#335: The Right Man For The Job?

EXCERPT:
The appointment of Denver’s Charles J. Chaput as Archbishop of Philadelphia marks a turning point in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Archdiocese of Denver, and possibly even the Church in America.

Beyond question, Philadelphia desperately needs a new diocesan culture. Of all dioceses damaged by the sex abuse scandal since the 2000 breakout in Boston, Philadelphia is emerging as the worst case the all. First, the numbers of abuse cases are as high as any other dioceses. Second, it appears the mismanagement (through secrecy, neglect, and the recycling of offenders) lasted even longer than elsewhere. Third, the civil authorities have moved in aggressively.

Last spring Monsignor William Lynn (former Secretary for Clergy) became the first US diocesan official indicted on criminal charges (“felony child endangerment”) for recycling pedophile priests. The practice was endemic in nearly all US dioceses, but Philadelphia’s practice was so egregious it has drawn an unprecedented crackdown.

I have no inside knowledge of Philadelphia’s church culture (most of my work since 1976 has been in New England), but the arrival of the new bishop to replace retiring Justin Rigali cannot mean that “business as usual” will continue. There is every reason to expect that the way diocesan affairs have been conducted in recent years will be overhauled, and a new way of doing things will be installed.

This will make for interesting church-watching, since Philadelphia’s new bishop arrives bringing the reputation he earned in Denver. There Archbishop Chaput established himself as arguably the preeminent hard-liner in the American hierarchy (especially once Bernard Law fled the scene).

Does that mean that, if Philadelphia’s diocesan culture needs a thorough overhaul, Chaput is the right man for the job?

Here the case of legendary baseball manager Dick Williams (who died the same week as Chaput’s arrival) may be instructive. Remember, Williams led the Red Sox' “Impossible Dream” of 1967 and thus revived Boston's past glory by ruling with an iron hand to create a winning culture. But his style depended on a historical era when ballplayers were still docile wage-slaves. Once free agency liberated them, his style was largely obsolete. In short, culture-shaping requires not only strong management, but also a management style well matched to its times. For Philadelphia, the key question is: can Chaput provide both?

Time will tell. But the question is especially critical in a time when Catholic life is marked by two influences: (1) the way Vatican II made Catholic laity “free agents” rather than obedient children; (2) the way scandal and declining numbers have damaged both the morale and the motivation of those same laity. Philadelphia will need healing, not a hard line.