On Obedience To The Church
John Michael Talbot

Catholics believe God speaks through the Church established by Jesus, and are therefore called to be appropriately obedient to the Magisterium, or teaching authority, of the Church. Roman Catholics consider this to be the Bishops in full communion with the Bishop of Rome when the Pope speaks in accordance with his office. Dialogue and debate is welcome and appropriate in some forums, such as the theological, but not when it begins to generally break down the faithful and divide the Church. Nor is debate appropriate when the Magisterium has declared a moratorium on a particularly well dialogued and debated topic. Then it is called dissent, and causes division. Division of the Church is not normally considered the will of God.

We are always called to be obedient, or to "listen humbly" from the depths of our being, to the teachings that come with such weight of deliberation of the Spirit by so many. The average Church pronouncement comes after months and years of dialogue with thousands of holy and highly trained individuals from all states of life relevant to the issue. Generally, most of these people are at least as holy as we are! We are not to easily disagree with such a witness.

The Magisterium sometimes can be wrong in ordinary teaching, but we believe that extra ordinary teachings are kept by the grace of God from error. They are infallible. The ordinary teachings are indefectible. This means that we might sometimes veer from left to right, but the body manages to go forward in a straight line! Therefore, unless the ordinary teaching is in clear violation of faith and morality as understood in shaping one's conscience, we are urged to follow it without making scandal or division. If we must be disobedient in our obedience to God and conscience, we must do so without disrespecting the authority of the Magisterium in all other matters. We are also willing to bear the just consequence of our ecclessial disobedience, such as abstinence from Communion, without anger, hurt, or casting blame. This is the true prophet's call in the New Testament. There have been many saints who did this, or similar things, in their love for God and the Church. The key here is humility, which causes great obedience in almost all things within the Church.

This silent spirit and humble heart of obedience are sometimes difficult. Obedience sometimes brings suffering. But suffering in Christ is redemptive, and always builds faith when approached with faith. Obedience like this is a self sacrifice, which is the way of divine love as expressed through the Cross and Resurrection of Christ.

Even with a disobedient Bishop or Cleric, we always approach with great reverence out of respect for the office, and the years of service by the person. If we disagree, we do so privately, or in a way that clearly shows that are motivation is not angry or personal. If we could not participate in a liturgy, which would be very rare, we would not absent ourselves in anger, or rudeness, but always with great respect and love. If we correct a cleric, or anyone, it is always best done in private. This was the way of St. Francis.

May we be humble servants in all that we do. Let us always take the lesser part, and so find the greater things of God through Christ our Lord.

John Michael Talbot