful life. It is time for us to make a U turn and become the ‘real followers’ of Jesus.
Are we ready for this?