Bishops need to look into their own fatal flaws

I HAVE BEEN following the back-andforth diatribe being waged by the Catholic bishops and the Legislature. It started with the bishops charging that their latest pet project of increasing distributions from the Land Grant Permanent Fund to benefit school districts and tribes for pre-K services to children was defeated in large part due to “institutional racism” on the part of the Legislature.

Given the diversity of the members of the Legislature and their oft selfless service on the part of our communities, the charge by the bishops came across like a petulant child who did not like losing whatever game (he/she was) playing. Public policy and budget matters are quite serious matters, and I know the vast majority of legislators take their jobs very seriously. To accuse them of institutional racism seemed to go beyond the pale of advocating for a cause and assessing what must have been a stinging defeat.

On the other hand, the bishops seem to be sincere in their efforts to raise social issues in our communities. They have every right to bring attention to these latent problems that cause many in our communities to suffer unnecessarily.

Yet, as I read the following quote from Archbishop John Wester and Bishops Oscar Cantu and James Wall in their letter of support for Allen Sanchez, executive director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, who made the original charge: “... we’ve highlighted deep flaws in a system in dire need of substantial reforms,” I could not help but think that they could and perhaps should have been referring to the Catholic Church itself. What could be more flawed than a religious institution that discriminates on the basis of gender in the selection of priests? Why do they insist upon only males being able to consecrate hosts and conduct religious rituals?

And then why continue to promulgate an archaic requirement such as celibacy for priests? Have we not proven in a variety of other religions that celibacy does not own a monopoly in being (able) to express the teachings of a church who in the main are not celibate themselves?

Could these ancient rules be in part responsible for the scandalous acts of a subset of church officials?

I suggest the Catholic Church — at whose altars I prayed — take action to look inward at (its) own “deep flaws in a system in dire need of substantial reforms” before venturing forth and making perhaps unwarranted charges against other institutions. Otherwise, their assertions come across as hypocritical and void of credibility.

Introspection is difficult for all of us. Yet it is necessary and beneficial to all concerned. Let’s start with ourselves and be the models for the change we want to see.