Ithildae Gandr (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} ithildae) wrote in bbwoof, |
An analogy can be made to tax cuts. Do we cut taxes to encourage more investment in the broader economy, with eventual expansion, or do we increase taxes now and trust the economy to remain unchanged? The fit is not exact, but the tradeoff between present and future is the same. Ultimately, the exercise is about control, not money.
Archbishop Burke wants the money NOW, there is no later. If he were intelligent, he would use the parish revenues to support clergy for adjacent parishes, by simply asking nicely if there were room in the apartments. He could squeeze out other long term benefits for the church by simply asking the parish to support an ongoing program. That way he could derive substantial benefit without alienating anyone.
Unfortunately, the last 25 years in the Catholic Church has been all about consolidating power in Rome. The independent Bishops of the America's were causing problems throughout the hemisphere. The current crop of Bishops ask Rome before sneezing. That command and control mindset being instilled in the clergy makes St. Stan. an Irritant with a capital 'I'.
Direction from the church headquarters is an important point if you have a theocratic organization. Direction comes from G-d, and the church should follow it. (there is a tradition of ignoring prophets, but we can ignore that.) Expecting obedience on this basis should be an acceptable demand. Demanding the money so you can shut down the parish does not seem to be a way of servicing the needs of the members (In my opinion, the primary function of a Church, reflecting the primary purpose of G-d.)
In short, Burke is using the wrong arguments to support the wrong reasons for his actions. That means that everyone suffers.
I do not see where hypocrisy comes into play. (I am an interested outsider and do not see all the moves, that means that I am probably wrong.) Burke seems to have clearly signaled his intention, to absorb the assets of the parish and shut it down, from the very beginning. He is not doing anything other than attempting to achieve that objective.
Archbishop Burke wants the money NOW, there is no later. If he were intelligent, he would use the parish revenues to support clergy for adjacent parishes, by simply asking nicely if there were room in the apartments. He could squeeze out other long term benefits for the church by simply asking the parish to support an ongoing program. That way he could derive substantial benefit without alienating anyone.
Unfortunately, the last 25 years in the Catholic Church has been all about consolidating power in Rome. The independent Bishops of the America's were causing problems throughout the hemisphere. The current crop of Bishops ask Rome before sneezing. That command and control mindset being instilled in the clergy makes St. Stan. an Irritant with a capital 'I'.
Direction from the church headquarters is an important point if you have a theocratic organization. Direction comes from G-d, and the church should follow it. (there is a tradition of ignoring prophets, but we can ignore that.) Expecting obedience on this basis should be an acceptable demand. Demanding the money so you can shut down the parish does not seem to be a way of servicing the needs of the members (In my opinion, the primary function of a Church, reflecting the primary purpose of G-d.)
In short, Burke is using the wrong arguments to support the wrong reasons for his actions. That means that everyone suffers.
I do not see where hypocrisy comes into play. (I am an interested outsider and do not see all the moves, that means that I am probably wrong.) Burke seems to have clearly signaled his intention, to absorb the assets of the parish and shut it down, from the very beginning. He is not doing anything other than attempting to achieve that objective.
