Structures exist in most societies because people usually benefit from parameters that contain us and systems to guide us. That is the general rule; but exceptions accompany most rules. Whether our nation’s political structure or our church’s ecclesial institution or our society’s justice system, there are corruptible flaws that harm citizens and communities; and there are some people in leadership roles who damage others.
Those with influence, money, power, or other privileges tend to fare better in our legal justice systems than do underprivileged citizens. The Innocent Project has revealed numerous cases of convicted people who are innocent of the crimes for which they were accused and punished. In Kansas City, Miracle of Innocence, led by Darryl Burton and Lamonte McIntyre, both wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for a combined 47 years, sheds light on the injustice of our American judicial process and encourages citizens to learn more so that we can reshape the system so it can work better for those victimized by it.
Similar things can be said about political bureaucracies. With billions of dollars spent on election campaigns, we accept that this process also favors candidates with clout in one of the two dominant parties. Subsequently, corporate politics houses a big chunk of injustice and corruption. The power and control wielded by those in executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government cannot be denied. “Power corrupts…” proclaimed the 19th Century British Lord John Acton, “…and absolute power corrupts absolutely!” He urged political networks to carry forth checks and balances so that inevitable destructive viruses will be better managed and controlled.
The Catholic Church, like other ecclesiastical institutions, is similar. Though divinely inspired, it is operated by humans. Just as human bodies suffer corruption, so do human institutions. There may be exceptions found in the incorrupt bodies of some saints, perhaps reminding us that we ought to strive for perfection, but the corporate body of our ecclesial government has numerous flaws that get revealed to every generation. Jesus loved His Jewish religion and believed that it shared a covenant relationship with God. But He also admitted, and tried to change, the immense corruption that existed within its leaders who possessed clout, influence, privilege, and political power that they lorded over others.
Many Catholics of this generation have been made aware of corruption spotlighted in the pedophilia scandals and institutional cover-ups that revealed horrendous sins, mismanagement, and lack of care for victims and families. Overwhelming numbers of parishioners and parishes distance themselves from hierarchical structures because the corporation diminishes the good work of common people and their efforts to carry on the mission of Jesus in our times. As the bride of Christ, the church tries to be an incorrupt system but placed on the shoulders of sinners and put in the hands of flawed humans, it cannot be. Though there are many godly people leading and serving our church, there are some unjust ecclesiastics and other bureaucrats with power, who are corrupt and who do much harm; they sometimes cause innocent people in our communities to suffer.
Though I continually preach that our chancery, diocese, Vatican, and other hierarchy are not enemies of common Catholics, I hear numerous stories from those who have been hurt by structures and systems and/or by those who control them. You and I have friends whose lives have been severely damaged or destroyed by unjust business; some of us have also suffered because of corrupt or misguided people in power. In the end, there is no such thing as an incorrupt system, but I hope that we will help to improve the political, judicial, and ecclesial structures that exist. Though they are necessary, we can shape them to better carry out the message of Jesus and thereby reshape our systems into healthier and holier structures.