Speaking Truth to Power

Remembering certain members of the Boston College theology faculty (and the administration as well), I can't help but be angry with them and with myself for not say something to bad teachers and bad Jesuits. This is habitually justified because it isn't prudent or because one believes that it will be ineffectual, causing one's own life to be more miserable. (Not that one would suffer some retaliation in response, but only that to have some peace of mind might require that one ignore such people.) But might it not be that one is prompted by charity through the Holy Spirit to say something when one sees evil being done?

Recognizing that one may have suppressed anger in the past because it wasn't "nice" makes one second-guess one's lack of action in the past, or being silent when some sort of rebuke might be appropriate. Ah yes, "fraternal correction" might be a more temperate response. The salvation of souls should be paramount and those who threaten the salvation of others (and thus their own) should be warned. Should a few things be said to the cardinal archbishop of Boston as well? In order to "rehabilitiate" anger as a healthy emotion and to learn what to do in such situations, I would need direction from someone who has true prudence, along with courage and true meekness, not someone who is merely "nice." Prudence is not the same as undue or exaggerated fear of the consequences of one's actions, and there may be more important things than pursuing an academic career, such as one's own honor and integrity.

To the dissenters: ordination is reserved for men only? You could have fooled me, since we have plenty of bishops and priests who are women. If shaming language is not appropriate in this case, then when?

Maybe I should get more sleep. Judging others in authority always carries a risk, but those who are subject to that authority eventually weary of perceived inaction, indecisiveness, and lack of fortitude. Even natural fathers may find that it is necessary to admonish and discipline their children for their sake. If you are going to let them "go their own way" at least inform them that they have done so by excommunicating them, instead of doing nothing and validating their "Catholicity."