Judiciary and Transparency - what about the Church!

 Dear friends, good evening.

Today's 'The Hindu' carried an article in its editorial page, 'Concealing a judge's dissent, eroding judiciary's authority' by Suhrith Parthasarathy contending 'a judiciary that subjects itself to the same standards of openness it demands of others will only gain greater trust and confidence of the people.'

I think this applies all the more to our leadership too. However, we may claim that we are not democratic but theocratic and on that count not accountable!

However, of late, quite many of us have seemingly accepted the saying, 'errare humanum est' that is 'to err is human', by letting the 'infallibility' go...

Transparency is the foremost gesture of holiness (Lev 19:2) to which we are called. It demands uncompromising accountability and responsibility...

All along there is a clamour for Mass stipend accountability! However, it can't be partial in the matter of Mass stipend alone. Moreover, it can't be implemented by preaching while the authority never bothers to practice it. We need to lead by example.

This secrecy aspect is kept, starting from picking up seminarians, deacons to that of selecting priests for priestly and episcopal ordination respectively all along, to the deterioration of priestly and episcopal credibility and integrity.

Don't we believe in the saying that 'vox populi vox dei' that is the voice of people is the voice of God? (1 Sam 8:7). If not, consider the following: The Son of man identifies himself with the least of his brethren (Mt 25:40,45) and Jesus identifies himself with the persecuted (Acts 9:5).

As such, 'every exercise of public power must be explained and defended.'

We, the priests, all the more so the bishops, as we were chosen, would 'shape the outcomes of'... the vital evangelical or moral questions ranging from poverty, chastity and obedience to the judicious exercise of power... And we, quite rightly expect 'to insist on accountability from others... But in doing so, can we claim immunity for ourselves?'

This would imply a democratic process in the selection of the ecclesiastical authorities which would better be for a specific term. Even 'the process by which' they are selected 'must itself meet the strictest standards of accountability'. The system we are in 'has too often withdrawn into a culture of concealment over justification. Unless it embraces reform, it risks diminishing the very legitimacy on which its authority rests'.

A system 'that subjects itself to the same standards of openness it demands of others will not weaken its autonomy. On the contrary, it will anchor its independence more securely in the trust and confidence of the people.'

A status quo in a fast changing world with AI and the like would only harm the Kingdom values of the Gospel. We need to renew ourselves, reading the signs and challenges of the time.

Having authority (Mk 1:27, Lk 4:36) Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets (Mt 5:17). We too need to be like him to fulfill the deficiencies, if any. He also wants us to be the 'salt of the earth' (5:13) and 'light of the world' (5:14).

Thanks.