Chris
McDonnell, UK
christymac733@gmail.com
Previous articles by Chris Comments welcome here
September 12, 2018
The fragile face of dignity
Speaking
four years ago, in September 2014, Pope Francis reminded us that ‘things
have a price and can be for sale, but people have a dignity that is
priceless and worth far more than things.’ In his own person, Francis
has shown us the meaning of a dignified life, by his actions, his words,
his understanding and the tolerance he continually displays.
He
showed that dignity in no small measure during the recent visit to
Ireland, a visit that included a tense meeting with survivors of abuse,
listening to their heart-felt stories with compassion at the end of a
long, tiring day.
It
was sad that the letter from the retired US Nuncio, Archbishop Carlo Maria
Vigano, was published at the conclusion of the Irish visit, its timing
designed for the greatest hostile impact with the media. Vigano raised
many questions, not only in the unsubstantiated allegations he made of the
Pope’s knowledge of the background to the McCarrick affair but also
about his own motives. Dignity was lacking. His obvious attempt to damage
this papacy was apparent for all to see.
The
use of the crude Hispanic term ‘caca’ by Francis in reference to abuse
was direct and unequivocal. We know clearly where he stands; he now has to
repair the damage arising from years of clerical cover-up, both in the
Vatican and within Diocesan communities around the world.
In
recent days we have witnessed two funerals in the US, that of Aretha
Franklin the great gospel singer from Detroit and that of John McCain, the
Republican senator from Arizona. The disdain shown by the US President for
McCain was unbelievable. He failed to recognise that at such a time, the
Head of State has a greater task than that of the partisan politician, he
has to stand above political division and recognise achievement, he has to
show dignity. He failed on both counts.
That
weekend I wrote these few lines.
A
multitude of song birds
gathered
round fallen feathers
singing
with open joy
and
speaking in considered dignity,
each
to his own particular tune,
telling
and re-telling a story.
Perched
high in hilltop branches
of
a distant tree
a
lone black carrion crow
screeched
in disdain, uttering
through
a sharpened yellow beak
his
unending liturgy of turgid rain.
We
recognize a dignified response when we see it, the choice of words, the
composure of presentation, the avoidance of pettiness. Speaking at John
McCain’s funeral, ex-President Obama used these words "So much of
our politics, our public life, our public discourse can seem small and
mean and petty, trafficking in bombast and insult and phony controversies
and manufactured outrage. It’s a politics that pretends to be brave, but
in fact is born of fear. John called on us to be bigger than that. He
called on us to be better than that." If ever a man in public life
understood and so clearly demonstrated dignity, it is Obama.
Now
the Church must itself face difficult days, days of challenge and rebuke,
of claim and counter-claim, of recognizing where there has been falsehood
and cover-up. If ever there was a time when faith is being challenged by
experience, this is it. The pain cannot be avoided, nor should it be, for
the detail that is now emerging has been festering too long. Only by
confronting uncomfortable truth can reality be acknowledged and progress
made.
It
is a task that will involve the whole Church. Renewal and repair is not
only a clerical task, for clericalism has been one of the deep seated
roots from which have grown our present dysfunctional state. The laity
must willingly accept the burden of reformation, bringing their skills,
talents and experience to the service of faith. And they must be listened
to, not brushed aside as an inconvenient irritant as has so often been the
case. Parish councils, Diocesan councils are not an optional feature but
play an essential part of our journey, they facilitate meaningful exchange
How
long the Church will be led by the simple example of dignity that is the
present blessing from the See of Rome, is not ours to know. If however, as
those intent on damaging this papacy such as the ex-Nuncio to Washington
have full, unfettered reign, a task in progress, Vatican reform, could
come to a stuttering halt.
We
talk of a person having ‘a dignified bearing’, of their speaking in
‘a dignified manner’, of their ‘respecting the dignity of others’.
All of that comes from an inner core of personal conviction and sincerely
held belief. Their real self shines through and belittles trivia. The
things that we possess, buy and sell, strike bargains over, bear no
comparison in worth to whom we should be, dignified people of principle.
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