The Naughty Archbishop..
We intellectuals love to share with the Community College graduates what we are reading for the summer - and believe you me - you ignoramuses, it is so not an Oprah's book club selection either.
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Of course I'm just finishing my re-read of Brideshead Revisited - I might have said, my revisit... oh, oh, ah, ah, ah, ohhhhhhhhh! Oh you funny man you! And I've long thrown the Divine Comedy in the dumpster - what was with that Dante guy anyway?
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No, now I'm breaking the spine of Weakland's memoir... his tell all - Hollywood Wives style summation of his life.
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Seriously, with all due respect to his office, A Pilgrim In a Pilgrim Church by Archbishop Weakland is a fascinating, if not at moments, difficult read - in a heart-wrenching sort of way. I just picked it up this afternoon and I've been jumping all over the contents ever since, reading here and there, as well as beginning at the beginning. I think it is an important book historically, and definitely absorbing in the revelations by such a prominent figure in the American Episcopate. I have a million thoughts on his 'revelations' and the scary thing is - I know what he is talking about. I don't think I ever met him - but it sure seems as if I did. (In other words, he wasn't alone in his
vision, mission, agenda for the Church.)
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I recall when he was named Archbishop of Milwaukee, I thought to myself, "Oh good, a monastic Archbishop - he will restore things as they should be!" Oh, oh, oh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ohhhhh, oh, oh, ah, ah, ah, oooooooooooo! - such a silly boy!
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So far, the memoir is helpful towards understanding the tragedy of the Archbishop, as well as the dysfunction of the post-Councilor Church in the U.S.. It's a real page turner. The really sad thing is - from what I gather - the Vatican knew. They knew the problems with Weakland and the other progressives - but nothing was done.
.
Of course I'm just finishing my re-read of Brideshead Revisited - I might have said, my revisit... oh, oh, ah, ah, ah, ohhhhhhhhh! Oh you funny man you! And I've long thrown the Divine Comedy in the dumpster - what was with that Dante guy anyway?
.
No, now I'm breaking the spine of Weakland's memoir... his tell all - Hollywood Wives style summation of his life.
.
Seriously, with all due respect to his office, A Pilgrim In a Pilgrim Church by Archbishop Weakland is a fascinating, if not at moments, difficult read - in a heart-wrenching sort of way. I just picked it up this afternoon and I've been jumping all over the contents ever since, reading here and there, as well as beginning at the beginning. I think it is an important book historically, and definitely absorbing in the revelations by such a prominent figure in the American Episcopate. I have a million thoughts on his 'revelations' and the scary thing is - I know what he is talking about. I don't think I ever met him - but it sure seems as if I did. (In other words, he wasn't alone in his
vision, mission, agenda for the Church.).
I recall when he was named Archbishop of Milwaukee, I thought to myself, "Oh good, a monastic Archbishop - he will restore things as they should be!" Oh, oh, oh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ohhhhh, oh, oh, ah, ah, ah, oooooooooooo! - such a silly boy!
.
So far, the memoir is helpful towards understanding the tragedy of the Archbishop, as well as the dysfunction of the post-Councilor Church in the U.S.. It's a real page turner. The really sad thing is - from what I gather - the Vatican knew. They knew the problems with Weakland and the other progressives - but nothing was done.
.
Bark like a blog!
The sad thing is, NOTHING ever gets done! I can point to many dysfunctional aspects of my own parish, where we have pastor who prefers to be popular and permits all kinds of shit (excuse me) at Mass and in the general conduct of the parish. In my own case, I was "retired" after 20 yrs. as an organist because I disagreed vocally with the lousy musical choices of the two (entirely unqualified) choir directors. The pastor didn't lift a finger, saying "I don't ask questions, don't poke my nose in". It feels like I've become a non-person -- and this all happened over a yr. ago. That same pastor, BTW, also said that "whenever anything comes from Rome, we close our eyes". I could tell you more, but what's the point? It's still the same old, same old, and the parish (like the whole town) is run like a country club -- and I feel like Lazarus the beggar, sitting outside and living on only crumbs. If this sounds bitter, then so be it. I've tried to maintain a charitable attitude, but it's just too much work. For obvious reasons (although I've done so before) I won't sign my name, but I do ask for your prayers -- for my sanity, if nothing else. I'm sure also that stories like mine are common. The Church has a lot to answer for the way she sometimes treats her faithful servants. Thank you for letting me sound off - no one else wants to listen, that's for sure. Sometimes I think even God must get bored.
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous: your testimony is what I also experienced but could not put into words. Your assessment is excellent, I almost feel like sending it to my Pastor ...!
ReplyDeleteEven if he wanted to change "the way it is", he could not. People are so used to mediocrity at the parish level, they think that what they do is part of being a good Catholic.
My parish complains that we who attend the EF Mass do not participitate, but we just can't. We don't like what we see, and we would not be accepted by the "staff" and the "women helpers". No doubt they are full of good intentions (for some of them)
Thank you, Mia -- sorry for what happened to you also, but helps to know it's not the only case. God bless you.
ReplyDeleteChloesmom (1st ANon, 8:49 AM)