Perhaps predictably, in an age which does not understand why the priestly fraternity is male, a controversy has erupted in the Diocese of Venice, Fla. There, Bishop Frank Dewane, to the consternation of many, reaffirmed in a letter to his priests that this evening’s foot-washing is reserved for “chosen men.”
“Chosen men.” Men who’ve sacrificed the tranquility of domestic married life for a greater good. Men who are set apart, who do battle against evil, safeguarding both Christ made manifest in the Eucharist, and Christ’s mother Mary – the sacred feminine.
The modern Church sees the foot-washing passage as if through a pair of glasses with one lens missing. The modern interpretation views the event only as an act of service. Christ makes himself a “slave,” and washes the feet of his apostles.
It is certainly this, but oh, so much more. If we would re-read the complete passage in John’s Gospel and replace the missing lens in our glasses, we would see a lot more. And that more would help the Church in the struggle that she presently finds herself in.
Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Scripture tells us… “In the beginning….” Well, in the beginning of the passage in John, the story clearly tells us that Satan has entered one of the Twelve.
The middle part of the story tells us of the foot-washing. In Luke’s recounting of the events, we’re told of a dispute among the apostles. They are arguing about who is the greatest. Christ tells them not to lord their authority over others, but to serve. Hence, the focus on service.
At the end of this particular passage, Christ dismisses Judas from the company of the Twelve. He is expelled, you might say, in an act of priestly fraternal correction. Begone, Satan.
To view Christ’s action as one merely of service is to, like Peter, misinterpret his full intention.
For the act, in addition to demonstrating service, is akin to baptism. Christ is cleansing that which is dirty – not only the feet, but also the community gathered around him in the Upper Rome. There is one among the Twelve who is unclean, and Christ is performing a kind of exorcism, cleansing the priestly fraternity of the evil within its midst.
“Every encounter with Jesus is always a confrontation with evil,” says Father Tony Marques, pastor of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Harrisonburg, Va. “When we’re baptized, we renounce sin first, and then we profess our faith in Christ.”
Viewed this way, the foot-washing becomes Christ’s confrontation with, and expulsion of, evil.
To understand the story as one merely of service and not of expulsion is to succumb to what Cardinal John Henry Newman described as “the religion of the day.” In one of his sermons, Newman explains how we have dropped the religion of austerity for a religion of benevolence. We want only to see the “bright side” of the Gospel, while ignoring the “dark side.” In so doing, says Newman, there is no longer a fear of the Lord, no longer a deep hatred of sin, and no longer adherence to doctrinal truth.
We’ve traded the expulsion of Judas for the service-oriented message. No where is this clearer than in some parishes across the country, where the foot-washing ceremony has taken on comical proportions, such as the parish where it became a 30-minute drama where everyone was invited to come up to have their feet washed, and those who came up were then asked to wash the feet of the person who came behind them. In other parishes, the “chosen men” have been replaced with neither, predominantly women and youth.
How ironic that we miss the expulsion part of the story, especially during a Holy Week which has been dominated by news reports of decades-old clergy sexual abuse.
Much of that coverage has unfairly attempted to tarnish Pope Benedict XVI, the very man who has done more to address this problem than nearly any other.
Make no mistake. Abuse occurred. And religious leaders, in many cases, covered it up. It crosses nearly every religious order line – the Benedictines, the Legionaries, the Jesuits, and the diocesan priesthood.
Judas wasn’t sent to a counselor for treatment. He wasn’t reassigned. He was dismissed from the company of the Twelve.
The Church is in need of a thorough foot-washing.
So, let’s begin the cleansing. Let it begin with any clergy or religious who have either abused or made it possible for others to abuse.
But, let’s not stop there.
The universal Church needs remarkable honesty, complete transparency, and a foot-washing unlike one it’s ever seen. Let’s make sure that the cleansing is thorough.
In addition to clergy who’ve abandoned Christ and His Church, let’s also have a foot-washing of our other Catholic institutions as well. Let’s cleanse the charities, hospitals, and universities, which are rife with board members and faculty members who, like Judas, say one thing and do another, thereby “abusing” those in their charge in other ways.
Let’s also have a foot-washing for all those who hold public office, while advancing policies and legislation that are directly opposed to the teachings of the Church, yet who present themselves, as Judas did, for Holy Communion.
For the scandal doesn’t begin and end with sexual abusers. All those who purport to be Catholic, yet advocate, teach, or practice things against the faith are causing scandal of another kind.
Judas allowed his feet to be cleansed, but not his heart. Isn’t it the same for all Catholics who hold positions of authority, yet continue to advocate positions which are in dire opposition to the teachings of the Church?
Somehow, over the past 40 years, we’ve been fed and consumed the one-eyed Gospel.
May we open both eyes, “so that those who do not see might see.” And may the cleansing begin.
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Tim, that was an excellent column. And the ones that need the “ass kicking” the most are the organizations that call themselves “Catholic, such as the 50 nuns who signed an approval of the Health Bill over the Bishops protestations and also the Catholic Health Association. Many of these organizations seem to be headed by the same types of people who were only happy to criticize “Humanae Vitae”, approve of women priests, and don’t follow the doctrines of the Church.
They look suspiciously like those nuns who suffered from pride after Vatican 11 and think they know better than the Pope.
In addition, a so-called woman Catholic Bishop wrote a very anti-Catholic article in the Fort Myers paper about the Catholic Church. The Venice Bishop should definitely encourage Catholics in the area to cancel their subscriptions at the least!
The ones that need the “ass-kicking” are these organizations, Catholic Colleges and yes priests and Bishops who refuse to obey the Pope. This includes the “so-called Catholic” legislators who approve abortion.
God should judge, but their Bishops should assume their authority and excommunicate these people.
Tim,
But the Bishop’s “spokesman” went public with the qualification that the Bishop “didn’t really mean” that only men can have their feet washed.
You need to follow up with whether the Bishop really did limit the foot washing to “vir”, or “men”, as the ribrics require, or whether this was all good theatre for naught and women had their feet washed in the Diocese of Venice, as usual.
The foot washing wasn’t the only cleansing moment in Christ’s ministry—there is also the cleansing of the temple, which he did with astonishing violence that must have completely shocked everyone, money changers and disciples. With justified anger that the House of God was being perverted for profit, Jesus acted with muscle and fury. He has set an example here for all of us. When the Church is impugned and falsely accused we must act, with muscle and fury. When members of the Church betray their holy mission and sin against the faithful and the young, our muscle and fury is likewise called for. We have to get past the political correctness that keeps us in a state of muteness and speak out in defense of the truth and of the innocent who have been mistreated and sinned against. Any priest who abused a child deserves the full impact of both church and civil law. An innocent priest who is falsely accused deserves to be defended with the full force of both church and civil law. We have to be alert to the difference. There is a blood lust raging against the Pope and the bishops, a feeding frenzy for a scapegoat to be sacrificed. Jesus warned: Satan will sift you like wheat. This is a time of sifting. Watch and pray.
Tim, you were on a role, why did you stop? You didn’t mention the largest number of Catholics that needs cleansing - the laity. We’ve been disobeying in a major way for years! Accepting sexual sins, only going to Mass when convenient, failing to pass on the Faith to our children (which is our responsibility not the clergy and religious), behaving dishonestly in the marketplace, and failing to evangelize our neighbors. We’ve all got our work to do.
Tim, you wrote a great comment, and I think Maria has made an additional very strong point. We, the laity, in large part have lost our sense of sin, letting ourselves off the hook on all kinds of things that are not moral and right. We want the hierarchy purified, but we need purification as well. Yes, Maria, I heartily agree that we’ve all got our work cut out for us.
Dear Tim,
Thank you SO very much! “Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Scripture tells us… “In the beginning….” Sadly, I have witnessed things swept under the rug ongoing in our own homes (so called in keeping peace) - many shattered hearts suffered neglect or abuse right under our noses. We need the courage of Almighty God to See where His Truths began to cleanse and heal us all. Amen.
Maria,
I’m so glad that you added your point. It reminds me of British journalist and convert G.K. Chesterton’s reponse to the essay contest “What’s Wrong With the World?” He wrote, “I am.” It’s so true. The purification needs to begin with us/me.
Maria, I’m so glad, too. I wanted to add but failed to mention the importance with your point in my last comment. Thank you VERY much! Along with Tim’s: It is so true with G.K. Chesterton’s ‘What’s wrong with the world?” ” I am.” This conversation brings 1 Timothy 5: 17-25 to mind again. Especially verse 20: Reprimand publicly those who sin, so that the rest also will be afraid…
Following Bishop Frank Dewane’s letter to the priests in the Diocese of Venice, Fl., there was, of course, a groundswell of concern regarding whether of not women would be excluded from the tradition of the washing of feet on Holy Thursday. At least this was the case in my parish, Epiphany Cathedral. As it turned out, Bishop Dewane washed the feet of three women, including a teenage altar girl. Of the seven men whose feet he washed, three were of school age. In my opinion, it was an inclusive, beautiful service in every way.
Please correct my statement above to read: ” Of the nine men whose feet he washed three were of school age.” I wrote “seven men” by mistake.
Tim,
Yes it does…Nice post.
If what Maureen Kreider wrote is true - that Bishop Dewane washed the feet of women - then my concern was spot on, and this was all just good theatre for naught; it’s business as usual in the Diocese of Venice.
The Pope follows the rubrics and washes the feet of “vir”, or “men”; that bishops can’t follow him is a shame.
Tim,
I think your’s is the best article yet of this situation. And the responses so far have been thoughtful and encouraging. It all starts with each one of us, individually. Everyone, all of us, need to really take to heart the last part of the Act of Contrition “...I firmly resolve, with the help of thy Grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.”
Pete
Jon,
Last week may not have been the best week for Church officials in Rome to try to keep American women “in their place” at Holy Thursday services. For myself, I am grateful to the Bishop of Venice and our Rector at Epiphany Cathedral for whatever deliberation went into going ahead with washing women’s feet as usual in our parish. —Maureen
Maureen, The Church does not “keep women in their place”. Rather it fulfills Jesus’ decision to build His Church on 12 men, not on 12 women, and on Peter, not on Priscilla. What is it like thinking Jesus got it wrong 12 times?
Jon,
I did not mean to upset you or debate the founding of the Catholic religion on Peter and the Twelve Apostles. I am just talking about the ritual of the washing of the feet.
I really don’t think Jesus would have a problem if his disciple John chose to wash the feet of His holy mother Mary. Do you? He placed His mother in John’s care.
As part of the Mystical Body of Christ, we try to show humility and empathy and respect and love and service to all our members, and keep our relationships with each other healthy. I see the washing of the feet ritual, especially on a parish level, as a wonderful, symbolic reminder for all of us to keep working together on this.
—Maureen
Maureen,
I’m not in the least bit upset. Perhaps you are projecting?
In any event, I don’t have a problem with anyone washing the feet of anyone either.
The problem arises when in reenacting the washing of the feet on HOLY THURSDAY, the dissident elements in the Church (1) insist on inserting women where there were none, and (2) ignore the rubrics, which call for only “vir”, or “men”, to have their feet washed.
So, yes, other than those two not-so-little problems - changing what Jesus did at the Last Supper and changing the Liturgy (which according to Pope John Paul II “is never anyone’s private property” - you make eminent sense.
Jon,
Thank you for our discussion. Just one last thought from me….
When attendance at the Last Supper on the part of women is not a prerequisite for women to receive Holy Communion on Holy Thursday, I see no reason why it should be a prerequisite in the rubrics for the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday. I agree that changing the rubrics must be a difficult process—and not anyone’s private property—but it would make sense to me for Church officials to stay consistent on this and make some changes.
Peace. Maureen
Maureen,
Women receive the Eucharist on Holy Thursday - and at all Masses - because Jesus directed that everyone do so.
Conversely, Jesus did not direct that women be part of the Consecration or Foot Washing at the Last Supper.
On the contrary, He affirmed - 12 times by His selection of 12 men - that the Consecration and Foot Washing were and are reserved to men.
And so in reenacting that Last Supper, the Church reserves participation to “vir”, or “men”.
In short, the Church does what Jesus did; feminists try to undo what Jesus did.
Cheers.
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