Tuesday, 4/9/13
Our first reading
tells us that in the infant Church all wealth and possessions were held in
common. Some people point to it as a complete democracy, but on closer
examination, it seemed to be more like the form of Communism that was
unworkable in Russia. In the Soviet individuals lost the right to private
property, while the distribution of goods was left to the discretion of the
leaders.
The early Church
soon abandoned that communist-like way of governing itself. Then, in the Sixth
Century, with the barbarian tribes accepting Christianity, Christianity was
forced into adopting itself to the Feudalism that governed the Francs and the other
nations. Our bishops became vassals of the popes, holding their benefices in
fief to him; while pastors became vassals of the bishops, holding their
parishes in fief to their bishops.
In our time the
popes appoint the bishops, holding undisputed power over them; but each pope
has shared his authority with the heads of congregations which together make up
the papal Curia.
This year when the
cardinals came together to elect a new pope they elected an outsider who might
loosen the power of the Curia. Who knows? Today’s first reading invites us to
take a fresh look at how the Church under God could best govern herself.
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