Revealing hidden truths: data from child abuse survivors to secure justice and recognition.
Integrity in Ministry
Description: The Melbourne Towards Healing (only because they do not know which way to go) Process. Sick people following sick men. An exercise in hypocrisy.
National Committee for Professional Standards
Foreword
Conscious of the privilege it is for clergy and religious to be called to minister among the People of God, the committee members appointed to revise Integrity in Ministry hope that this new edition of the document will serve to renew and enhance the ministry of deacons, priests and religious throughout the Catholic Church in Australia.
A code of conduct formulated for any profession aims to breathe freedom and energy into practitioners of that particular profession as they interact with the people who come to them seeking to benefit from their expertise. A code of conduct is not intended to restrict or stifle the conduct of those professionals to whom it applies. Rather, it is a set of behavioural standards to ensure that professionals themselves preserve their own dignity and respect the human dignity of all to whom they relate in the exercise of their profession.
Integrity in Ministry has been compiled to serve as a resource for those preparing for ministry in the Catholic Church and as a code of conduct and guide for reflection for those already involved in ministry. It sets out behaviour for clergy and religious to integrate into their day-to-day ministry and serves as a check-list against which they can review the quality of the ministerial activities in which they engage. It is likewise a valuable resource for those whose particular ministry is the formation of men and women preparing for ministry.
Church ministers are not exempt from the inadequacies and failures to be found among other professions. Religious and clergy sometimes fall short of the behavioural standards they set for themselves.
Chapter 8 of Integrity in Ministry, entitled When Communion is Broken, outlines procedures to be followed when a serious breach of the code of conduct is brought to the notice of a Church Authority. As part of the process of dealing with the misconduct, Bishops and Congregational Leaders are to seek advice from the same Consultative Panel established under the guidelines of Towards Healing.
The Revision Committee is grateful to all who provided critical and constructive comment on various
aspects of the previous edition of Integrity in Ministry. Such comment has been invaluable to the Committee as it has gone about its work of shaping this new edition of the document.
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes have jointly agreed that this revised edition of Integrity in Ministry shall take effect immediately and will apply to all clergy and religious in ministry until the next planned revision scheduled for the latter part of 2010. May it be an instrument that facilitates faithful and effective collaborative ministry among the People of God throughout Australia.
Archbishop Philip Wilson DD JCL
Co-Chair
National Committee for Professional Standards
Michael Hill fms
Co-Chair
National Committee for Professional Standards
Hypocrisy: Forward
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Abu Ala Al-Ma'arri - The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence
Woody Allen - If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name at a Swiss Bank
Zora Neale Hurston - Gods always behave like the people who created them
Integrity in Ministry
Preamble
For whom is this document intended?
Integrity in Ministry is a code of conduct for clergy and religious engaged in Ministry on behalf of the Catholic Church in Australia. It has been written for the guidance of those in Ministry and for the information of those people with and among whom clergy and religious exercise their Ministry. The values inherent in this document apply also to lay people who have been engaged to carry out formal ministries in the Catholic Church.
Note: Throughout the document bishops and leaders of religious institutes are included in references to clergy and religious.
Context
The ecclesiology of Vatican II provides the framework from which principles for pastoral practice and religious life are drawn in this document.
After each principle an illustrative list of behavioural standards is suggested. The commitment to provide a positive and holistic context for standards prevents this document appearing simply as a list of forbidden behaviours. It also means that behaviours that support good health or spiritual growth are found on the same page as those that guard against acts of professional misconduct. Various behaviours will call for different degrees of compliance. Responses to non-compliance will also vary widely, from loving support, to formal and even legal procedures depending on the nature and severity of the particular issue.
While acknowledging fully the harm caused by the misconduct of some clergy and religious, this document begins from the recognition that the majority of those professed or ordained for service in the Church live in a committed effort to follow and serve the mission of the Church faithfully.
Hypocrisy: Context
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Unknown - Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer
Unknown - You keep believing, I'll keep evolving
Victor Hugo - There is in every village a torch: the schoolteacher, and an extinguisher: the priest
Voltaire - atheism is the voice of a few intelligent people.
Voltaire - Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion that has ever infected the world.
Voltaire - Men who believe absurdities will commit atrocities.
Voltaire - Nothing can be more contrary to religion and the clergy than reason and common sense
Wayne Adkins - How do you choose between believing in Jesus, Bigfoot, leprechauns, witchcraft, Islam, alien abductions, the Tooth Fairy, gold at the end of the rainbow, or the myriad other assertions that people have made over the course of human history?
Whitney Brown - I'm not an atheist. How can you not believe in something that doesn't exist? That's way too convoluted for me.
William Clifford - It is wrong always and everywhere for anyone to believe anything on insufficient evidence
Aim
The aim of this document is to support Australian religious and clergy and others who work or minister on behalf of the church in their effort to live dedicated and committed lives. It seeks to offer them an ecclesial context for measuring their behaviours as witnesses and ministers of the Church's mission. While conscious of the need to protect against harm, its goal is to provide positive guidelines both for healthy lives among clergy and religious, and for the highest standards of pastoral practice.
Hypocrisy: Aim
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Unknown - Don't pray in my school, and I won't think in your church
Unknown - Fundamentalism means never having to say ‘I'm wrong’
Unknown - Give a man a fish, and you'll feed him for a day; Give him a religion, and he'll starve to death while praying for a fish
Unknown - God made me an atheist. Who are you to question his wisdom?
Unknown - If everything is according to gods plan, how do we have free will?
Unknown - Learn to say: I don’t know.
Unknown - Only the fool says in his heart: There is no god -- The wise says it to the world
Unknown - People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs
Unknown - Philosophy is questions that may never be answered. Religion is answers that may never be questioned
Unknown - Religion is the lazy man's path to understanding the world
Unknown - Theists think all gods but theirs are false. Atheists simply don't make an exception for the last one
Objectives
The objectives of this document are:
- to offer a theology of Church as the context for shaping and measuring behavioural standards for religious and clergy;
- to encourage clergy and religious in their vocation as witnesses and ministers of the reign of God through lives of respect, service, integrity and selfless love;
- to support clergy and religious in their efforts to care for themselves and one another;
- to support religious and clergy in their efforts to be visibly accountable as witnesses and ministers of the Church's mission;
- to support clergy and religious in their concern to protect children and adults from all abuses of power, including sexual abuse and harassment;
- to support the Church in responding to instances of sexual abuse and professional misconduct, in the best interests of those who have been harmed, the wider community, and the offender.
Hypocrisy: Objectives
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Thomas Pain - All natural institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian, or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
Thomas Pain - Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and of my own part, I disbelieve them all.
Thomas Paine - It is from the bible that man has learned cruelty, rapine, and murder, for the belief in a cruel god makes a cruel man, and the bible is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize mankind
Thomas Paine - Of all the tyrannies that afflict mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst. Every other species of tyranny is limited to the world we live in, but this attempts a stride beyond the grave and seeks to pursue us into eternity
Thomas Paine - The most detestable wickedness, the most horrid cruelties, and the greatest miseries that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this thing called religion
Tom Robbins - Religion is not merely the opium of the masses, it's the cyanide.
Treaty of Tripoli (Article 11) - The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.
Unknown - A letter to a U.K. newspaper says 'science provides an explanation of the mechanism of the December 2004 Asian tsunami but it cannot say why this occurred any more than religion can.' There, in one sentence, we have the religious mind displayed before us in all its absurdity. In what sense of the word 'why', does plate tectonics not provide the answer? Not only does science know why the tsunami happened, it can give precious hours of warning. If a small fraction of the tax breaks handed out to churches, mosques and synagogues had been diverted into an early warning system, tens of thousands of people, now dead, would have been moved to safety. Let's get up off our knees, stop cringing before bogeymen and virtual fathers, face reality, and help science to do something constructive about human suffering.
Structure
A brief outline of the theological background to the document is offered on the following page.
Each chapter of the document begins with a summary of the ecclesial vision relevant to its particular topic, signified by italic script.
A number of principles that flow from that vision relevant to the life and ministry of clergy and religious are then outlined, signified by bold print.
Below each principle an illustrative list of behavioural standards is provided.
The list is not intended to be exhaustive, but to suggest a number of key behavioural standards that follow from the principle. As already noted, standards range from those that promote good health, through those that support the highest levels of pastoral practice, to those that guard against professional misconduct. The degree of compliance required, and the nature of the response to non-compliance, will vary from standard to standard.
Behaviours necessary to safeguard integrity and clarity around issues of sexual and professional boundaries are signified by a shaded background. These call for a high degree of compliance.
The final chapter offers some guidance for responding to instances of non-compliance.
In view of the frequent changes to legislation which relates to Integrity in Ministry, the National Committee for Professional Standards has decided not to list all the relevant legislation in force in the various jurisdictions throughout Australia
(This is the out for the Melbourne process). However, the Committee reminds those to whom Integrity in Ministry applies of their serious obligation to comply with legislation relating to such matters as Privacy, Discrimination, Harassment and the Protection of Children. It is incumbent on clergy and religious to familiarize themselves with the relevant legislation and to abide by such legislation.
Hypocrisy: Structure
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Thomas Jefferson - I have recently been examining all the known superstitions of the world, and do not find in our particular superstition (Christianity) one redeeming feature. They are all alike, founded upon fables and mythologies
Thomas Jefferson - In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own
Thomas Jefferson - It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.
Thomas Jefferson - Political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves [of public ignorance] for their own purpose
Thomas Jefferson - Question with boldness even the existence of god; because if there be one he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear
Thomas Jefferson - The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the Supreme Being as His father, in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter.
Thomas Jefferson - To talk of immaterial existences is to talk of nothings. To say that the human soul, angels, God, are immaterial, is to say they are nothings, or that there is no God, no angels, no soul. I cannot reason otherwise
An Outline of the Theological Context of this Document
Theology of Communion
Integrity in Ministry has been written on the foundation of a theology of communion. It is an understanding of the Church and its mission that has its origins in Jesus' life and teaching, which consciously directed the life of the Church in its first ten centuries, and has been reemphasized in the teaching of Vatican II.
This notion, so central to the life of the Church, shapes the lives of all the baptised, and offers a reference by which the ways clergy and religious live and minister may be evaluated.
In Integrity in Ministry the word 'communion' is always used to translate the Latin word communio, or the Greek word koinonia.
Throughout the first millennium the concept of communion held a central place in the Church: the development of the Christian Scriptures, creeds and doctrine all served to establish and safeguard communion. Communion between various local churches, under the care of the Church of Rome, was signified and celebrated by mutual admission to Eucharistic communion. Vatican II has shown how communion can contribute to the Church's self understanding in the modern world.
How can such a large and significant notion be simply defined? At its broadest level it refers to God's plan for the whole of creation. God 'missions' the Son and the Spirit into the world to heal the wounds of sin and division. The world God wants is a world where all brokenness is mended, where all divisions are reconciled, where shalom (unity and peace) prevail throughout creation, and every human person is loved, respected and honoured as a son or daughter of God. Creation itself awaits its "share in the glorious freedom of the children of God."1 On that day when God's plan is fulfilled to "bring all things together under Christ"2, the whole of creation will share in God's own life as a perfect communion in love.
Through the Church Christ's mission in the world is continued in two particular ways. Firstly, each day the members of the Church seek to live a life of communion in love as completely as they are able and at the Eucharist share sacramentally in the perfect communion of the Father with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Secondly, the members of the Church live a service of love in the world to build communion and shalom among men, women and children everywhere.
The Church is to be a "sign of unity, and an instrument of God's peace."
It could be said that the mission of the Church, its nature and its way of life are one: a communion of love committed to the love of God, humanity and God's creation, and to the healing of all hurt and division.
The lives and actions of all the baptised, and particularly clergy and religious who hold positions of leadership and trust in the Church, are to be evaluated in the light of this understanding of the Church's nature and mission.
When clergy and religious live and minister in ways that contribute to the healing of creation, and to the love, honour and respect due to all God's children, they honour their vocation and build up the communion of the Church.
When clergy and religious live and minister in ways that contribute to the brokenness of the world, and damage the love, honour and respect due to all God's children, they dishonour their vocation and fracture the communion of the Church. In those moments communion is broken and needs to be restored.
Communion lies at the heart of Jesus' mission and his understanding of the reign of God. The first words spoken by Jesus in the gospel of Mark are these: 'The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent and believe the gospel'.1"
In the description of the day that follows Jesus gathers disciples to share his mission, proclaims the word of God, heals men and women of physical and spiritual illness, and spends time in prayer. The day models life under the reign
of God, where women and men are healed and gathered together in a communion of faith, hope and love.
Luke begins Jesus' public ministry with the quote from Isaiah: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.'4
Throughout Luke's gospel Jesus reveals the meaning of God's rule when he heals, mends, reconciles, teaches, forgives and restores life to the men and women of his time. The 'kingdom of God is among us'5
when women and men are restored to communion with one another and with God.
The Acts of the Apostles shows the Church continuing the mission of Jesus and the Spirit by becoming both a sign and an instrument of God's rule of love in the world. The Church brings good news, proclaims liberty, ministers healing and announces God's favour.
It is a mission that transforms the ordinary values of the world. It grows slowly, from small beginnings, often unnoticed but always carried forward by the powerful Spirit of God.6
Its foundation is love: 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind'; 'You must love your neighbour as your self.'1
In fact the mission to live the reign of God is a commitment to a way of love. 'I give you a new commandment; love one another; you must love one another just as I have loved you. It is by your love for one another that everyone will recognise you as my disciples.'8
When the Spirit of love rules in the hearts of the men and women of the Church they are not just formed as a human community but they share in the communion of God's own life as Trinity:
'May they all be one, just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you, so that they also may be in us... '9
St. Paul speaks of this as the great mystery of God's plan, 'that he would bring every thing together under Christ as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth.'10
There is no division here between the mission of the Church and its way of life. It is a communion of love, committed in love to the mending of divisions, the healing of wounds, the praise of God, and the celebration of faith, hope and love. The relationships between the women and men of the Church, and their relationships with the world, are in this sense the very mission of the Church. Out of love we desire the deepest well being of one another.
We commit ourselves to relationships that embody respect, love and service: 'You know that among the gentiles the rulers lord it over them, and the great men make their authority felt. Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave...'
The Church, by its life, mission, relationships and worship, strives to be a sign and an instrument of the communion that is God's plan for creation.
Hypocrisy: Theology of Communion
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Superintendent Chalmers - Prayer has no place in the public schools, just like facts have no place in organized religion
Susan B. Anthony - I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires.
Susan B. Anthony - The religious persecution of the ages has been done under what was claimed to be the command of God
Susan B. Anthony - To no form of religion is woman indebted for one impulse of freedom
Taslima Nasrin - Religion is against women's rights and women's freedom. In all societies women are oppressed by all religions
Templesmith - Funny how you never see a Christian amputee grow any limbs back
Tennessee Williams - All the western theologies are based on the concept of god as a senile delinquent
Thomas Edison - I have never seen the slightest scientific proof of the religious ideas of heaven and hell, of future life for individuals, or of a personal God.
Thomas Jefferson - Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man.
Thomas Jefferson - History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government.
1. A Communion of Love
By daily acts that often surprised his contemporaries, Jesus made God's love for every human person very clear. He made a special effort to make it clear in the case of those who might have doubted it the most: the poor, the vulnerable, the sick, the young and those publicly regarded as sinners. He showed to them in particular that they were invited into the communion of God's love. For this reason the Church also, in all of its actions, makes clear the dignity and value of every human person, especially those most vulnerable. The Church is committed to protect and respect the rights of all persons, among them children, youth, members of cultural and ethnic minorities and all whose rights and dignity are devalued or at risk.
Clergy and religious, because of their particular ministries, have a responsibility to protect, honour and advance the dignity of every human person. They are often welcomed into the lives of people at sensitive and important moments, when people are more than usually vulnerable. Their relationships with people in these moments are guided by a spirit of love, sensitivity and personal disinterest that has the well being of the other as its foundation.
Sometimes the desire for personal relationship or nourishment will be set aside for the sake of a greater love.
Care for others is expressed in many ways: words, silence, presence and touch all might convey love and solidarity. The area of physical touch calls for great sensitivity. Throughout his life Jesus held, embraced, reached towards and laid hands on those he loved. God is pictured as holding people against a cheek or in the palm of a hand, and nursing them within folded arms. Touch can communicate healing, love and respect. Touch may also be ambiguous, confusing, even threatening to those who are vulnerable. It can be used as a means of control, harassment or abuse. The use of touch in pastoral relationships needs to be guided by prudent judgment that has the deepest well being of the other as its basis.
Hypocrisy: 1.
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Sigmund Freud - Religion belonged to the infancy of the human race; it had been a necessary stage in the transition from childhood to maturity. It had promoted ethical values which were essential to society. Now that humanity had come of age, however, it should be left behind.
Sigmund Freud - Religion is an illusion and it derives its strength from the fact that it falls in with our instinctual desires.
Sigmund Freud - Religion is comparable to a childhood neurosis
Sigmund Freud - The idea of God was not a lie but a device of the unconscious which needed to be decoded by psychology.
Sigmund Freud - Those historical residues have helped us to view religious teachings, as it were, as neurotic relics, and we may now argue that the time has probably come, as it does in an analytic treatment, for replacing the effects of repression by the results of the rational operation of the intellect.
Simone de Beauvoir - I cannot be angry at God, in whom I do not believe
Sir Hermann Bondi - Religion divides us, while it is our human characteristics that bind us to each other
Stephen Roberts - I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours
Steven Weinberg - With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion
1.1 In their lives and ministries clergy and religious witness God's love for every human person by sensitivity, reverence and respect in their relationships.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- treating all to whom one provides pastoral support with respect and courtesy;
- actively avoiding all forms of harmful discrimination;
- honouring the equality of women, men and children;
- resolving disputes through respectful dialogue, negotiation and/or professional mediation.
- To safeguard integrity, and to preserve clarity of sexual and professional boundaries with regard to this principle, it is essential that clergy and religious:
avoid any behaviour that could reasonably be interpreted as harassment; Harassment encompasses a broad range of behaviours, including but not limited to:
- physical,
- verbal, written or psychological abuse
- bullying
- racial and religious insults
- derogatory
- ethnic slurs
- unwelcome
- touching and inappropriate behaviour
- sexual jokes and comments
- requests for sexual favours
- display of pornographic materials.
Harassment can occur as a result of a single incident or a pattern of behaviour where the purpose or effect is to create a hostile, offensive humiliating or intimidating environment.
Hypocrisy: 1.1
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Robert Ingersoll - Our ignorance is God; what we know is science
Robert Ingersoll - Take from the church the miraculous, the supernatural, the incomprehensible, the unreasonable, the impossible, the unknowable, the absurd, and nothing but a vacuum remains
Robert Ingersoll - The inspiration of the bible depends on the ignorance of the person who reads it
Robert Ingersoll - There can be but little liberty on earth while men worship a tyrant in heaven.
Robert Linder - Authority has every reason to fear the skeptic, for authority can rarely survive in the face of doubt
Scott Adams - Nothing defines humans better than their willingness to do irrational things in the pursuit of phenomenally unlikely payoffs. This is the principle of lotteries, dating, and religion.
Seneca - Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful
Shaun Mason - Faith is the unflagging determination to remain ignorant in the face of any and all evidence that you're ignorant
Sigmund Freud - In the long run, nothing can withstand reason and experience, and the contradiction religion offers to both is palpable
1.2 Clergy and religious witness to the inclusive embrace of God's love.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- reaching out to all people, especially those who feel alienated from or marginalised within the Catholic Community;
- being sensitive to the diverse forms of spirituality and theology in the Church;
- responding sensitively to the issues that arise when different cultures meet, and respectfully welcoming minorities;
- encouraging inter church and inter faith dialogue.
Hypocrisy: 1.2
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
1.3 Religious and clergy witness and minister God's nurturing love for every person.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- behaving in ways that nurture the growth and vocation of all;
- behaving and speaking in ways that indicate a respect for the role and function of all;
- working in ways that respect different charisms, spiritualities, qualifications and ministries; 13
- avoiding every impulse to 'lord it over' those they serve; 14
- avoiding the fostering of dependency or subservience by encouraging collaboration and mutual respect.
Hypocrisy: 1.3
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Pierre Charron - All religions have this in common, that they are an outrage to common sense, for they are pieced together out of a variety of elements, some of which seem so unworthy, sordid, and at odds with man’s reason that any strong and vigorous intelligence laughs at them
Richard Dawkins - Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.
Richard Dawkins - I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world
Richard Dawkins - There is all the difference in the world between a belief that one is prepared to defend by quoting evidence and logic and a belief that is supported by nothing more than tradition, authority, or revelation
Richard Lederer - There once was a time when all people believed in God and the church ruled. This time was called the Dark Ages.
Robert Frost - I turned to speak to god about the world’s despair; but to make matters worse, I found god wasn’t there
Robert Ingersoll - As people become more intelligent they care less for preachers and more for teachers
1.4 Pastoral love requires that clergy and religious respect the physical and emotional boundaries appropriate to relationships with adults and minors.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- exercising sensitivity with regard to the physical and emotional space others require in pastoral encounters;
- exercising a prudent judgment, that has the well-being of the other as its goal, in initiating and responding to physical contact, such as giving a comforting hug or an affirming touch;
- providing pastoral ministry only in places that offer a sufficiently safe environment where there is openness and visibility;
- exercising prudent judgment in the expression of affection and regard, and in the giving of gifts.
To safeguard integrity, and to preserve clarity of sexual and professional boundaries with regard to this principle, it is essential that clergy and religious:
- do not provide pastoral ministry in the sleeping quarters/bedrooms of one's community house or of the presbytery/parish house
Hypocrisy: 1.4
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Napoleon Bonaparte - All religions have been made by men
Napoleon Bonaparte - Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet
Napoleon Bonaparte - Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich
Ned Flanders - Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends! Well I say there are some things we don't want to know! Important things!
Nico Fourie - You need less imagination to believe that the world has just always existed than believing a god magically appeared who then with his magic powers created the world and everything else
Oscar Wilde - Truth in matters of religion is simply the opinion that has survived
Pearl S. Buck - Believing in gods always causes confusion.
Pearl S. Buck - When men destroy their old gods they will find new ones to take their place.
Percy Bysshe Shelley - If he is infinitely good, what reason should we have to fear him? If he is infinitely wise, why should we have doubts concerning our future? If he knows all, why warn him of our needs and fatigue him with our prayers? If he is everywhere, why erect temples to him? If he is just, why fear that he will punish the creatures that he has filled with weaknesses? If grace does everything for them, what reason would he have for recompensing them? If he is all-powerful, how offend him, how resist him? If he is reasonable, how can he be angry at the blind, to whom he has given the liberty of being unreasonable? If he is immovable, by what right do we pretend to make him change his decrees? If he is inconceivable, why occupy ourselves with him? If he has spoken, why is the universe not convinced? If the knowledge of a God is the most necessary, why is it not the most evident and the clearest.
1.5 Religious and clergy witness to God's care for the most vulnerable by their concern for the dignity and safety of children and youth. 15
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- avoiding any form of over-familiarity or inappropriate language;
- ensuring whenever reasonably possible that another adult is present or close by when providing pastoral ministry to a minor;
- avoiding, whenever reasonably possible, being alone with a minor or group of minors in sleeping, dressing or bathing areas, making sure to exercise prudent judgment and behaviour when another adult cannot be present;
- familiarising oneself with the causes and signs of child abuse or neglect, the steps to be taken for the protection of children, and the procedures to follow if abuse or neglect is suspected or observed;
- familiarising oneself with the procedures outlined in the document Towards Healing.
"See Towards Healing: Principles and Procedures in Responding to Complaints of Sexual Abuse Against Personnel of the Catholic Church in Australia (2010)
To safeguard integrity, and to preserve clarity of sexual and professional boundaries, it is essential that clergy and religious in the exercise of their ministry:
behave with due prudence, not staying overnight in the same room as a minor or vulnerable person unless it is impossible to avoid. In that circumstance every provision needs to be made to provide a safe environment, eg the permission of a parent or guardian, and appropriate openness and visibility;
- never administer corporal punishment;
- use electronic and print media responsibly;
- do not supply or serve alcohol or any controlled substance to a minor without the express permission of a parent or guardian.
Hypocrisy: 1.5
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Mark Twain - The easy confidence with which I know another man's religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also
Matthew Arnold - Miracles do not happen
Michael Moore - There's a gullible side to the American people. They can be easily misled. Religion is the best device used to mislead them
Michael Pain - In the absence of fear there is little faith
Miguel De Unamuno - The skeptic does not mean him who doubts, but him who investigates or researches, as opposed to him who asserts and thinks that he has found
Mohandas K Gandhi - The most heinous and the most cruel crimes of which history has recorded have been committed under the cover of religion or equally noble motives
2. At the Service of Communion
Jesus served God's plan by serving the men and women of his time. He came 'as one who serves' 17, and he invited those who followed him to do the same, 'washing each other's feet' 18 as he had done. His followers would not 'lord it over' 19 one another, but each would count themselves least of all for the sake of the others. The lost would be sought, the wounded healed, the sinful forgiven, the walls of division brought down, so that 'all may be one' 20 in the communion of love that unites human beings. Religious and clergy witness to that spirit of service by their way of life and by their pastoral conduct.
Hypocrisy: 2.
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Lord Bryon - I do not believe in any religion. I will have nothing to do with immortality. We are miserable enough in this life without speculating upon another.
Lucretius - Fear is the mother of all gods. Nature does all things spontaneously by herself without their meddling.
Mark Twain - [Mr. Clemens was once asked whether he feared death. He said that he did not, in view of the fact that he had been dead for billions and billions of years before he was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.]
Mark Twain - A man is accepted into a church for what he believes and he is turned out for what he knows.
Mark Twain - Faith is believing something you know ain't true.
Mark Twain - It ain't the parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.
2.1 Religious and clergy, among them religious leaders and bishops, are particularly called to witness a spirit of service. Because of the trust they are given and the visibility of their witness and leadership, they are conscious of the unique power and responsibility they have in pastoral relationships.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- relating to all people in a spirit of humility, reverence and respect, with a commitment to the deepest well being of the other;
- creating cooperative and harmonious relationships in the communities in which one lives and works;
- respecting the call to collaborative effort between women and men in accord with the Gospel;
- encouraging and supporting all members of the community in the fulfillment of their vocations;
- consulting widely, seeking consensus and providing feedback where possible, before making important decisions;
- exercising caution in the use of one's status or institutional power, never using these for one's own advantage;
- taking up leadership and service in a community with respect for the life, customs, history and vision of the persons who already make up that community;
- seeking opportunities to share decision-making responsibilities;
- discouraging the development of personality cults centred on oneself;
- creating environments where others feel confident to offer constructive criticism.
Hypocrisy: 2.1
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
John Stuart Mill - The time appears to me to have come when it is the duty of all to make their dissent from religion known.
Jonathan Swift - We have just enough religion to make us hate but not enough religion to make us love one another
Jonathon Miller - In some awful, strange, paradoxical way, atheists tend to take religion more seriously than the practitioners.
José Bergamín - A belief which leaves no place for doubt is not a belief; it is a superstition.
Julian Huxley - Operationally, God is beginning to resemble not a ruler but the last fading smile of a cosmic Cheshire cat
Karl Marx - Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, & the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.
Karl Marx - The first requisite of the happiness of the people is the abolition of religion.
King Alfonso - Sensible men no longer believe in miracles; they were invented by priests to humbug the peasants
Kurt Vonnegut - Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile
2.2 In addition to their own professional development and formation, bishops and leaders of religious institutes are called to a service of support for those clergy and religious towards whom they exercise pastoral care.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle would be the provision of:
- educative and support structures that assist clergy and religious to achieve the standards set out in this document;
- opportunities for formation, development and renewal;
- selection and initial formation processes that support students to address the concerns and issues of Integrity in Ministry;
- clear communication concerning roles, expectations and outcomes;
- fair and consistent treatment;
- healthy and safe working and living conditions;
- open and consultative appointment procedures, which are impartial and in response to the needs of the communion and mission of the Church;
- personnel management practices based on fairness and equity;
- appropriate grievance procedures;
- structures that ensure adequate human and financial support.
Hypocrisy: 2.2
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Jean Anouilh - Every man thinks God is on his side. The rich and powerful know he is.
Jerry Falwell - Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions
Jesse Ventura - Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers.
Jiddu Krishnamurti - The constant assertion of belief is an indication of fear
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Nothing is more dangerous than active ignorance
John Adams - god is an essence that we know nothing of. Until this awful blasphemy is got rid of, there never will be any liberal science in the world
John Adams - This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it
2.3 Clergy and many religious serve the communion of the Church by ministering or presiding at prayer, sacraments and eucharist. In those moments they are at the service of a community of active and equal persons, seeking to enable the best and fullest expression of the community's prayer, praise and communion with the life of God. 21
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- preparing for and participating in liturgies and services of prayer, either as president or minister, with reverence, humility and respect for all persons in the community; 22
- supporting and participating in processes that prepare and assist people to celebrate in prayer and sacrament as fully and well as possible;
- celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation in ways that respect penitents' right to privacy and to a safe environment. This will include providing options for openness and visibility for those who desire them;
- continuing development of one's knowledge of liturgical norms, theology and practice;
- preparing carefully, and developing skills for all the occasions in which the word of God is preached or proclaimed; 23
Hypocrisy: 2.3
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Homer Simpson - why should I spend half my Sunday hearing about how I'm going to Hell?
Iain M Banks - Reason shapes the future, but superstition infects the present
Ilka Chase - It is usually when men are at their most religious that they behave with the least sense and the greatest cruelty.
Infinity - Absence of evidence is evidence of absence
Jacob Bronowski - There is no absolute knowledge. And those who claim it, whether they are scientists or dogmatists, open the door to tragedy. All information is imperfect.
James Buchanan - I have seldom met an intelligent person whose views were not narrowed and distorted by religion
James Madison - During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What has been its fruits? More or less, in all places, pride and indolence in the clergy; ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry, and persecution.
James Madison - Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise.
3. Ministers of Communion: A Life of Commitment
Following in Jesus'footsteps, religious and clergy promise their lives to the service of God's plan, to 'reconcile all things to him, every thing in heaven and on earth, by making peace through his death on the cross.' 24
They are, by the witness of their way of life and their pastoral work, ministers of communion. This is a vocation and a way of life that continually invites openness, growth, humble reverence and ongoing commitment.
Hypocrisy: 3.
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Henry Louis Mencken - Faith may be defined briefly as an illogical belief in the occurrence of the improbable. A man full of faith is simply one who has lost or never had the capacity for clear and realistic thought.
Homer Simpson - Dear Lord: The gods have been good to me. For the first time in my life, everything is absolutely perfect just the way it is. So here's the deal: You freeze everything the way it is, and I won't ask for anything more. If that is OK, please give me absolutely no sign. OK, deal. In gratitude, I present you this offering of cookies and milk. If you want me to eat them for you, give me no sign. Thy will be done
Homer Simpson - I've always wondered if there was a god. And now I know there is -- and it's me
Homer Simpson - Jesus, Allah, Buddha. I love you all!
Homer Simpson - Our God is vengeful! O spiteful one, show me who to smite and they shall be smoten.
Homer Simpson - Suppose we've chosen the wrong god. Every time we go to church we're just making him madder and madder
3.1 Led by the Spirit, religious and clergy continually open themselves in response to a vocation that comes from God and is lived in the midst of the Church and the human community.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- faithful commitment to prayer, meditation, spiritual reading, scripture and the celebration of the sacraments;
- commitment to a life of faith, hope and love;
- prayerful reflection on, and commitment to, the virtues of poverty, chastity and obedience in ways appropriate to one's way of life;
- reflection on and commitment to the charism of one's religious community;
- participation in the process of spiritual direction;
- the undertaking of annual retreats and ongoing spiritual formation;
- development of knowledge and understanding of scripture, theology, Church teaching and tradition. 25
Hypocrisy: 3.1
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
George Washington - Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause.
Gerald Massey - They must find it difficult, those who have taken authority as truth rather than truth as authority.
Giulian Buzila - History teaches us that no other cause has brought more death than the word of god
Gloria Steinem - I hope we raise out children to believe in human potential not god
Guillermo Garcia - Us humans need to be forgiven from our wrong doings by a superior individual to live in peace, Even if it takes an invisible God
Guillermo Garcia - You are a good person because you fear damnation. I am a good person without obligation
Gustaf Lindborg - The sailor does not pray for wind, he learns to sail
3.2 As part of their vocational commitment clergy and religious also continue to develop the pastoral and professional skills their ministries require.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
participation in support processes such as:
- a specially formed support group
- an existing support group or programme, such as community meetings,
- clergy fraternity, or the Ministry to Priests programme
- a one-to-one support relationship with a colleague
- participation in continuing education programmes; 26
- participation in regular professional supervision;
- establishing processes to evaluate the quality of one's work, including assessment by one's peers and those one serves;
- engaging in guided self appraisal;
- participation in local and national associations of one's peers; 27
- implementing the outcomes of such reflection and evaluations.
Hypocrisy: 3.2
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Gene Roddenberry - Religions vary in their degree of idiocy, but I reject them all.
Gene Roddenberry - We must question the story logic of having an all-knowing all-powerful God, who creates faulty Humans, and then blames them for his own mistakes
George Bernard Shaw - The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one.
George Carlin - I used to believe in god, until I reached the age of reason.
George Carlin - Religion easily has the best bullshit story of all time. Think about it. Religion has actually convinced people that there's an invisible man living in the sky
George Carlin - Religion is just mind control
George Felis - Faith is a moral failing
3.3 It is healthy for religious and clergy to develop relationships beyond those of their pastoral relationships wherever that is possible, so that pastoral relationships do not bear the burden of providing affirmation and affective support to the minister.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- the development of a network of supportive peers and friends with whom one has no formal pastoral relationship;
- cultivation of a sensitivity to the inequalities and risks that might accompany a personal relationship with any person with whom one has or had a pastoral relationship; exercise •* of similar care with regard to establishing a pastoral relationship with a close friend;
- ensuring that one's actions serve the well being of the other in the situations described above;
- reflecting on any such relationships with one's support person or group when that is appropriate, to review how effectively the boundaries between the pastoral and the personal have been maintained.
Hypocrisy: 3.3
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Frederick Douglass - I prayed for freedom for twenty years, but received no answer until I prayed with my legs
Friedrich Nietzsche - Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.
Friedrich Nietzsche - Faith means not wanting to know what is true.
Galileo Galilei - I do not think it is necessary to believe that the same God who has given us our senses, reason, and intelligence wished us to abandon their use, giving us by some other means the information that we could gain through them
Gene Roddenberry - For most people, religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain
3.4 Commitment to one's vocation as a minister of communion means that religious and clergy will act with integrity in all their human relationships.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- establishing relationships that are able to develop and mature within the context of gospel values;
- establishing and maintaining relationships that are characterised by openness, honesty and integrity;
- not establishing a relationship through an abuse of power.
Hypocrisy: 3.4
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Emma Goldman - The philosophy of Atheism represents a concept of life without any metaphysical Beyond or Divine Regulator. It is the concept of an actual, real world with its liberating, expanding and beautifying possibilities, as against an unreal world, which, with its spirits, oracles, and mean contentment has kept humanity in helpless degradation.
Engie Mangio - Coming from Apes is so much better than Dirt
Epicurus - Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
Ernest Hemingway - All thinking men are atheists.
Ernestine Rose - It is an interesting and demonstrable fact, that all children are atheists and were religion not inculcated into their minds, they would remain so
Francis Bacon - Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; all of which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, even if religion vanished; but religious superstition dismounts all these and erects an absolute monarchy in the minds of men.
3.5 By virtue of their commitment, religious and clergy give witness to a way of life that respects the dignity and worth of everyone they meet in the exercise of their ministry. Consequently, they act with integrity in all their relationships and interactions with others. 28
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle:
- avoidance of all actions or language that could reasonably be interpreted as sexually provocative;
- never seeking to initiate sexual behaviour;
- rejection of any invitation to participate in sexual behaviour;
- as far as reasonably possible avoidance of situations and relationships that place undue stress on one's ability to remain committed to celibacy.
These standards also apply to relationships between married clergy and anyone other than their spouses.
Hypocrisy: 3.5
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Edgar Allan Poe - The pioneers and missionaries of religion have been the real cause of more trouble and war than all other classes of mankind.
Edgar Shoaff - A skeptic is a person who would ask god for his ID card
Edward Abbey - Fantastic doctrines (like Christianity or Islam or Marxism) require unanimity of belief. One dissenter casts doubt on the creed of millions. Thus the fear and hate; thus the torture chamber, the iron stake, the gallows, the labor camp, the psychiatric ward.
Edward Abbey - Whatever we cannot easily understand we call god; this saves much wear and tear on the brain tissues
Elizabeth Cady Stanton - The Bible and Church have been the greatest stumbling block in the way of women's emancipation
4. Ministers of Communion: Developing and Maintaining Competence
The Spirit leads clergy and religious, in various, ways into the service of God's reign of love, to witness and to minister the healing and communion God desires for creation. Because of this many people are drawn to them in the hope that their 'grief and anguish' 29
might find healing. They come to the Church's ministers in trust and vulnerability, and are received with a love that has their deepest well-being as its goal.
In addition to love and faith, many of these situations call for the pastoral application of professional skills. 'Professional skills' indicates recognised competence in areas such as psychology, social work, spiritual direction
and counselling. In keeping with their vocation, religious and clergy develop and maintain the skills their particular ministry or way of life requires. The demand of love also means that ministers recognise the limitations of their skills, and ensure that those in need have access to the hestpossihh resources and care when their own limit is reached.
Hypocrisy: 4.
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Denis Diderot - The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers
Don Henley - We satisfy our endless needs and justify our bloody deeds in the name of destiny and in the name of god
Don Hirschberg - Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
Donald Morgan - Atheist: A person who believes in one less god than you do
Donald Morgan A thorough reading and understanding of the Bible is the surest path to atheism
Douglas Adams - Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?
4.1 In response to their vocation clergy and religious are committed to develop and maintain the pastoral skills that their particular ministry or way of life requires.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are
:
- keeping abreast of literature in the area of pastoral care;
- attending seminars/inservices related to pastoral care;
- reflecting regularly on one's pastoral practice with a competent supervisor or colleague;
- ongoing development of one's knowledge and understanding of Scripture, Church tradition and teaching;
- remaining updated in the social sciences and disciplines that contribute to pastoral skill.
Hypocrisy: 4.1
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
David Aaronovitch - The problem is that all monotheisms are by their nature anti-pluralistic. They’ve got one true god and the very latest valid version of his thoughts. It is asking a lot of monotheisms to coexist with other faiths and views. Paganism is much better suited to modern ideas of tolerance and human rights
David Brooks - To explain the unknown by the known is a logical procedure; to explain the known by the unknown is a form of theological lunacy
David Hume - Errors in religion are dangerous; those in philosophy are only ridiculous
David Hume - God’s power is infinite, whatever he wills is executed, but neither man nor any other animal is happy, therefore he does not will their happiness
Decca Aitkenhead - trying to defend religion by invoking science is like claiming that three plus four equals ice cream
Delos B. McKown - The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike
Denis Diderot - Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest
4.2 Similarly religious and clergy develop and maintain the professional skills their particular ministry or way of life requires.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- regularly undertaking appropriate professional development;
- keeping up-to-date with the literature and developments relevant to their ministry;
- active membership of relevant professional associations.
Hypocrisy: 4.2
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Clarence Darrow - I do not consider it an insult, but rather a compliment to be called an agnostic. I do not pretend to know where many ignorant men are sure -- that is all that agnosticism means.
Clark Adams - If Atheism is a religion, then health is a disease!
Coral Yoshi - So you really think that God would plant a bunch of bones in the earth to test your faith? Either you're in denial or God has some serious self-esteem issues
Dan Barker - You believe in a book that has talking animals, wizards, witches, demons, sticks turning into snakes, food falling from the sky, people walking on water, and all sorts of magical, absurd and primitive stories, and you say that we are the ones that need help?
Dan Fouts - I'm a polyatheist; there are many gods I don't believe in
4.3 Out of desire for the well-being of those who come to them, religious and clergy recognise the limits of their own skills. While often called upon to give advice, they should offer counselling only when professionally qualified to do so.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- clarifying the context, purpose and expectations accompanying a request for spiritual direction, counselling, support or advice;
- understanding the processes of counselling and spiritual direction, and recognising one's limitations in those areas;
- maintaining an awareness of the professionals to whom one can refer people with specific needs;
- assessing the needs of a person who seeks assistance with any complex personal or relationship problem, and then referring the person on to an appropriately qualified professional;
- not using psychological tools or tests unless accredited and supervised in their use;
- not acting as a spiritual director or counsellor unless professionally qualified and supervised.
Hypocrisy: 4.3
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Chapman Cohen - Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense
Charlie Chaplin - By simple common sense I don't believe in God
Christopher Hitches - What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence
Clarence Darrow - I do not believe in God because I do not believe in Mother Goose
4.4 The vocation to serve as ministers of healing means that clergy and religious will be sensitive to the risks accompanying relationships in which professional and personal lines are blurred. In such relationships the well-being of the other, the avoidance of any risk of exploitation, and the maintenance of professional judgment will determine the ministers' decisions.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
being careful to avoid potential conflicts of interest when called upon to advise family members, employees and close friends; refraining from entering into formal counselling relationships with family members, employees and close friends;
- avoiding as far as possible close business relationships with persons to whom one is providing intensive and/or one-to-one pastoral ministry;
- exercising prudent judgment before ministering in a situation where a conflict of interest may arise, e.g. when offering counselling, advice or spiritual direction to more than one person from the same family;
- exercising prudent judgment in the giving and receiving of gifts;
- keeping relevant, appropriate, dated notes and records when providing counselling, advice or emotional support.
Hypocrisy: 4.4
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Carl Sagan - It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
Carl Sagan - You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep-seated need to believe
Carlespie Mary Alice McKinney - Religion does three things quite effectively: Divides people, Controls people, Deludes people
4.5 Pastoral care requires that a pastoral relationship be terminated when it becomes reasonably clear that the person seeking support is not benefiting. In such a case the person will be offered help to find another source of assistance.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- reviewing pastoral relationships with a colleague or supervisor to assess their effectiveness when that is in doubt;
- developing and maintaining a referral network;
- being clear about the limits of pastoral relationships when they commence.
To safeguard integrity, and to preserve clarity of sexual and professional boundaries with regard to this principle, it is essential that clergy and religious:
seek professional advice and review of pastoral relationships where one is aware of:
- feeling continually frustrated or angry in the relationship
- being sexually attracted to the person one is supporting
- projecting one's own feelings and issues onto the other person or persons in the pastoralrelationship;
- seek professional advice and review of pastoral relationships where the person one is supporting:
- acts in a sexual manner
- "*- is continually angry or frustrated in the context of the support relationship
- shows no movement towards resolution of the issues at hand. In some cases the appropriateresponse will be to terminate the relationship, making an appropriate referral to another suitably qualified professional.
Hypocrisy: 4.5
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Brenda Cornish - Atheism - Liberation through Reason and Knowledge
4.6 Keeping appropriate records is an aspect of pastoral care.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- keeping an accurate diary of appointments, written and/or electronic, ensuring that those kept electronically are backed up;
- retaining one's written/electronic diaries;
- keeping a record of significant phone calls and other communications;
- making and retaining confidential notes of any events in the course of a pastoral relationship that provoke concern in the minister, with such notes to include a record of the date, time and matter of concern;
- collating, maintaining and disposing of personal and sensitive information in accordance with the National Privacy Principles. Some confidential records may need to be retained if these provide evidence of maintaining appropriate
- boundaries and relationships;
- storing all records securely.
Hypocrisy: 4.6
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Blaise Pascal - Men never commit evil so fully and joyfully as when they do it for religious convictions
5. Ministers of Communion: Commitment to Justice
There is a thread of revelation that runs through the Old Testament reminding the people of God that their ritual and activities are incomplete if they do not live and act justly as a community. The prophet Amos expresses this clearly: 'I hate, I scorn your festivals, I take no pleasure in your solemn assemblies ... but let justice flow like water, and uprightness like a never failing stream.' 30
Jesus took up the same message many times in his stories and actions. The reign of God is revealed when the hungry are fed, the naked are clothed,31 the poor and the outcast are gathered back into the communion of God's love and receive their just share in the gifts of creation.
For the Church which is committed to be a sign and an agent of God's reign, justice is central to its way of life and mission.
Hypocrisy: 5.
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Bill Maher - I think flying planes into a building was a faith-based initiative.
5.1 Clergy and religious serve as witnesses and agents of God's justice by living and ministering justly in all things.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- living a life committed to 'do justice, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with God;'32
- supporting one's community to live justly in its own relationships and structures and in its relationships with the wider community;
- encouraging one's community to support local, national and universal actions for justice; + collaborating with other Christian churches, faith groups and other organizations;
- knowing and promoting the social justice teachings of the local, national and universal Church;
- encouraging just action among those to whom one ministers.
Hypocrisy: 5.1
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Bertrand Russell - So far as I can remember, there is not one word in the Gospels in praise of intelligence.
5.2 Religious and clergy who have responsibility to supervise the work of others witness justice by ensuring just working conditions.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- ensuring that all employment procedures are based on principles of justice and equity, appropriate to each particular situation;
- negotiating clear documented agreed descriptions of each person's roles, responsibilities and duties, including one's own;
- providing safe and healthy working conditions;
- providing adequately resourced access to training, professional development and professional supervision;
- making accessible to employees and volunteers copies of Integrity in Ministry and Towards Healing;
- providing just rates of remuneration for skill, responsibility and performance;
- implementing appropriate grievance procedures against improper or unreasonable administrative acts;
- ensuring that all State and Commonwealth legislation regarding terms and conditions of employment are observed.
Hypocrisy: 5.2
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Bertrand Russell - Religion is based, I think, primarily and mainly upon fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and partly, as I have said, the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes. Fear is the basis of the whole thing -- fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand.
5.3 Clergy and religious act with integrity and fairness when they receive complaints of sexual, physical or psychological abuse.33
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- responding to information promptly and seriously, and with pastoral sensitivity;4 promptly informing the relevant church authority;
- alerting the complainant to the existence of the Towards Healing process and providing •« relevant contact and referral details;
- working with the complainant to identify what needs to be done immediately to ensure that he or she feels safe from further abuse;
- explicitly assuring those who allege abuse that immediate assistance can be made available to provide independent support;
- in collaboration with the church authority, supporting the healing of others who, as well as the victims, have been seriously affected by incidents of abuse - family, friends and community of both the alleged victim and offender.
Hypocrisy: 5.3
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Bertrand Russell - if there were a God, I think it very unlikely that He would have such an uneasy vanity as to be offended by those who doubt His existence
Legal Compliance
It is essential that clergy and religious abide by the requirements of mandatory reporting and other relevant civil legislation.34 They also take care to ensure that the proper processes of law are not interfered with, nor hindered. Notwithstanding the civil law requirements, clergy and religious are required to alert Church authorities in accordance with section 5.3. •" c£, Relevant Legislation on Mandatory Reporting, cf., Towards Healing, clause 37.5 •" cf., Relevant Legislation on Mandatory Reporting
Hypocrisy: Legal Compliance
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Benjamin Franklin - The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason.
6. Ministers of Communion: Integrity in Administration
While the experience of Pentecost was still fresh among them, the first Christians developed a way of life and prayer together that expressed their communion in Christ: 'The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, as everything they owned was held in common.'3S It was a first attempt to exercise stewardship of the community's goods in a way that nurtured eccksial communion. They followed their Jewish heritage in believing that the gifts of creation and the fruits of human effort were to be used in the service of God's plan and for the good of all people.
Religious and clergy who have responsibility for property and finance recognise that they are stewards, not owners of those goods. In the spirit of the first disciples they administer their responsibilities with justice and integrity.
Hypocrisy: 6.
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Benjamin Franklin - Lighthouses are more helpful than churches.
6.1 Clergy and religious who share responsibility for the administration of property and finance exercise their responsibilities in the service of communion and in the light of Church tradition.36
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- exercising their administration in the light of the Gospel, and the spirit and charism of their religious community;
- exercising their administration in conformity with the Church's teaching regarding its mission and call to justice;
- observing the rules of office relating to administration of property and finances, as set out in Canon Law and/or in their constitutions and statutes.
Hypocrisy: 6.1
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Benjamin Disraeli - Where knowledge ends, religion begins
6.2 As an aspect of integrity, religious and clergy plan and review their stewardship of property and finance.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- exercising responsible stewardship and accountability;
- drawing up a budget of income and expenditure each year;3/+
- keeping accurate records of income and expenditure;3*
- having all accounts audited or monitored each year;
- providing financial statements and reports on property administration and maintenance at least annually to stakeholders;35
- complying with all reporting and accountability laws as required by church, state and national legislation.
Hypocrisy: 6.2
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Baron D'Holbach - If we go back to the beginning we shall find that ignorance and fear created the gods; that fancy, enthusiasm and deceit adorned them; that weakness worships them; that credulity preserves them; and that custom, respect and tyranny support them; in order to make the blindness of men serve their own interests. If the ignorance of nature gave birth to the gods, the knowledge of nature is calculated to destroy them
6.3 As an aspect of integrity and justice, clergy and religious avoid using their positions to seek or obtain any financial or other personal advantage.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- recording, by the issuing of receipts, the acceptance of all financial gifts or benefits for and on behalf of the ministry in which one is engaged;
- refusing gifts, rewards or benefits which might compromise the integrity of one's ministry;
- not soliciting gifts, rewards or benefits for oneself;
- exercising prudent judgment in the giving of gifts or benefits;
- not borrowing or misappropriating money from accounts.
Hypocrisy: 6.3
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Baron D'Holbach - All religions are ancient monuments to superstitions, ignorance, ferocity; and modern religions are only ancient follies rejuvenated
7. Ministers of Communion: Responsibility for Personal Well-Being
The Gospel commands us: 'You shall love your neighbour as your self.' 40 The Church is a communion of persons who, in love, care deeply for themselves and for one another. Each recognises in themselves and in each other the 'image of God' and a 'temple of the Spirit.'41 Because of this we are moved to care for ourselves and one another, recognising that our physical, emotional and spiritual health are gifts from God.42
Hypocrisy: 7.
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
B.C. cartoon - Religious Cult: The church down the street from yours.
7.1 For the sake of their own well being, and for the service of the Gospel and the people of God, religious and clergy strive to maintain their spiritual health.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- regularly nourishing oneself through scripture, eucharist, and the sacrament of reconciliation;43
- following a regular discipline of reflective reading, prayer, spiritual direction and other spiritual practices;
- making an annual retreat;44
- participation in ongoing formation;
- nurturing one's understanding of and commitment to celibacy.
Hypocrisy: 7.1
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Arthur C. Clarke - Religion is a byproduct of fear. For much of human history, it may have been a necessary evil, but why was it more evil than necessary?
7.2 Clergy and religious exercise a stewardship over their own physical and emotional health.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
periodically discussing one's physical and emotional health with a colleague or appropriate support person;
seeing that one's overall health is regularly checked by appropriately qualified persons;
seeking timely professional help and the support of a trusted colleague or friend when in difficulty in one's pastoral or personal life.
Hypocrisy: 7.2
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Aristotle - A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side
7.3 Out of reverence for the gift of life and well being, religious and clergy seek to live healthy lives.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- taking regular balanced meals, regular exercise and adequate sleep;
- taking scheduled days off, and annual holidays;
- moderate and appropriate use of alcohol and prescribed medicines;
- nurturing friendships apart from one's pastoral relationships;
- supporting colleagues who appear to be in difficulty in their pastoral or personal life.
Hypocrisy: 7.3
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Anton Lavey - Every religion in the world that has destroyed people is based on love.
7.4 Bishops and religious leaders share a responsibility for promoting and encouraging the health and well being,45 just working conditions and professional development of the clergy and religious in their Dioceses and Congregations.
Among the behavioural standards that follow from this principle are:
- creating structures, resources, environments and opportunities in their communities or dioceses to support the spiritual, physical and emotional health of those in their care;
- providing specific opportunities for those who express a desire or need to address issues concerning their health;
- monitoring issues of stress, isolation, and other risks to health among the members of their community and/or clergy;
- addressing health as a topic in the exercise of their pastoral care and accountability towards individual clergy or community members;
- providing opportunities for ongoing formation and education in the challenges of living out their celibate commitment;
- ensuring just working conditions by applying, where appropriate, the behavioural standards as set out in paragraph 5.2;
- providing structures and environments and providing resources and opportunities to support the professional development and professional supervision for clergy and religious in accordance with paragraphs 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2.
Hypocrisy: 7.4
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Andy Rooney - Everyone starts out being an atheist. No one is born with belief in anything. Infants are atheists until they are indoctrinated
8. When Communion is Broken
When from time to time communion is broken by the harmful misconduct of one to whom the Church has entrusted kadership and responsibility, then the Church will seek to restore communion as quickly and fully as possible. That responsibility lies with the whole community, and in a particular way with the bishops and religious leaders of the Church. Their first concern is for the healing and care of those who have been hurt by the Church's ministers. Their next concerns are for justice and the healing of the community of the Church, its relations with the wider human community, and for the healing and well-being of those who have caused damage by their behaviour.
This will always mean full cooperation with civil authorities and processes in the cases where that is required, and will sometime mean that a cleric or religious is relieved of pastoral duties and responsibilities, depending on the nature of the harm that has been done.
Hypocrisy: 8.
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Ambrose Bierce - Pray: To ask the laws of the universe to be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner
8.1 Where there is a complaint of a serious violation of the principles and standards set out in this document, it is essential that:
- the responsible Church authority ensure that it is listened to fully and compassionately;
- the responsible Church authority act promptly, on advice from the Consultative Panel,46 to determine how the complaint should be investigated.
Options for dealing with the matter include:
- reporting to the police
- referral to be dealt with under Towards Healing
- appropriate industrial procedures, where applicable
- investigation in accordance with canon law (e.g. canon 1717)
- referral to conflict resolution processes.
Hypocrisy: 8.1
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Amanda Bloom - An Idea does not gain truth as it gains followers
8.2 Where there is a complaint against a bishop or religious leader, the complaint should be referred to the person(s) designated as the appropriate Church authority for the case in accordance with Towards Healing Clause 3S.3.247 and the footnote of Clause 3S.3.248. " Towards Healing Clause. 35.8 4' Towards Healing Clause 35.3.2 ° Towards Healing footnote of Clause 35.3.2
Hypocrisy: 8.2
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Alena Castle - To live without god beliefs is intellectually stimulating. To find one’s own purpose and be responsible for one’s own life is exciting. To be free of the imagines surveillance of good and evil spirits is liberating
8.3 In cases of proven violation of the principles of this document, Church authorities should have as their first concern the care and healing of those who have been harmed by ministers of their community.
To express the primacy of this concern, it is essential that Church authorities:
- have a concern both for those who have been directly harmed and also for others who have been affected, eg the parents and family of those harmed and the community where the violation has occurred;
- be concerned both to heal any harm that has been done and to prevent future harm;
- offer support and assistance, as appropriate, to those who have been harmed.
In determining the appropriate response to be made to the parties concerned on completion of the investigation, the Church authority shall have regard to advice from the Consultative Panel.49
In cases of proven violation of the principles of this document, Church authorities also have a concern for the care and healing of the cleric or religious concerned.
To express this concern, it is essential that Church authorities observe towards the person involved the same standards of care as are set out in 2.2 in relation to all clerics and religious.
Hypocrisy: 8.3
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Albert Einstein - Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth
8.6 Since this document applies to all clergy and religious, bishops and religious leaders ensure that they themselves are subject to its provisions. They submit themselves to all the principles, standards and procedures of Integrity in Ministry.
Hypocrisy: 8.6
Hypocrisy is the act of persistently professing beliefs, opinions, virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards that are inconsistent with one's actions. Hypocrisy is thus a kind of lie. In this context it is thus a religious lie.
The hypocrite thinks that what he or she usually professes does not somehow apply to him or her. It is not simply an inconsistency between what is praised or admired and what is done. A pathology.
"Not only must Justice be done; it must also be seen to be done."
The term cult refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are reasonably considered strange.
It is strange that the leading light of Christianity is after 2000 years remains unable to provide genuine repair and restitution to those it acknowledges have been abused. It is even more strange that the followers if the leading light of Christianity can show no human empathy towards those its priests have sexually abused. It is not strange that God has foresaken the Catholic church and has disabled their ability to act as normal human beings.
Albert Einstein - Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death
APPENDIX
1 Integrity in Ministry and the Code of Canon Law
The provisions of Integrity in Ministry go beyond the provisions of the Code of Canon Law and yet they are based on the Code.
Canons No. 208-223 set out the basic obligations and rights of all Christ's faithful. The first of these reads: 'Flowing from their rebirth in Christ, there is a genuine equality of dignity and action among all of Christ's faithful' (Canon 208). Integrity in Ministry indicates a number of the elements of this 'equality of dignity and action.'
In a similar way Integrity in Ministry points to elements that might be considered in interpreting and applying several of the following canons, e.g.212 (the right to make known spiritual needs to pastors and to express views), 213 (the right to the word of God and the sacraments), 214 (the right to one's own form of spiritual life), 220 (the right to a good reputation). In this manner it can help to make these canons more alive within the Church.
The same may be said of those canons that speak of the obligations and rights of clerics (273-289), bishops (381-402), and religious (662-672). In relation to clerics Integrity in Ministry indicates useful elements in relation to canons 275 (promoting the mission of the laity), 276 (seeking holiness), 277 (observing celibacy and chastity), 282 (following a simple way of life), 284 (wearing suitable dress), 385 (avoiding whatever is foreign to their state). In relation to bishops there are provisions concerning care for everyone in the diocese (383), special care for priests (384), being an example of holiness in charity, humility and simplicity of life (386). In relation to religious, one may usefully point to canons 663 (contemplation and prayer), 664 (community life), 668 (poverty and the use of temporal goods).
In a quite different field, canon 1741 sets out the reasons for which a parish priest can lawfully be removed from his parish. They include 'a manner of acting which causes grave harm or disturbance to ecclesiastical communion' and 'the loss of the parish priest's good name among upright and serious minded parishioners.' It could never be a matter of simply checking a priest's conduct against this or that particular provision of Integrity in Ministry, but taken as a whole the document will assist in giving objectivity to the study of 'a manner of acting which causes grave harm.' It will help in determining whether parishioners are being 'upright and serious minded' in deciding whether a priest has lost his good name (Canons 694-704 deal with the procedures for dismissal of members of Religious Institutes.).
In short, Integrity in Ministry is not in itself canon law and it does not take the place of canon law.
At the same time, it will be of assistance in implementing, interpreting and applying canon law. It will do this in cases of perceived misconduct, but its more important role will be to help clerics and religious fulfill their roles in the Church and to know that they are fulfilling their roles.
Bibliography
Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Code of Ethical Standards for Priests, Deacons and Pastoral Ministers (1994)
Association of Priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Code of Professional Responsibility for Members of the Association of Priests, Archdiocese of Chicago (n.d.)
The Australian Psychological Society, Code of Professional Conduct (1986).
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Responsibility in Ministry: A Statement of Commitment
Catechism of the Catholic Church, (English Translation). Homebush: St Pauls, 1994. Code of Canon Law, (English Translation). London: Collins, 1983. The Rev Phillip Carter, et al, A Code of Ethics for Spiritual Directors (September 1995).
Margaret Coady & Sidney Bloch (Eds), Codes of Ethics and the Profession. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1996. Commission for Public employment (SA), Code of Conduct for Public Employees (n.d.). Richard M Gula SS, Ethics in Pastoral Ministry. New York: Paulist Press, 1996. Bishop William Higi, Protocols for Ministry to Minors. (Diocese of Lafayette, Indiana, n.d.).
John Paul II, Familaris Consortio, Apostolic Constitution, The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World, (November 1981).
John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis, Apostolic Exhortation, I Will Give You Shepherds (March 1992).
John Paul II, Vita Consecrata, Apostolic Exhortation, On the Consecrated Life and its Mission in the Church and in the Worii (March 1996).
Peter MacFarlane & Simon Fisher, Churches, Clergy and the Law. Sydney: Federation Press, 1996.
The National Association of Social Workers (USA), NASW Code of Ethics (August 1996).
Sacred Congregation for Clergy, Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests (March 1994).
Sisters of Charity Health Service, Code of Ethics for Pastoral Care Chaplains in Health Care Settings (n.d.).
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and the Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes, Towards Heating: Principles and Procedures in Responding to Complaints of Sexual Abuse Against Personnel of the Catholic Church in Australia (December 1996).
Vatican Council II, Gaudium et Spes, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, (1966). Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium, The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, (1964).
Website Address:
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference: www.acbc.catholic.org.au Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes: www.aclri.catholic.org.au
Further copies and additional information can be obtained from:
National
Committee for Professional Standards The
Executive Officer
PO
Box 981 BONDI
JUNCTION NSW 1355
1 Romans 8:21
2 Ephesians 1:10
3 Markl:14f.
4 Luke4:18f.
5 c£, Matt 12:28.
6 c£, Matt, chp 13.
7 Luke 10:27f.
8 Johnl3:34f.
9 John 17.21.
10 Ephl:10.
11 Matt 20:25-27
12 cf., Vita Consecrata, art.80.
13 cf. 1 Cor 12:12-27
14 Matt.20:25ff.
16 John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, 27.
17 Luke 22:27.
18 John 13:1-20.
19 Matt 20:25ff
20 John 17:21.
f., Sacrosanctum Concilium, art. 14.
£, Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests, art.47.
23'Code of 'Canon Law, Canon 762; 769;279§3.
24 1 Col 1:20.
25 Code of Canon Law, Canon 279§1;663§3.
2° Code of Canon Law, Canon 279 § 2, Pastores Dabo Vobis, Chapter VI;
cf Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests, Chapter III; Vita Consecnta, art. 69.
Code of Canon Law, Canon 278
Cf.,Presbyterium Ordinis art. 16 & Code of Canon Law, Canon 599 & Perfectae Caritatas article 12.
" Gaudium et Specs, art 1.
30 Amos 5:21-24.
31 cf., Matt 25:31-46.
32 Micah 6:8.
35 Acts 4:32.
36 c£, Catechism of the Catholic Church, art, 2451.c£, Code of Canon Law, Canon 1284§3.
38 Ibid. Canon 1284§7.
39 cf., Ibid, Canon 1284§2:8°.
40 Luke 10:27ff.
41 c£, 1 Cor 6:19-20; 15:44-45.
4^ Gaudium et Spes, art. 14:1; Catechism of the Catholic Church, art. 2288. 4-* Code of Canon Law, Canon 276§2;663§2. 44 Ibid. Canon 276§2:4°°; 663§5.
5 cf., Christus Dominus, art. 16.
^° Towards Healing Clause 35.8
