the spiritual combat

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Nov 15, 2010

From today's CWN story:

Father Richard Vega, a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and president of the National Federation of Priests Councils, has told The New York Times that when he heard that the US bishops were offering a conference on exorcism, “My immediate reaction was to say, why?”

Just a wild guess, Father Vega, but maybe the US bishops are offering a conference on exorcism because they're concerned about the influence of the devil. Aren't you? 

“People are talking about, are we taking two steps back?” Father Vega said. “My first reaction when I heard about the exorcism conference was, this is another of those trappings we’ve pulled out of the past.”

Thanks. I think I have my answer.

Meanwhile in Dublin, Cardinal Sean O'Malley was introducing himself to Irish Catholics as he began his visitation there. The Boston Globe reports that the cardinal's many critics are skeptical about his ability to help the scandal-wracked Irish Church:

And Terence McKiernan, of the Massachusetts-based BishopAccountability.org, which monitors clergy sexual-abuse cases nationwide, expressed skepticism about the value of visitations, which McKiernan said often seem more focused on spirituality and public relations than substantial reform.

We can all agree that an obsessive focus on public relations has contributed heavily to this scandal. But McKiernan also suggests that "spirituality" is an impediment to reform. That's 100% wrong, for two reasons.

1. You can't truly reform any institution unless you're mindful of the institution's purpose. The purpose of the Catholic Church is spiritual. Therefore, a reform that avoids spirituality is doomed.
2. If you constructed a program for "substantial reform" that eschewed spirituality, you'd be left with nothing but guidelines and policies and norms and audits and... Hey! Are you thinking what I'm thinking?