Two Views

AliveinJesus · Two Views

The patriachal world view

The ideology that feeds the whole Roman Catholic sector in an extremely coherent fashion is, in essence, patriarchal (the patriarch assigns tasks to the whole family, which in turn is expected to give absolute obedience), machistic (the macho, the male, is superior to the 'little woman'), monarchic-theocratic (tends to assume a special status, with its own use of language, with private buildings and private leaders), clerical (all leading functions belong to ordained personnel who are also celibate), dogmatic (of divine origin, and the teaching is immutable).

This world view becomes concrete in the power, private possession, the wealth, laws, discipline, fear and, if necessary, suppression and violence. Every move against its authority is seen as sacrilege and is subjected to exclusion from the community (excommunication).

In this world view, the faithful believe that their primary duty is to follow the teachings in their entirety as laid down by the hierarchy, and which become 'infallible' in the person of the 'Holy' Father, as :

*the only 'guardian' of the Church's material goods;
*the highest judge, to such an extent that there is no possibility at all of appealing against his decisions;
*the absolute law giver, the only person able to decree the Church's laws and norms;
*the one who appoints all responsibility-carriers (bishops, cardinals, nuncios, and so on) and, according to his inscrutable judgement, dismisses from office those who do not stand in 'communion' with him;
*the one who convenes Councils and Synods, exercises legal authority and disqualifies;
*the one who designs a political approach towards internal organisations and heads of state with whom he maintains 'diplomatic' ties, often supported by means of 'concordats';
*the one who justifies to no one what he does.

What characterizes a true believer is his degree of 'orthodoxy', in other words, his subjection to the world view of infallible authority : this explains the constant effort of that authority to distinguish orthodoxy from heresy, the endorsement of contradiction. Personal salvation depends on rigorous obedience to the norms and rites, stipulated and controlled by the church hierarchy.

The brotherly and sisterly world view

The other world view on which the Church bases its inspiration, is completely opposite from the first. It is brotherly (all are equally the children of God and, therefore, brothers and sisters), egalitarian (equality of the sexes, ethnic groups, religions, and so on), democratic ('that which concerns everyone must be decided by everyone'), laicizing (independent of the religious, ordained powers) and charismatic (all have received the gifts of God which have contributed to the development of official teaching and norms with the possibility of authority but never with the pretension of infallibility). This world view means :

*The Church manifests itself within a community of people who share material and spiritual goods with each other in service, dialogue, brotherly and sisterly love, mutual trust, and trust in God.
*The Holy Spirit is their bond and strength. The first aim is 'to seek the Kingdom of God and His justice'.
*It excludes 'heads', 'masters' and 'bosses'. Whoever has the capacity to be the first, must make him/herself the last.
*The Church possesses no goods (no state, no banks, no schools etc.), no wealth, because it is poor, as was its founder.
*Judgement is forbidden beyond strictly stated conditions : only the community can impose the punishment of exclusion, according to norms which are the fruit of consensus.
*Infallibility belongs to the whole Church when the people 'from the bishops to the simplest of the faithful, expresses its universal unity in matters of faith and morals' (LG 12).
*The faithful respect civil authority and maintain their critical autonomy.

Orthodoxy merges with orthopraxy : theological debates surrounding God-Christ-Church, constitute the second level in relation to caring for the poor and for brothers and sisters in difficulties. Eternal salvation is given, not by an abstract adoration of God, but by grace through faith which manifests itself in concrete help 'to those who are hungry and thirsty, imprisoned or sick'; to the least of these.