May the Laity be Critical of it’s Pastor, Bishop, Pope, Church?

The Black Biretta -  a cleric opines

Father John Trigilio:

Here is a recap of the talk I gave Wednesday night in Allentown, PA, for the local Legatus chapter.

The Catechism teaches us that scandal is a serious sin

2284 Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor’s tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.

2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. It prompted our Lord to utter this curse: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others. Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees on this account: he likens them to wolves in sheep’s clothing.

When scandal occurs IN the Church, what is the proper response of the faithful?  Besides being scandalized when clergy misbehave, the laity have the right and often the obligation to say and do something. Mere complaining is not productive and imprudent unrestricted criticism could lead to open dissent and eventual schism or apostasy.

Catholicism is a religion of the great BOTH … AND (et …et) as Pope B16 told us whereas other faith traditions have adopted the EITHER … OR (aut … aut) proposition. Hence, it is not a question of EITHER speak out OR keep quiet, instead, it is a matter of making distinctions then prudently taking action (to speak or to remain silent). As Catholics, we can BOTH say something when necessary AND we can also shut up when appropriate.

On matters of faith and morals, the official teaching of the Church as elucidated by the Magisterium requires that we ACCEPT. We are to give an ASSENT of Faith to all defined dogmas.  Rejecting any dogma is DISSENT and it is a serious offense and grave sin. Revelation is the disclosure of supernatural truths by God to man and which are necessary for our salvation. Unlike Science which learns empirical truth by observation and philosophy which discovers rational truth by deductive and inductive reasoning, theology on the other hand, knows religious truth by divine revelation. “From God’s lips to our ears” so to speak.

Consequently, no scientist can DISSENT from the equation 2+2=4 or that water is H2O. Likewise, no theologian and no believer can deny the divinity of Christ, the Real Presence, the Virgin Birth, the Immaculate Conception, et al.   It is not academic freedom for Catholic colleges to pay professors who deny Magisterial teachings. More…

Editor’s Note; So, Father that means if I rant about errant Bishops and priests, I’m ok on this??? No disrespect To Father Triglio, he has a terrific sense of humor. God Bless, Sophia “Cum grano salis”, folks!