Episcopal Accountability & the 'Reverse Caiaphas' Policy | National Catholic Reporter

Episcopal Accountability & the 'Reverse Caiaphas' Policy | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: Let's look at the possibilitys of accountability.  MSW lists a few.  First, attitude adjustent - be more like Francis.  Sadly, there is now way of knowing if it is a change of heart or better PR.  Second is if removing a bishop is bad for episocopal PR - while I agree that getting rid of a baddy helps, it is still a question of image over fact.  It is nice if a removed bishop renews himself as a priest, but that is not the point.  In the old days archbishops had teeth, at least as far as appealing decisions - but this modern world makes everying straight to the Nuncio and Rome.  Still, after Vatican II, bishops gained more independence, which had been waning.  Vatican II went in the right direction, but not nearly far enough.



Strong Metropolitans or Archibishops meeting in local council leaves matters with the hieararchy and the special medievalism that has the faithful cringe and the atheist community poke fun.  Most of the world is becoming more democratic while the hierarchy preserves authoritarianism. This is why the Hierarchy hated the idea of democracy because they knew that one day they would be next.  I think we have passed that day.  Not only should bishops be elected again by priests and people, adding that they should be removed in the same way is long overdue.



There was nothing sacred about the post-Constatine structure that only got worse with time.  It can and should be dispensed with.  Indeed, while priests should still be ordained - both male and female, they should be hired by parish councils headed by a lay deacon administrator.  Whether the deacons and priests form an electoral assembly or it should be all the faithful is probably a decision that will transition with time, but let the laity make it clear - its largely our property, not the bishops' being administered and our souls being cared for.  If after that, a diocese goes rogue, that is a job for attitude and preaching - but it is less likley to happen. Rule from below will also settle some of the pelvic natural law questions that the Church as mangled terribly - which has people of good faith walk out.  It is time for that to stop.