The Shepherd Must Fend Off The Wolves, Not Compromise With Them

After the unfortunate series of events that recently took place during a USCCB meeting in Orlando, FL - events that, I am saddened to say, were instigated by the Bishop of my home diocese, a man generally praised for his orthodoxy - I went back and read a 1995 article by the noted Catholic scholar James Hitchcock. The text of that article can be found here, and I strongly encourage you to take a look at it.

The main thrust of the article is the fact that a great many Bishops who are known for their personal orthodoxy and piety have failed miserably over the years in passing that orthodoxy and piety on to their constituents due to an unwillingness to confront even the most overtly heretical elements within their diocese in the name of some false kind of unity. Hitchcock never actually comes out and says it, but he is strongly implying that this failure is one of moral courage.

I've lost track of the number of times I have experienced the hope that a newly appointed bishop reputed to have orthodox leanings might clean up the liturgical, moral, and spiritual mess that exists in the diocese he inherits from his heterodox predecessor, only to have those hopes dashed when, after several years have passed, I come to the realization that the Bishop's orthodox rhetoric has not been accompanied by any action whatsoever (to say nothing of sufficient action) to root out the chief causes of heterodoxy in his diocese. If I was satisfied that lip service was enough to cure all of society's ills, I'd be voting for Barack Obama (and if, after reading all the posts on my blog, you still hold out hope that I might do so, then please click here).

There's really no nice way to say this: if you are a priest or bishop who has been tasked with rebuilding a parish or diocese left in spiritual tatters by your predecessor, no amount of orthodoxy or personal piety will benefit your flock unless you have the moral courage to face temporal ridicule or persecution at the hands of those who would oppose your efforts to restore the orthodox identity of your charge. And if you're waiting for some layman or group of laymen to take the initiative so you can be assured of some support, I have some news for you: you're the Shepherd! Be a man and stop relying on the sheep to do your tending for you! That's how we found ourselves in this mess in the first place.

To the Bishop of my home diocese: there are still many of us who hope that you will be the Bishop who will lead us into the New Springtime. We pledge to help you if you are sincerely interested in restoring belief in the true faith to your flock. But it was given to you to lead, and for us to follow; and there is nothing we can do unless you are willing to take the first step. We need to know that we have your support, because if we don't, there remain forces opposed to promoting the true faith that will move with ruthless efficiency to neutralize us. These are the wolves, both spiritual and temporal, from which we need the protection of a successor to the Apostles. God bless!

In Jesus and Mary,
Gerald Lamb