May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will leave the world a little better for your having been here. -- Ronald Reagan

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Protestantism, Catholicism and Authority

Another great thought piece by Fr Barron. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWYwBDqFsuE

I have a profound distrust of anyone in authority of anything. The officials of a sporting event are being critiqued by the fans (congregation) so the abuse of power is severely limited. Protestant ministers have only moral authority to go on, and many are kicked to the curb when the congregation finds them saying and doing the wrong thing, making the wrong calls. There was a pro basketball ref, one of the most respected of all time, that after many years, got caught making wrong calls on crucial plays for financial gain. If it weren't for fans, the congregation, demanding constant monitoring of the refs and umps, would that ref have been caught? Or would the officiating hierarchy give him a pass? I don't know so much the inner workings of the priesthood of the Catholic Church, but looking in I see slow movement when it comes to correction or punishment.

I do see, in my Protestant tradition, congregations turn away, and whole churches and ministries go down because a pastor says and does wrong. It seems more of a direct democracy, a direct cause and effect. I like having a direct say in whether or not a Protestant "religious authority" can remain as such, and not have the hierarchy decide, exclusively, the fate of that pastor or other authority.

When this comes to preaching and teaching word of God, or interpretation, I think Fr Barron is right. These are people that have dedicated their lives to this. God uses the layman too, and sometimes He uses that person to correct the Pastor or Priest. 

Like I said, once again Fr Barron gets us thinking.

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