Tuesday, March 22

Honours and titles

This is not really where I was going this morning, but it appears my train of thought has been hijacked.

It appears that the latest tornade du jour is a priest named John Corapi, the millionaire and regular on EWTN who has been described as a manly man hero-priest, accused of drug use and philandering with adult women.  His guilt or innocence is of no matter to me and it's above my pay-grade to judge his actions.  But none of that, honestly, is what I'm on about.

Reading the CNS 'news article' about the issue, something really struck home.  Archbishop X says, Bishop Y replies, Father Z, intimates.  Common journalistic practice is to mention full names and titles once, then go to last name afterwards, but every reference to a person was preceded by their ecclesiastical title, as if to impress upon the reader the piety and apostolic imprimatur inherent in their statements and opinions.  Normally, this would be annoying and a snarky one-liner in the comments of another person's blog.

Normally, but things haven't been 'normal' round these parts in some time.
Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven."  (Mt 23:1-9)
 There's a lot which I could write (and have but deleted) that is pointed, truthful and would do little to reconcile or educate.  Best if you read the Rabbi's words, not mine.

No comments:

Post a Comment