THE ROOTS OF CLERICALISM

THE ROOTS OF CLERICALISM       

By Raymond Spatti          3-15-19

Clericalism is a distortion of the clerical state.  It refers to a caste system that attributes a set of conditions which result in placing ordained individuals apart and above the rest of humanity.  In exploring the nature of clericalism, its multiple attributes might be explored, such as:

1.       Automatic Authority conferred by ordination, regardless of personal development, mastering knowledge,  personal accomplishment, or ability to communicate or to teach

2.       Exclusive Power  (monopoly), based on a theological pre-supposition, enabling the cleric to do things than non-clerics cannot do; it is acquired by virtue of ordination which somehow “imprints” on the cleric’s soul a “character” that ontologically elevates the cleric to a formal status that is above all other human beings. This monopoly of power is replicated at each level of priesthood: priest, bishop, pope thereby forming an infrastructure of mutual solidification.

3.       Membership in a caste system whose members have a direct channel to God in both directions, which access would presumably not otherwise be available to humanity. 

4.       Guaranteed economic sufficiency, resting in a lifetime office which provides total wrap-around entitlements (food, shelter, medical, financial, loving support, retirement, burial , remembrance) based on ordination, regardless of merit or accomplishments.

5.       Financial regency whereby extensive discretion is allowed to pastors for control and management of funds, without rendering formal accountability or being professionally audited.

6.       Lack of specific job description of professionally conducted evaluation of job performance, thereby undermining any concept of accountability.

7.       Personal control of local communication system (pulpit, bulletin, staff, annual diocesan report)

8.       Exclusive agency in administration of sacraments: excepting baptism and matrimony, none of the other sacraments  cannot be validly administered by anyone other than a priest, in whose absence the church is deprived of them.

9.       Subject to the unique canon law, written by clerics for clerics, without input from the church at large;, canon law has in some historical eras (even if much less currently) virtually replaced civil law in discipline of clerical delicts.

10.   Entitlement to both official and personal special respect from members of the church, by virtue of one’s unique status,  regardless of personal qualifications, capacity to fulfill one’s office, or actual job performance.

11.   But even more significant is the large numbers of clerics who remain free of the lure of clericalism and retain genuine humility, compassion, openness, and integrity in ministry.

--Raymond Spatti
Ray.Spatti@gmail.com