To the editor:
As we hear about and discuss the serious and continuing sex scandal within the Catholic Church, let’s start by placing the blame where it belongs — squarely on the failed leadership of the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. The failure has been caused by a lack of true leadership skills and being controlled by vanity and arrogance.
Robert K. Greenleaf was an advocate for Servant Leadership, and in the worldwide history of mankind, the greatest example of a servant leader was Jesus Christ. Jesus was critical of the Pharisees stating in Matthew 23: 2-3, 5, “The scribes and the Pharisees have succeeded Moses as teachers; therefore, do everything and observe everything they tell you. But do not follow their example . . . All their works are performed to be seen.”
Today, we can recognize those same words could be applied to many representing the leadership of the Catholic faithful.
Matthew 23: 11-12 continues with advice for Church leaders, “The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest.” Jesus Himself was recognized for the truth of His words and the humility of His actions, not by the magnificence of His clothing and lifestyle.
In truth, all the hierarchy of the Church should follow the example of the King of Nineveh, who came to understand the sinful situation in his land. Before the prophet Jonah even finished his walk through the city preaching the need for repentance, the king put on “sackcloth and sat in the ashes” and called on all in the city to “turn from their evil way” and do likewise (see Jonah 3:1-9).
Some individuals in the Church hierarchy will lead the process to bring the Catholic Church back to what it truly is and away from the destructive direction that it has been moving in recent years. We truly trust that Bishop Morlino is one of them.
Richard A. Rogers, Fennimore