Kudos to Archbishop Gregory; he 'gets it'

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Apr 01, 2014

Hats off to Archbishop Wilton Gregory for making a simple, sincere, manful apology when he realized that he had caused scandal by spending over $2 million on a new residence.

The archbishop could have attacked his critics, saying that the complaints about his building plans were motivated by anti-Catholic bigotry. He could have tried to rationalize the plans, claiming that every expense was necessary for the work of the archdiocese. He could have argued that the expenses were covered by private donations and would not affect the archdiocesan budget. Or he could have stood on his authority, saying that he has the legal authority to spend funds as he sees fit. Sad to say, American bishops have used each one of these dodges to justify their spending in other cases.

What Archbishop Gregory did instead was refreshing, even edifying. He said that he was wrong. He recognized that the criticisms he had received were “stinging and sincere.” He acknowledged that “I should have seen them coming.”

With this apology, Archbishop Gregory has silenced all but his harshest critics. How can you remain indignant at a man who so fully admits that he was wrong?

Yes, he was wrong. The archbishop sees that now. But to be fair, it’s very easy for American bishops to embark on big-spending projects. They are surrounded by people who are anxious to win their approval, and therefore disposed to support their plans. Their financial advisers are usually wealthy donors, who live in their own very comfortable homes, and are unlikely to be shocked by the price tag on the bishop’s residence. But the price is shocking to the thousands of working-class Catholics who are struggling to keep up with their monthly bills.

In the past the Catholic faithful rarely questioned their prelates’ spending. Maybe it was even a source of pride for poor immigrant Catholics to see the bishop living in a palatial residence. No longer. The Catholic hierarchy, struggling to regain public trust after a very bad decade, can no longer afford to live in regal style. Pope Francis has helped to set a new tone with his battered suitcase and his little sedan. He sent a strong message, too, by removing the notorious “bling bishop” from office in Limburg, Germany. Today’s Church needs bishops who are leaders in service, not in style.

Archbishop Gregory saw—a bit late, but better late than never—that “the world and the Church have changed.” Let’s hope that his brother bishops with their own big-spending plans will see as well.