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True Accountability Incorporates St. Paul’s Vision of the Mystical Body

A priest friend of mine said to me recently, “VOTF and I have practically an identical ‘end’ in mind and heart. We differ somewhat when it comes to the ‘means’ – such as accountability.” I replied that financial accountability is not only our means, but one of our end goals. His end goal was that we merely get a few more laypersons appointed to diocesan boards. He didn’t want to shake the system at all.

After some reflection, I thought that VOTF should ask their bishops: “How can we together hold each other accountable?” I can easily sense how the bishops would answer the question. But, somehow, hopefully, a dialogue could begin.

Many believe a higher type of dialogue with our bishops would be to engage them in a discussion of the unique ministries of all God’s people – bishops, priests, religious, and lay women and men. It would be a full discussion of how all of our ministries involve us as members of the Mystical Body of Christ, as described by St. Paul. The bishops would not exclude the laypersons any more than the laypersons and priests would exclude the bishops. As St. Paul described the Mystical Body, “God’s purpose was that the body should not be divided, but rather that all of its parts should feel the same concern for each other. You are Christ’s body and each of you is an individual part of it.” (Cor. 12) We are, as the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium describes all of us collectively, “the people of God on a pilgrimage, and a fellowship of salvation.” This does not allow any arrogant exclusion of anyone from the table of discussion.

This is true accountability, as VOTF sees it. It incorporates St. Paul’s vision of the Mystical Body, when he tells us that we are all connected and responsible to each other, each with his own talents and strengths.

Though we aspire toward a time when all gifts offered to the Church are accepted and respected, we must be prepared to speak truth to power along the way. We must remember the great German theologian Bernard Haring’s warning: “Absolute rulers and dictators compensate for their inner uncertainty and ever-present fear of losing power by concentrating still more power in their hands. To do so they need compliant agents with broad authority and that, in turn, strengthens the anxiety over power and influence among this small inner circle.”

The circle of the Church must be large and encompassing rather than small and restrictive. It must be focused upon building the kingdom, rather than building personal power. It must give rightful place to all of the various parts that God intended – laity (both women and men), religious, priests, and bishops alike.

Each of us in VOTF has our own strengths and talents, just as St. Paul said. We must use those talents in our own way, to bring about our common vision of a body working together as one. With each person’s unique gifts, we are confident that we can emerge from the 2006-2008 VOTF Campaign for Accountability successful, one step closer to the promise of a more cohesive and mutually accountable Church.

Tony Wiggins

Member of National Representative Council

Board Member of VOTF in the Bridgeport diocese

 
 
 
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