- Feb 5, 2002
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Two bishops have been much in the news this week, and for two different reasons: Bishop Joseph Martino, in the wake of his resignation, has been criticized for being too harsh in his leadership in Scranton; while Cardinal Sean O'Malley is catching flak for being too soft in his reaction to and participation in Senator Kennedy's funeral, which the cardinal blogged about yesterday.
As usual, the Anchoress has a keen insight here on the difficulties of leadership:
It seems like the whole world is at war; everyone is angry about something. The conservatives are beating up OMalley, the progressives are beating up Martino. Both of these men have a hand in their beatings, because of their styles of leadership. Martino was too abrasive, too undiplomatic he stepped on too many toes; he was completely unnuanced and had a true bull-in-a-china-shop approach. He was half Scary John the Baptist and half Peter-with-the-ear-slicing sword.Thank heavens, she says, for Jesus -- who is perfect Mercy and Justice -- but what do we mortals do in the meantime? Follow St. Benedict, whose Rule lays out an ideal for leadership that seeks the right balance between them:
OMalley on the other hand -whose work to repair the trust and standing of the church after the heartbreaking revelations of a systemic cover-up of abuse should never be shrugged off- can sometimes seem a bit too mild, a little too nuanced and diplomatic and angelic.
Both of these men are exemplary priests who work with devotion to Christ and fealty to the See of Peter, but for some the Bellicose Bishop is too much Justice without Mercy, and the Consoling Cardinal too much Mercy without Justice.
Let him love the brethren whilst he hates their vices. And in the very correction of the brethren let him act prudently and not go to excess, lest, seeking too vigorously to cleanse off the rust, he may break the vessel. Let him ever keep his own frailty before his eyes and remember that the bruised reed must not be broken. By this we do not mean that he should suffer vices to grow up, but that he could cut them off prudently and with charity, according as he shall see that it is best for each, as we have said; and let him seek rather to be loved than to be feared.Go read the rest at the Anchoress's blog; it's an interesting prism through which to view the debate over what good leadership in the Church should look like.
And St. Benedict, pray for our bishops.
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