The “sins” of our fathers and other religious leaders

Lest we be misunderstood, we should say that most priests and religious leaders are basically good, righteous, and spiritual. I have many close relatives and friends among them. They are the paragons of virtue and character. But we cannot deny the many accounts of some complaints and disappointments emanating from a number of victims and offended parties.

Let me cite ten failures of our spiritual leaders, not to shame them, but to inspire them to reflect and contemplate. Since they’re men of God, they should be humble enough to admit that, as humans, they too aren’t immune from excesses and ineptitude. First, is the tendency to be self-righteous. Unlike Pope Francis, who is very self-effacing, admitting always he’s a sinner, some priests have the propensity to speak “ex-cathedra”. His is, to him, the final word on any issue. That doesn’t endear them to parishioners. Second, isn’t walking their talk. Very good in sermons, but too worldly, even materialistic, and money-driven, in the way they behave. There’s no integrity between words and actions.

Third, many reported cases of sexual abuses on children. In the US, some bishops have paid millions to settle damage suits against wayward priests. The pope himself admitted and asked for forgiveness for this open secret. Even our president told of how some priests touched him indecently, that led him to have negative views about religious men. Fourth, putting a price tag on the sacraments. It’s quite embarrassing that peso tags are attached to baptisms, weddings, and house or car blessings. Fifth, some supposed shady deals in the handling of church funds and financial transactions. No auditing whatsoever. No check and balance.

Sixth, arrogance and feeling of too much importance. Some of our religious leaders behave as if they’re the only source of wisdom and rectitude. They don’t welcome suggestions and hate people who raise issues even in good faith. Seventh, favoritism in their relations with the lay leaders and pillars of mandated organizations. They hate lay leaders who get popular, because they want to be the only center of all attention. Shades of Padre Damaso and Padre Salvi. Eight, playing politics and using the pulpit to attack the president and the government. They don’t render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God’s. These priests give the Catholic Church a bad name. The Papal nuncio or Vatican itself should know.

Nine, intolerance vis-a-vis dissent. And tenth, sloth, laziness. There are some priests who are quite lazy and don’t want to be disturbed even when someone is dying and needs the last sacrament of anointing the sick. Well, the dying man is Catholic, and his family wouldn’t go to a protestant minister or a Muslim imam for blessings. But then again, some priests drag their feet and the patient dies without extreme unction. Who would be responsible for the dead man's soul? Again, not to be taken out of context, I have no complaint against my parish priest. He is a perfect pastor and a hard-working, honest and excellent leader. I am referring to wayward members of the clergy who drive the faithful away from the fold.

Those who have chosen to serve the Lord and to offer their lives in total service of the Church are expected to be inspired, inspiring, and inspirational. They are the faces of Christ and they have tremendous responsibilities. We should pray for them too. But those who openly and even repeatedly commit these “sins” should be reported to the bishop, the nuncio, or the Vatican itself.