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Do you know why most U.S. Catholic bishops (especially white ones) won't name Trump or explicitly condemn actions of this Administration over the past 4 years?
1) They haven't been personally impacted the way many Americans have
2) They're afraid of offending white donors
1) They haven't been personally impacted the way many Americans have
2) They're afraid of offending white donors
Pandemic: bishops don't have to worry about losing their jobs, or being evicted. They don't have to worry that they'll lose their health insurance or be unable to pay medical bills. They don't have to think about whether a $600 check is enough to make rent and buy groceries.
Pandemic II: "But, bishops have to worry about financial collapse!"
Sure. And they've been counting on Trump/GOP to provide school choice $$, PPP loans, and other forms of material assistance.
They have no such hopes from the Democrats, whom they've spent 2 decades at war with.
Sure. And they've been counting on Trump/GOP to provide school choice $$, PPP loans, and other forms of material assistance.
They have no such hopes from the Democrats, whom they've spent 2 decades at war with.
Systemic Racism: How many bishops have personally experienced the death of a family member due to police brutality?
The one African-American Archbishop we have, +Gregory, immediately spoke to the realities of he experienced. But his voice was alone.
The one African-American Archbishop we have, +Gregory, immediately spoke to the realities of he experienced. But his voice was alone.
Healthcare: Republicans held vote after vote trying to repeal the ACA and the Trump Admin took it to court.
Again, a nice thing about being a Catholic bishop is you never have to worry about losing your insurance or paying for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Again, a nice thing about being a Catholic bishop is you never have to worry about losing your insurance or paying for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Immigration: Sure, many bishops are aware, at least intellectually, of the horrific ICE raids and prisons and forced separations. But it remains in the abstract.
The few who are super engaged are mostly in border dioceses and witness it firsthand. (The power of such encounter.)
The few who are super engaged are mostly in border dioceses and witness it firsthand. (The power of such encounter.)
Disrespect for the truth: You think that a collective group of hierarchs who've spent the past decades doing everything possible to prevent the faithful from learning the truth about systemic clergy abuse is bothered by an Administration that lies to people regularly?
Violent white supremacy: ensconced in a chancery, bishops don't have to worry about being the mother of a Black teenager walking through a mostly white neighborhood after dark. Or that they'll be pulled over for a traffic stop.
Many ordinary Americans are traumatized. The number of posts from the last 24 hours alone... And the fact is that most U.S. Catholic bishops are fine. They're insulated. They're focused on finances and parish closures and reopening after the pandemic. Not on coups and COVID.
If Catholic bishops would spend less time meeting with communications consultants and fundraisers—and more time listening to the direct experiences of their flock right now, particularly BIPOC persons—the Church would be far better positioned to BE the Church that's needed.
As I've said a zillion times, we need comprehensive ecclesiological reform, because no one person can be CEO, CFO, COO, and Chief Spiritual/Sacramental Officer.
Bishops busy trying to preserve the *institution* can't focus on pastoral care of the persons.
Bishops busy trying to preserve the *institution* can't focus on pastoral care of the persons.
