Clerical Mentality

Its other name is clericalism. It refers to an unhealthy attitude that can affect both the clergy and laity. It's when the roles of the clergy and the laity get blurred and confused, their distinction trespassed.

As a result the clergy is given undue importance, or an exaggerated social status and even political power. The laity also tends to be clericalized, or to have undue dependence on the clergy.

This, in my view, is a problem we have to solve. What makes it more difficult is that it's a problem that has something of a Trojan horse, a wolf in sheep's clothing.

For who would not welcome the idea of the clergy truly concerned also with earthly problems? Or for the laity to be close to the clergy?

The Church herself wants priests and bishops to walk with their flock sharing their joys and hopes, their problems and sorrows. And the Church also wants that there be an organic unity between the clergy and the laity.

The problem is that the proper delineation of the roles to be played respectively by the clergy and the laity is not followed. It seems big segments of both the clergy and the laity do not have a clear mind about this distinction.

Thus, at the moment there are many instances when the ugly face of clericalism is showing. For example, some bishops and priests are getting bolder in assuming partisan positions in socio-political issues.

All of a sudden, they become experts about what form of government should be best for our country, about mining and gambling regulation. They even enter into questions whether a province should be divided or not.

They have no qualms in declaring that such and such public official is lying and therefore should be ousted or impeached. Some go to the extent of going to Congress to exorcise it or to lead political rallies.

Their language has deteriorated from one of proclamation to that of denunciation, from one where tones of charity, unity, understanding can be heard to one where there's a lot of imprudent aggressiveness, sarcasm and divisive insistence.

On the other hand, we see laymen assuming more and more clerical roles. While some lay assistance is always needed to run Church offices and carry out parochial functions, a growing clerical mentality can also be observed.

This consists of thinking that the lay faithful's first and main duty is to be active in parishes and Church activities, often neglecting their duties at home and in the world.

Some priests demand this kind of cooperation from some parishioners, often ostracizing these parishioners if they fail to cooperate. This is quite unfair. These clerics end up acting like petty kingpins in their territories.

Some lay people, on the other hand, because of some failure in professional life, run to parishes seeking refuge. Of course, they should not be rejected, but they have to be encouraged to be more active in their proper field of responsibility.

Of course, a worse case of clerical mentality is when some politicians and ideologues seek by hook or by crook the support of the clergy for their particular position in socio-political issues. This phenomenon is getting rampant.

The procession of pressure groups, whether from the left or from the left, to bishops' offices to get their support is lamentable. They show a terrible tendency to use the Church in matters that are left to the free discussion of men.

Of course, the media is not exempted from this sickness. They even enhance it, since in a way it helps to sell their papers.

We need to have a clear mind about the roles of the clergy and the laity both in the Church and in the world. And we have to be quick to correct irregular situations of clericalism, which can pervert the nature of the Church as Christ founded it.

* * *

Email: [email protected]