POPE Francis has blamed clericalism for many evils in the Church, abusive clergymen prominently among them. Clericalism, for Pope Francis, is what gives the ordained ministers of the Church power and influence, wielded unfortunately over matters other than faith and morals. The animal goes by many names, but clericalism is generally a distorted sense of the clergy’s importance. It is likewise clericalism that consists in the belief that the missionary activity consists in sending priests. Just another member of the Church — that is what members of the clergy would be in a milieu rid of clericalism.

Source: Manila Times August 29, 2018 16:30 UTC