2022/12/12

69. Theology

Hagia Sophia (Istanbul)

In the transcript of the interview conducted by Bishop Morerod and Mr Lepon with Father Allaz in July 2016 that we discussed in the previous issue, Father Allaz, recalling his ordination and his first Mass, says, "There was a 'not real me' who was disconnected from reality. But afterwards, I was able to recover through the study of theology. Theology answered the questions I was facing." Coincidentally, on 8 December of the same year, the Congregation for the Clergy issued Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis - The Gift of the Priestly Vocation, perhaps in response to the problems of sexual abuse by priests that have emerged in rapid succession since reports in the USA in 2002. However, the following description quoted and placed in one of its footnotes indicates that the Church, even though it has witnessed such catastrophes, has not yet realised that these expressions are problematic: "But the will of the Church finds its ultimate motivation in the link between celibacy and sacred ordination, which configures the priest to Jesus Christ the head and spouse of the Church. The Church, as the spouse of Jesus Christ, wishes to be loved by the priest in the total and exclusive manner in which Jesus Christ her head and spouse loved her." (Pastores Dabo Vobis, n. 29). 

As we have seen, the expression using marital imagery runs the risk of a sexual bias in the priest's interpersonal relationships (cf. blog № 64). For priests like Father Allaz, who have had problems from the outset, these expressions only fuel the fire. The fact that these expressions are at the root of priestly formation leads priests to see the laity as the Church itself that wishes to be loved by the priest. So, Father Allaz could abuse Daniel in the sacristy immediately after preaching a beautiful sermon. At the same time, the words of the congregation, recited with the priest at the Mass, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed" (cf. blog № 68), and the sight of the faithful opening their lips before him and taking communion on their tongues (cf. blog №67), were elements that gratified his desire for domination and drove him towards the Church, namely the boy congregation, who "wishes to be loved by the priest in the total and exclusive manner." The theology that Father Allaz says he could achieve recovery by studying after his ordination may have justified his obscenities in this way. 

At the age of 76, he posed the question, "Why didn't God stop me?" But it was theology, not God, that did not stop him. So, he could irresponsibly say, "I think I have to accept the fact that I will never know what caused me to sin so much." If the Church, while calling God its heavenly Father, does not change its theology expressed in the image of marriage as I described above even in the 21st century, it will not show the truth to the many victims in all positions who want priests to be sincere.

Maria K. M.