Idolizing Humans

Heroes.  Most of us have used the word to describe someone whom we have idolized or deeply admired.  Today, we hear the term used frequently in association with major athletic figures or actors.  Names that come to mind, especially recently, are Tiger Woods and Mel Gibson.  And look what happened to them.

There's not much point in recounting the recent and very well publicized antics of Tiger Woods.  As a fan of the older golf regime (Nicklaus, Palmer, Watson), I never took to Tiger the way the younger golf fans did.  But I never disputed that he had become the best golfer in the world, surpassing the many greats who  preceded him struggling through Amen Corner at Augusta and battling the severe wind, and the maws posing as bunkers at St. Andrews.  He was a hero and idol for many youngsters, who aspired to be just like him.  I could imagine that many young kids, out on the golf course, would pretend they were Tiger just before hitting the "shot of a lifetime" and, in making a great shot, emulated his fist pump, as they won their imaginary U.S. Open.

Tiger has fallen from grace and so, seemingly, has his almost infallible golf game.  And I wonder, what effect has it on the many people who held him up as almost a sacred figure?  Have they become disillusioned with golf?  Or just with Tiger.  Obviously, it makes no sense to abandon love for the game of golf because of the immoral behavior of one player, and yet, that is exactly what has happened amongst many--especially the younger folks, for whom golf WAS Tiger Woods.

I read some more horrendous news about Mel Gibson today.  At one time, I really did hold deep admiration for him.  As a somewhat "conservative" Roman Catholic, (however one wants to read into that), I admired Mel because of his apparent idyllic and faithful marriage and his devotion to his large family.  He went out on a limb to produce what I thought was an amazing movie, "The Passion of the Christ".  Not surprisingly, it was the center of a lot of controversy.  I admired his tenacity and steadfastness, which, I assumed, was rooted in his faith.  Despite all protestations, he produced the film, and it was extremely powerful.  And then, the bottom fell out of Mel Gibson's life.  He left his wife and eventually took up with some young women with whom he has had a child. In the meantime, he had run ins with the law, and at one point, apparently intoxicated, spewed horrific anti-Semitic remarks.  Now, it appears he has physically abused his new wife, with whom he is also splitting.  What a sham.

I am deeply disillusioned with Mel Gibson, to the point that, when I think of him, I just get angry about what a despicable character he has become.  He was a role model to me because I thought we shared a common  approach to faith.  So, should Mel's downfall affect how I view my own faith?  Obviously, he is a mere mortal.  Mel was never the epitome of Catholic belief.  He was never the person of Christ here on earth, and so it would make absolutely no sense for my faith to be affected in any way by the antics of Mr. Gibson.

However, what about the "alter Christus"--the individual who acts "in persona Christi"?  I refer, of course, to our Catholic priests.  Catholics believe that ordained priests, when celebrating the Sacrament, act in the person of Christ.  We believe that, upon their ordination, they do become another Christ--their identities change ontologically.  They are to serve the world as representatives of Christ here on earth.  How, then, can we not equate them with Christ and with the Church?

Here we are, in the wake of hideous clergy sex scandals of every type.  Too many priests are accused of abusing children and teens.  And too may of our bishops are acting as administrators rather than shepherds--worrying about "managing" and avoiding litigation, or covering up the hideous sin rather than being the spiritual leaders of their flock--caring for those who have been grievously hurt and dealing directly with the wolves in the fold.  It is very, very difficult to not feel a huge sense of disillusionment about the Catholic faith in the midst of this.  It is extremely difficult to separate our Catholicism from some of our Catholic priests.

I have been in discussions with too many friends and acquaintances who have had just such an adverse reaction to Catholicism as a result of the behavior of some of our priests and bishops.  Some have ceased the practice of their faith.  Some who still attend Mass, do so half-heartedly, as a matter of routine, but with much cynicism and suspicion and with negative attitudes towards anyone who is ordained.  The faith has been severely injured by this ongoing scandal.  How could it not be?

The crux of the problem is, in fact, in the title of this blog post.  Actors, golfers, bishops and priests are human beings, all subject to temptation and sin.   Witnessing their fall is at once tragic and infuriating.  Our deep disillusionment may be a result of idolizing the man.

The body of the Church is made up of people, and people succumb to sin.  Obviously our priests and bishops are not immune; and this particular sin has had grave implications certainly for their victims, and also for the life of the Church and the faith of her people.  The sad fact is that these horrific behaviors have led many members to turn away from the faith in disgust and disillusionment because they are unable to separate the sin of priests and bishops from the Church and what she stands for and teaches.  The wrongdoers will face their Judge, but, in the meantime, it falls to us to somehow begin to mend and rebuild the Church.

This re-building should not ever involve denying, ignoring, rationalizing or covering up what has taken place.  Far be it from me to even begin to suggest where we need to go from here.  But, despite the belief in the alter Christus, we cannot idolize priests and bishops just as we should not idolize actors or athletes.  Human beings are weak.  Human beings are frail.  I just finished reading "The Courage to be Catholic" by George Weigel, and I agree with his belief that ordained men who have allowed themselves to become involved in sexually abusing children have lost sight of who they are; and have forfeited their priesthood, if they ever accepted it to begin with.  They are no longer servants of God and of the Church.  One who accepts and believes that he acts in persona Christi would never, could never, be involved in anything so vile and immoral.  Therefore, the only possible explanation is that the men who have engaged in these acts have refused and refuted their identities as priests; and therefore they should be treated as the criminals that they are. And they should never be allowed to serve as priests again, in any capacity.  The danger to other potential victims, as well as to the souls of the faithful is too great.  In turning people away from the Church and the faith, they turn people away from Christ.  Jeopardizing the salvation of souls is a pretty grave sin.

It is time to separate the wheat from the chaff and the sheep from the wolves.


O sacerdos! Tu quis es?
Non es a te, quia de nihilo.
Non es ad te, quia es mediator ad Deum.
Non es tibi, quia soli Deo vivere debes.
Non es tui, quia es omnium servus.
Non es tu, quis alter Christus es.
Quid ergo es? Nihil et omnia,
        O sacerdos!  -- Fulton Sheen

(O priest! Who art thou?
Thou art not from thyself, because thou art from nothing.
Thou art not to thine own self, because thou art a mediator to God.
Thou art not for thyself, because thou ought to live for God alone.
Thou art not of thyself, because thou are the servant of all.
Thou art not thyself, thou who art another Christ.
What therefore art thou? Nothing and everything,
O priest!)