Scottish Catholic Observer

If you played any general knowledge board games over the festive period then you will probably know the origins of the line ‘the peasants are revolting,’ and the reply ‘yes, they are.’ After Pope Francis’ announcement of a Papal visit to the Holy Land this year, and news of Vatican and UN-backed peace talks on the Middle East, civil unrest, crisis and the need for peace remain very much at the forefront of the minds of the Faithful.

However, the media often portray so-called ‘ordinary people,’ the ‘rank and file,’ as an undesirable sub culture that leaders, religious and political, talk down to and lead blindly by the nose. In our Church, nothing could be further from the truth.

Yes, we refer to our Bishops’ Conference on occasions as ‘the hierarchy,’ but the humility of both Bishop Joseph Toal’s letter to Motherwell parishioners—and Bishop Stephen Robson’s hopes ahead of taking the helm of Dunkeld Diocese yesterday—are clear evidence that our Church is relevant and in touch with its people, not ‘lording’ over us. Anyone who has been at a Scottish diocesan or archdiocesan event over Christmas and New Year—last year or in years gone by—knows that the leaders of our Church in Scotland wear the title of ‘prince bishops’ lightly when they can, offering celebration and understanding along with spiritual and moral leadership and pastoral care. How many times have you seen a priest or bishop make a point of talking to everyone in the room individually before leaving a function? Our clergy truly are men of the people.

Both Bishop Robson and Bishop Toal speak frankly in this week’s SCO of the challenges uncovered within our Church last year and the work that remains ahead. This is not, however, a green light for dissenters to openly revolt. As Nunraw Abbot Mark Caira writes this week, Christmas reminds the laity and religious alike that our vocation is to lead a good life. We have all made vows through taking the Sacraments and Bishop Toal’s call for support, and to obedience to the laws and teaching of the Church, are a timely reminder of that. Neither obedience nor Faith is blind, nor should they be. If questions should be asked of the Church then they must be, but asked respectfully, for the right reasons and through the correct channels. Let 2014 be a healing year in which we can all learn and grow together