On the Disordered Nature of Catholic Prelates

This remarkable (unbelievable!) pastoral teaching;
just in from the Roman Catholic US Bishops meeting in Baltimore:

disordered. "After careful consideration and prayerful discernment, we have
concluded--with pastoral sensitivity--that the male hierarchical
power structure of the Roman Catholic Church is intrinsically

disordered. The Magisterium's name for this disorder is
"prelatiality" and it refers to behavior that is contrary to the
Divine's radical egalitarian plan for woman and man. We have
consulted with many competent sources--and revised some of the
thinking of various popes of happy memory--and have just issued a pastoral
letter (unanimously supported by all the bishops at our conference
today) on this matter that has been such a leading cause of American
culture wars of late.

We do believe, however, that all hierarchs should be treated with
the respect due to all persons and that there should be no
discrimination and prejudice in regard to the hiring of prelates.

Prelate-o-phobia must be discouraged because it is contrary to
Catholic social teaching about the dignity of all. It is not right to
discriminate. It is only when we engage in the act of prelatiality
that we must be admonished. Prelates as such are not sinners, for
studies are showing that our historic inclination toward a world view
of holy male dominion has various complex origins, and thus it
will take a couple more millennia to fully overcome such a
patriarchal mindset; it is the act of prelatiality that must be morally

viewed as disordered."*

It is also important that prelates learn to refrain from ostentatious
displays celebrating prelatiality, and hence we want to go on
record as questioning Prelate Pride Parades ( e.g. sacred rituals such as
take place on Sunday at the cathedrals, especially in places like
San Francisco at St. Mary Maytag, for these may tend to reinforce our
disordered sense of control of the sacramental means of production).

*See our new pastoral letter, "On The Disordered Nature of

Prelatiality; A Grassroots Order From Some Prelates Who Got High"
(USCCB, November 14, 2006, nihil obstat, imprimatur)