In the Army of Christ
Pastors Likened to Sergeants
Hat Tip to Catholic Eye
The following is taken from an article by George McKenna titled “Power to the Parishes” in Human Life Review (commentary added).
“This brings us back to the issue of Catholic leadership. The top man in Rome is doing just what he should, calling out abortion politicians who claim to be ardent Catholics (e.g., Pelosi) and repeating the Church’s stand on human life from its earliest moment.
At the middle level, the American Bishops, while not doing all they could, are at least getting back some of the spine that they once exhibited in opposing the culture of death. The real challenge ahead is at the local level, among the church pastors and the parish activists who serve with them.
I have heard military experts say that while an army needs a good officer corps, in the end it is only as good as its sergeants (or, in the Marine Corps, as good as its corporals, as retired Master Sergeant Vir Speluncae Catholicus has explained previously).
Pastors are the sergeants of the American Church (we’ll assume the author means the Catholic Church in America), to most church-going Catholics (down 30-50% since Vatican II) the most visible and accessible members of the cloth (assuming, once again, they’re wearing a Roman collar or some other distinguishing “uniform” of their rank); Sunday after Sunday, they are the ones who speak to the people in the pews, and what they say – or fail to say – can have consequences, especially if their congregants like and trust them. In my own limited observation, it appears that in fighting the culture of death their performance is uneven. Many are superb sergeants (God bless them and may their numbers increase), others blow an uncertain trumpet (see Rev. 3:16), and some are AWOL.”
Pastors Likened to Sergeants
Hat Tip to Catholic Eye
The following is taken from an article by George McKenna titled “Power to the Parishes” in Human Life Review (commentary added).
“This brings us back to the issue of Catholic leadership. The top man in Rome is doing just what he should, calling out abortion politicians who claim to be ardent Catholics (e.g., Pelosi) and repeating the Church’s stand on human life from its earliest moment.
At the middle level, the American Bishops, while not doing all they could, are at least getting back some of the spine that they once exhibited in opposing the culture of death. The real challenge ahead is at the local level, among the church pastors and the parish activists who serve with them.
I have heard military experts say that while an army needs a good officer corps, in the end it is only as good as its sergeants (or, in the Marine Corps, as good as its corporals, as retired Master Sergeant Vir Speluncae Catholicus has explained previously).
Pastors are the sergeants of the American Church (we’ll assume the author means the Catholic Church in America), to most church-going Catholics (down 30-50% since Vatican II) the most visible and accessible members of the cloth (assuming, once again, they’re wearing a Roman collar or some other distinguishing “uniform” of their rank); Sunday after Sunday, they are the ones who speak to the people in the pews, and what they say – or fail to say – can have consequences, especially if their congregants like and trust them. In my own limited observation, it appears that in fighting the culture of death their performance is uneven. Many are superb sergeants (God bless them and may their numbers increase), others blow an uncertain trumpet (see Rev. 3:16), and some are AWOL.”
posted by Former Altar Boy at
4:17 PM
2 Comments:
I was just thinking of writing on this, but you beat me to it, fortunately, I'll add some extensions later
First rate once again.
And it's Buck Sergeants and Corporals who lead the small-unit assault into the enemy trenches, buildings and bunkers... not Officers or senior enlisted.
Remember when we could say that about ALL of our priests?
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