The Ubiquitous Bureaucracy

We read the Pope’s Christmas poke in the eye to his bureaucracy.  It’s great reading.  Here are His fifteen points – chiding this gang known in the Vatican as the “Curia.”   Here at home we just call it – the government:

1.    “The sickness of considering oneself ‘immortal’, ‘immune’ or ‘indispensable’, neglecting the necessary and habitual controls. A Curia that is not self-critical, that does not stay up-to-date, that does not seek to better itself, is an ailing body

2.    “‘Martha-ism’, or excessive industriousness; the sickness of those who immerse themselves in work, inevitably neglecting ‘the better part’ of sitting at Jesus’ feet

3.    “The sickness of mental and spiritual hardening: that of those who, along the way, lose their inner serenity, vivacity and boldness and conceal themselves behind paper

4.    “The ailment of excessive planning and functionalism: this is when the apostle plans everything in detail and believes that, by perfect planning things effectively progress, thus becoming a sort of accountant

5.    “Sickness of poor coordination develops when the communion between members is lost

6.    “Spiritual Alzheimer’s disease, or rather forgetfulness of the history of Salvation

7.    “The ailment of rivalry and vainglory: when appearances, the colour of one’s robes, insignia and honours become the most important aim in life

8.     “Existential schizophrenia: the sickness of those who live a double life, fruit of the hypocrisy typical of the mediocre and the progressive spiritual emptiness that cannot be filled by degrees or academic honours

9.    “Chatter, grumbling and gossip: this is a serious illness that begins simply, often just in the form of having a chat, and takes people over, turning them into sowers of discord

10. “The sickness of deifying leaders is typical of those who court their superiors, with the hope of receiving their benevolence. They are victims of careerism and opportunism

11. “The disease of indifference towards others arises when each person thinks only of himself

12. “The illness of the funereal face: or rather, that of the gruff and the grim, those who believe that in order to be serious it is necessary to paint their faces with melancholy and severity, and to treat others – especially those they consider inferior – with rigidity, hardness and arrogance

13. “The disease of accumulation: when the apostle seeks to fill an existential emptiness of the heart by accumulating material goods

14. “The ailment of closed circles: when belonging to a group becomes stronger than belonging to the Body

15. The “disease of worldly profit and exhibitionism: when the apostle transforms his service into power, and his power into goods to obtain worldly profits or more power

In matters not where you go – anywhere in the world – the role of the leader is always the same:  Kill the bureaucracy before it kills the spirit and the mission.  We need a man (woman) with Francis’ vision and spunk in the homeland.   At least He is willing to enter the fray and His 15 points are a start; just a beginning.