The Gospel vs Clericalism and 'Outside of the Cup' Catholicism

Strong words today from me, Pope Francis, and Jesus

This week’s episode of the Raised Catholic podcast centers on a topic that personally affects me, my family, my friends, and my church: the insidious and destructive influence of clericalism and the lean toward ‘traditional’ practices in the American Catholic Church.

Call it a modern-day lament or a full-throated rebuke from a mama-bear cradle Catholic, but lately as I pray for our church, I find myself thinking of Joan of Arc challenging the church of her day, or Martin Luther nailing his Theses to a castle church door or Francis of Assisi kneeling before a crucifix hearing the call to Rebuild My Church and thinking: yes, let’s do that already.

I find myself impatient at the slow movement of progress and the huge machine that is actively working against reform in our church. While we wait, generations of Catholics and Protestants who want relationship with God and community with God’s people are finding themselves spiritually homeless, unable to ascribe to what they hear from pulpits across this country because it just does not sound like Jesus to them. These are faithful sheep who know His voice, and they know what His voice doesn’t sound like, too. In times like these, where are the people to go?

This week I describe what I call ‘outside the cup’ concerns of the faith - the emphasis on what we look like versus who we are, something about which Jesus had quite a lot to say. Our outer appearance, clothing, behaviors, prayer postures, and beautiful worship spaces which are of such concern to clericalists and ‘traditional’ faith practitioners alike meant literally nothing to Jesus as He gathered His diverse group of friends and started this church of ours over two millennia ago. In this time that is so fraught and fearful, the pull to ‘go back’ to what some might perceive as a simpler, holier time is a strong impulse for so many, but the only way for us to move as a country, a world, and a church is forward.

Listen to Raised Catholic episode 148: The Gospel vs Clericalism on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts (or read the transcript), and please join me in praying for clear direction and movement from the Holy Spirit in the wake of the first meeting of the Synod to steer this Church of ours forward to be a place that reflects the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

Thank God, He is bigger than the challenges we face. Come, Holy Spirit. Come quickly for your people and your Church.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.

psalm 143:8