Looking Ahead to 2016: The Church | National Catholic Reporter

Looking Ahead to 2016: The Church | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: I would hope that instead of a Curial reorganization, the Pope reorganize the actual Church to make it more like the Orthodox, who I believe we are no longer in schism with.  At the very least name linguistic patriarchs and let them organize their own Curias, allowing a drastic cutback in responsibility and bodies in Rome.  That will also change the need for Cardinals, instead allowing Archbishops the role of voting for each individual patriarch (or eventually, matriarch).  That should also change how bishops are appointed, with real consideration given to restoring the ancient model of election by either people or at least by clergy.  While the story of the Villa is fascinating and merits a book and revenge of Cardianal Pio is a fascinating possiblity, restoration of localism where it can be practiced would be even better.



I would encourage ending world youth day.  It is almost idolotry, much in the way the Host is treated like an idol in devising rules for who gets Communion.  The Lord does not accidentally visit the soul of someone who cannot be helped just because they join the Communion line.  Of course, I can see why Latin youth love this pope, since they identify with him (though in reality, he is ethnically Italian).  He can probably do  more to evangelize them than the USCCB can with all its might.  Maybe Francis should name a youth ambassador to young latinos in the US and bypass the bishops.



If the USCCB had to report to their own people in the pews, many might return to the Church just to vote out some of the rascals.  It would certainly change the nature of the organization, including how it relates to the Patriarch who is spiritual father but not the administrative authority.  No one in the conference would try to be more Catholic than the patriarch.  Barring that, the USCCB should clean house at the staff level the way that Francis is cleaning the Curia.  Any of them who conflate their loyalty to the Church with their relationship with Republican front groups on abortion need to retire, resign or be fired.  I am sure there those who know where the bodies are buried.  Just look at old resumes.



It is true that he who pays the piper calls the tune at universities.  Of course, the other options are to form more direct relationships with employers and actually higher upper-classmen as employees of these firms -who would then pay the tuition and provide some grant support.  This probably too socialistic for many people, but the other alternative is democratically socialistic - more governmental support for Catholic colleges and universities - and that support is substantial now if you include student based aid and contracts.  If the bishops or orders who are the titular owners want to maintain control, they must provide funding to meet the greater needs schools face, including the moral obligation to open more tenure track positions and thereby confining use of adjuncts to distinguished leaders like Bernie Rosen, who was at American when I was there (American is a sectarian school).  Of course, governmental support and employer support come with a cost - not in compromising doctrine (no one wants to change the Nicean Creed), but in how the Church treats those it would otherwise marginallize (which is really not what Jesus would do).