The Deification of the Details
One characteristic of the promotion of Uniting in Heart has been the suggestion, repeated over and over, that the whole of the Uniting in Heart process has been the subject of particular guidance by the Holy Spirit:
- “Both efforts [Uniting in Heart and the formation of the Clergy Personnel Advisory Committee] … have used strong guidance from the Holy Spirit . . . by implementing the plan,” (Katharine Calabro-Sanders, March 22, 2020)
- “I spoke about some of the work that has been taking place in the Bishop’s Office as part of an ongoing effort, guided by the Holy Spirit, as we strive to live the vision and mission of Uniting in Heart.” (Deacon Mike Mescall, May 19, 2019)
- “Guided by the Holy Spirit, grounded in prayer and formation through our 3 pillars..” (UiH “Vision Narrative”)
- “These early days of implementation of the Uniting in Heart 2030 Pastoral Plan present us with the opportunity to begin navigating through some interesting transitions. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, our mission is to unite hearts . . . may the Spirit continue to guide our ministry as Uniting in Heart becomes our new reality.” (Deacon Mike Mescall, March 8, 2020.)
- In the March 22, 2020 edition of the Catholic Moment alone, the coverage of the UiH process referenced the work of the Holy Spirit 17 times.
It’s obvious that commending every undertaking to prayer is prudent, right, and necessary. That, we assume, is part of the life of every Catholic as they grapple with life’s decisions. We all pray–or should. We ask for guidance, and we hope we are hearing God correctly and following His will. We may even have the grace of some quiet personal assurance that God is near and helping us, clearing obstacles and bringing us what we need.
But if we are honest, we would also admit the possibility of other influences, including our own human motivations and failings, both in the discernment of God’s will and in the execution of the details.
We are all human. None of us, clergy or otherwise, has some infallible gift of pronouncing God’s will all the time. Even this charism within the magisterium operates only within specific parameters. The rest of us must listen as well as we can and do our best.
This habit, then, of suggesting that all aspects of the Uniting in Heart campaign and Clergy Advisory Personnel Committee (CPAC) represent some special work of the Holy Spirit is an interesting one.
Can the Holy Spirit work through a million-dollar grant from Eli Lilly? Through the analytical process of a consultancy firm? Through the meetings of a diocesan personnel board? Sure. He can work through many things. He goes where He will, as John 3 tells us. Yet there is no guarantee that He does or has.
Is it sound, theologically and spiritually speaking, to suggest that certain committees function, practically speaking, as the mouthpiece of the Third Person of the Holy Trinity? That all their decisions have been handed down almost as from on high for the people of this diocese? Is there some specific doctrine in which a planning board has a more direct line to discernment with the Holy Spirit than the people most affected by such decisions–who also pray and share in God’s Spirit through the sacraments?
If it is not theologically or spiritually sound to suggest such a thing to the Faithful, then why do it?
Can the Holy Spirit also speak through those members of the clergy and Faithful who do have reservations or concerns about some elements of the plan? If not, why not?
It’s possible that those speaking of such Divine guidance are simply communicating their subjective sentiments, their own warm feelings, or using an imprecision of speech. It’s also possible that it’s a strategy to help with compliance.
Regardless, it’s a big deal to say that one is communicating the will of the Holy Spirit for others.
It works to influence public perception with a sort of soothing vagary of language which will, at one and the same time, create a comforting feeling for some, and make others feel that in having reservations, they set themselves against God.
The Spirit was promised to guide the Church and those who follow Christ. That does not automatically translate into His holding the pen over at the UiH planning table, infallibly breathing out the Vision Narrative, the new pastorates, the choices of who leads whom and what happens next. Individuals within diocesan leadership did that themselves. Maybe those involved heard and obeyed Him, maybe they didn’t. Again, we are all humans.
We reiterate: It’s necessary to pray to the Spirit for guidance, essential to listen, and healthy to say that one has done so if true.
It’s another matter to lead others to the belief that the Holy Spirit directed, guided, and was the force behind each of one’s planning decisions. This has not been promised by God. Humility, as well as respect for the truth, would seem to urge a greater respect for God’s name.
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16 Replies to “The Deification of the Details”
Anytime someone frames their message as from the Holy Spirit it always stirs a skepticism within me. So I ask ..Is that skepticism from the Holy Spirit as well? Who’s right? I get the intention is to substantiate or lend the message credible by invoking it as coming from God, but if you need to declare it my guess is it’s not credible and not from the Holy Spirit.
“The formation of pastorates, the creation of new deaneries, or the collaboration of parishes in the ministry to our parishes have, for some, been changes that are hard to accept. I would propose that the real difficulty is not in what is being proposed in the worldly elements of our diocesan structure but rather that the call to missionary discipleship is pressing us to reform our hearts to be in union with the heart of Jesus.”
-Deacon Mescall, Catholic Moment, September 15, 2019
The audacious pride of these quotes is staggering. I have a hard enough time discerning the gentle movement of the Holy Spirit in my own life- I can’t even imagine telling people that not only do I know what He wants for me, but also what He wants for every single person in the Diocese! It’s outrageously conceited. Do they even hear themselves?
And they call Chicago the Windy City?! Just as well, this whole UiH has the scent of ++Cupich all over it.
Pure and simple, it seems to me, that by saying they are “…guided by the Holy Spirit…” we, if we disagree, are disobeying God. Good Catholic Guilt Trip there.
The Red Wolf has done a tremendous service in analyzing the situation in the diocese, in pointing out the disastrous effects that cannot help but result from the implementation of Uniting in Heart because of the faulty assumption on which it is based, and, above all, in revealing to the laity that their misgivings are shared by a large number of the people in the diocese.
BUT THIS IS NOT ENOUGH.
The Red Wolf must lead on to ACTION. It may be true that any action has a very small chance of defeating the implementation of UiH. But what is absolutely certain is that if we do not go on to action, all the talk will be in vain.
In fact, one of the readers of the RedWolfReport has suggested the action that can be taken by the laity. “Sad Catholic” wrote on April 28:
“I understand the need for our diocese to support and consolidate some of the smaller parishes, but how does the total disruption of our diocese serves any good purpose? If you are interested in making your concerns known, consider writing letters to the following:
Bishop Timothy L. Doherty, S.T.L, Ph.D.
610 Lingle Avenue
Lafayette, IN 47901
Papal Nuncio to the United States
The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre
Apostolic Nuncio to the United States
3339 Massachusetts Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20008-3610
President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Most Reverend Jose H. Gomez
3211 Fourth St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20017”
I myself at first thought I’d sit right down and write letters to these officials. But then I thought: How can I say anything substantive, since I can’t provide actual facts about how decisions were made, how the laity were ignored but given the impression that they were being listened to, or any inside information at all. I was wrong to think that this should stop me, or any of us.
If every single person who has written in to the Red Wolf Report wrote to the three officials above, it very well might change some things. (Obviously, the three letters can be identical.)
We have to realize that what counts is the numbers who bother to write (which means they really care), and not any factual information they can provide to these officials. The unhappiness and resistance of the laity is the main piece of information that counts. Because this presages the failure of UiH. After all, the bottom line is how much money the laity continue to provide.
Surely everyone who wrote in to the Red Wolf Report has a reason why he objects to the implementation of UiH. All he needs to do is to write this down in a letter. One reason, or several reasons.
The more concrete the reason the better. For instance, we love our parish because of Benediction every Sunday evening. We are confident that the religious education program of our parish is going to help our children remain Catholic. The parish culture of my parish, which has grown organically and is not the result of a “program” based on unproven theories, is a tremendous support for our faith. Our priest has built up a parish culture that draws many converts. Reasons like this are all that needs to be in a letter. I am sure that everyone who has written to the Red Wolf Report can list reasons for his concern about UiH. The letters should be as specific as possible. Not just “I love my parish.” But “I love my parish because. . .”
As I say, it’s not the strength of the arguments so much as the number of anguished people that has a chance of obtaining help from above.
Let’s make sure that we each write such a letter and mail it within three days.
PMH, I couldn’t agree with you more as far as the need for action to support our voice. In one of my posts, I mentioned the effect that 30,000 teachers had on the reversal of decisions made at the state level regarding teacher evaluations. Another individual mentioned a march to the chancery, but that post was quickly removed. Hmmmm??? This is OUR church!!! Let’s keep it that way. Write, write, write, and the fact we don’t have all the inside facts should raise eyebrows. I don’t care how many times the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the Catholic Moment as being the guiding force behind the UIH. That is a ploy and using the Holy Spirit as a means to their own end. I believe we, as members of OUR church, are being guided by the Holy Spirit to say we have a right to be considered in any decisions that effect OUR church.
Why not have a march on the Chancery? An image of a crowd of prayerful protestors is powerful and garners the attention of many. It seems the diocesan hierarchy would not like such a public display of opposition, but be persuaded to listen to the us, the people.
An EXCELLENT proposal. But it would have to be lay-led, lay-organized. The laity DO NOT need permission from anyone to respectfully protest. To do so is helping the bishop in his work of governing the diocese.
Please do not do this. It will reflect badly on your pastor and will accomplish nothing but getting you on the evening news, if that.
I kind of agree with Concerned, but for different reasons. It’s not so much that it will reflect badly on your pastors, because there is no shame in sticking up for Holy Mother Church when she is being so horribly mismanaged. It is more likely that if you’re recognized as being from a certain parish, the odds your pastor will be taken to the woodshed are greatly increased. Because you love your priests is a reason not to publicly protest. They will be punished for your actions. Remember the guiding philosophy of UiH: It’s perfect and just what we all need. To reject that is to be guilty of apostasy. Otherwise, why would it be a crime “…to privately or publicly speak or act in opposition to the Uniting in Heart 2030 Plan.” A culture of intimidation and fear hangs like smog over the governance of our local church, but it won’t last forever. I think the resistance to UiH will occur gradually and organically. UiH won’t deliver on its promises. The frustration and sadness it will cause will scatter the sheep. Donations will nose-dive and time will steadily reveal the emptiness of UiH’s spirituality. It will be attractive to no one of good will. And it will be from that rock-bottom place, after the current regime has left the scene, where the true restoration of the Church will begin. And I’m very much looking forward to that day!
I actually want to reply to Anonymous, May 7, at 10:24 am, but there is no “Reply” option below his post. Yes, UiH will fail, but it will fail gradually, as the poster has correctly sketched. But the idea that once the people are dead, their children have left the Church, that then “the true restoration of the Church will begin”—is completely unfounded optimism. During the past fifty years, when innovations in the Church have proved disastrous, the Church has just doubled down. Further back in history, whole regions and countries were permanently lost to the Church, not, in those cases, through the mistakes of the Church, but lost nonetheless. The point is that we cannot presume that if we do nothing, God will eventually correct our mistakes. That is the sin of presumption. The poster may be correct that a demonstration would not accomplish what we are after. HOWEVER, every single person writing those three letters, might. And it’s a very small effort indeed.
Letters mailed! C’mon people; get those letters in. I also think a protest outside of the Bishop’s gate is warranted at the moment. I hope others feel the same way about showing our displeasure at this plan.
Just mailed my three letters.
WOULD EVERYONE WHO HAS TAKEN UP THE SUGGESTION OF MAILING A LETTER to the Apostolic Nuncio, to Archbishop Jose H. Gomez ( President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), and to Bishop Doherty—whose addresses are given above—BRIEFLY NOTE THIS ON THEREDWOLFREPORT. This would encourage others to follow suit, who may feel that their single letter will not make a difference. A very short letter is enough. We are not so much trying to convince the authorities by force of argument, as to make them aware of the actual feelings of the laity. If you care at all about the future of the diocese, and of your parish, you should write a letter.
My letters were sent. Please send yours. I have not received replies yet. If/when you get a reply, please post so we can see the response. Thank you and blessings to you all.
Thanks RedWolf. I love the quotes. It is beyond creepy how the Holy Spirit is being used by those in charge to silence opposition and lull the ignorant into thinking everything will be just fine. That’s what cult leaders do. Pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance? Absolutely! Claim the Holy Spirit is guiding and directing everything? Prove it!
It sure makes it harder for anyone to disagree when it’s from the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit right?