Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Dear Pope Francis, I'm really confused....



Dear Pope Francis, I’m really confused.
Because I read the very same day in the news


With abusive priests they claim their arms only reach the Vatican wall
But with the American nuns, suddenly across the ocean, those same arms can sprawl?

For predator priests the Curia says they must respect the law for each land.
Shouldn’t they do likewise when American nuns’ Constitutional liberties are at hand?

Maybe like the game my kids used to play,
They simply think that it’s “Happy Opposite Day?”

Because in my land, the land of the nuns in question
Free-speaking women are no problem, but sexually abusive priests deserve incarceration.

The pedophile priests are only part of the problem.
The Vatican ignores bishops shuffling predators round-robin.

Then pretend the problem disappeared and any worry is for naught

Money is hidden; bankruptcies are filed.
Bishops evade accountability while victims are reviled.

And the person who appoints every bishop … pssst…. That’s you
In my culture is considered somewhat responsible too

Popes appoint all bishops who ordain every single priest.
They have censured some people quickly for supporting certain causes, even in the least.

But with abusive priests they claim by their own admission
They lack extra-Vatican authority, or is that just an excuse for sins of omission?

This selective impotency when it comes to abused kids
Has really put the whole church’s reputation on the skids.

And, I know by laypeople it’s been repeatedly stated
That the hierarchy’s credibility by its own actions has been negated.

If you claim national borders prevent you from stopping predator priests
Because you think they operate as independent disconnected uncontrollable beasts

Then kindly refrain from the obvious hypocrisy
Of trying to control independent nuns you accuse of apostasy.

Either you control the worldwide church or not
But please stop with this morally relativistic rot.

If you can’t control the priests then you don’t control nuns. 
If you want to control your daughters, please, first control your felonious, abusive sons.

The Curia speaks of dialogue but issues edicts instead.
This also is confusing from the guys wearing red.

I realize the bishops approve the sisters’ communities’ existence or not
But after that, the community makes most of the decisions, I thought.

The sisters elect leaders and vote on community members and rules.
A bishop just listens to them take poverty vows while dressed in his mitre and jewels.

I’m trying to understand why the CDF is so frustrated.
Maybe realizing their powers’ limitations leaves them feeling somewhat castrated?

Or do they covet the sisters’ hospitals and schools
Thereby inspiring them to impose overbearing rules?

Perhaps there’s a culture gap emerging from language skill
After all, that last Mass translation exposed their English abilities as being almost nil  

Yet, the priorities are apparent to most people with children
Thumbs up for strong sisters; thumbs down for negligent churchmen

9 comments:

  1. Kathleen SchatzbergMay 7, 2014 at 5:36 PM

    A poet, Ewe are not…
    But the truth, you've got!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! Yeah...definitely am keeping my day job.... No poet laureate ambitions...

      Delete
    2. Agree w/ Kathleen on the Truth part........I as a scientist & planner am in no position to evaluate her prose......

      Delete
  2. "I’m trying to understand why the CDF is so frustrated.
    Maybe realizing their powers’ limitations leaves them feeling somewhat castrated?"

    Yes, that's it. The LCWR orders are very active in the developing world, especially Africa. They are advocating strongly for female education, and in their way, reproductive choice. This has always been anathema to any fascist male political animal. Clerics are political animals at the level of the Holy See and the Holy See has always backed or transacted Concordats with authoritarian right wing fascists.

    Ultimately this is both a battle over gender expectations and teaching authority. For me personally, the IHM nuns have always had more teaching authority than any of the popes in my lifetime..........including this current one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Ewe, for the coherent commentary. You've touched on all the relevant issues!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Has anyone ever thought of the Coming of Christ again might be as a Woman, and that is why the church is so punishing of women,... Got to crucify the Spirit of Christ again. (?)

    ReplyDelete
  5. The answer is to leave the church. Yet you keep going to the church as if it would do something about it. You keep supporting the church by giving money on sundays and going to its Mass's. The church has changed - I will say this again - the church has changed But you have not.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for offering your opinions. However, you make some assumptions that are inaccurate. From what you've written, it seems unlikely that you know me personally else you wouldn't have made incorrect assumptions.

      I am curious as to the specific ways in which you feel the church has changed...the before state and the current state. Perhaps if I understood that, I could better comment on your personal statements about me.

      I would also appreciate clarification regarding the answer you offer of leaving the church. The questions in this article were as follows and I would be interested to understand how you think leaving the church would address any of them:

      1. With abusive priests they claim their arms only reach the Vatican wall
      But with the American nuns, suddenly across the ocean, those same arms can sprawl?

      2. For predator priests the Curia says they must respect the law for each land.
      Shouldn’t they do likewise when American nuns’ Constitutional liberties are at hand?

      3. Maybe like the game my kids used to play,
      They simply think that it’s “Happy Opposite Day?”

      4. But with abusive priests they claim by their own admission
      They lack extra-Vatican authority, or is that just an excuse for sins of omission?

      5. I’m trying to understand why the CDF is so frustrated.
      Maybe realizing their powers’ limitations leaves them feeling somewhat castrated?

      6. Or do they covet the sisters’ hospitals and schools
      Thereby inspiring them to impose overbearing rules?

      Delete