I like your phrase "they are the rock against which the waves of progress slam", Jane. Pithy and powerful.
Yet your seeming indictment of the entire church clerical establishment is a tad over the top, methinks.
So since I started this conversation way above, I would like to add: Yes, Daniel, not every bishop is a criminal, it's true. HOWEVER, and I say this from experience working for one, as a group they do NOT engage in "fraternal correction" as they are supposed to do. Since each bishop is in effect accountable to no one--really not even the Pope except in rare circumstances--they can get away with everything. Fraternal correction, if indeed it is ever done, has absolutely no effect. If not one bishop (and remember, bishops are the direct descendants of the apostles) has the cojones to stand up and say "this is wrong," then it's not so terribly wrong to call them all accomplices.
I like your phrase "they are the rock against which the waves of progress slam", Jane. Pithy and powerful.
Yet your seeming indictment of the entire church clerical establishment is a tad over the top, methinks.
I’ve seen the damage firsthand. So color me bitter.
So since I started this conversation way above, I would like to add: Yes, Daniel, not every bishop is a criminal, it's true. HOWEVER, and I say this from experience working for one, as a group they do NOT engage in "fraternal correction" as they are supposed to do. Since each bishop is in effect accountable to no one--really not even the Pope except in rare circumstances--they can get away with everything. Fraternal correction, if indeed it is ever done, has absolutely no effect. If not one bishop (and remember, bishops are the direct descendants of the apostles) has the cojones to stand up and say "this is wrong," then it's not so terribly wrong to call them all accomplices.