Who or what has true spiritual authority over you? Not merely the power to command you to do something, but real spiritual authority?
For the sake of this argument we will assume that power and authority are related, but distinct. So, let us define them as:
*A good leader has both power and authority over their followers.
*A leader whose followers rebel has authority without power.
*An dictator has power without authority over their people.
*A leader who abicates has neither power or authority.
Based on this distinction, we can see that the best way to lead others is with authority and power. This kind of rule is agreed upon by both leaders and those they lead. When authority is God-given, the right to use it comes from God and it is a true spiritual authority. So, I will ask again - who or what has true spiritual authority over you?
If you are Catholic, the answer is easy. Our pastors have spiritual authority over us. That includes:
In a hierarchy, the ultimate authority is outside the community. It is transcendent or innate to the community. In the United States, that authority is the Constitution. In the Catholic Church it is the teaching of Jesus, given through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the magisterium. Yet, authority is not merely wielded through power, but through an agreed upon social structure - in this case, a hierarchy. Both the leaders and followers must agree on the basis of authority and if there is no agreement, the leaders have no real power. Thus, if they still lead, they do so by other means. This has gotten us into the mess we are currently in. Most Catholics in the United States don’t care to listen to their real spiritual authority and our leaders sometimes still act as if everyone still cares and listens.
Thus, for the majority of Catholics in the USA our pastors have become leaders over people who have rebeled - thus they have true authority, without power. This means, in many ways, we have leaders who are impotent in their leadership. The average Catholic doesn’t respect the leadership or agree to the terms of authority that Jesus gave the Catholic Church and merely teaching about the authority is not enough if someone isn’t brought to conversion through faith. A kind of faith that submits to the God-given authority in the Catholic Church.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AUTHORITY COIN
There is another side to the problem of spiritual authority that is due to Catholics who want to be able to name their own spiritual authorities. It is found not in the cultural Catholic who rarely (if ever) goes to Mass. But in the believing Catholic who refuses to be obedient to the Pope, respect their own bishop, or will parish-shop until they find the kind of priest who fits their fancies.
This can be dangerous, especially since we are Catholics and the Church teaches we don’t get to pick who our leaders are.
NOTE - I am not referring to terrible pastors who may require a move to a different parish. Nor am I referring to an immoral dictate that may require our rejection of such a dictate.
With this understanding in place, the question comes down to - what are we (the Mass-going Catholic who wants to do the right thing) supposed to do?
Start by reflecting on these items:
1 - If your go-to bishop lives really far away, you might ask yourself these questions.
Disclaimer - I'm not saying not to listen to your favorite bishop, no matter where he lives. I too have my favorites. But, I have found these questions help me. Rather, this is for Catholics who seem to be worried, anxious, and angry about our leaders all the time. This can lead some folks to a dangerous place spiritually.
2 - If your go-to Catholic commentator / YouTuber / writer has great influence over you, ask yourself these questions.
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Behind the problems of the world, the scandals of leaders, the lack of trust in institutions, and the vitriol online, there is a quiet and pervasive danger waiting to strike. It haunts us all. It waits for us to give in. It desires us to keep our eyes fixed on the problems, the scandals, the sin, the things outside of our control. What is this danger? It is pride. My way.
When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.”-Matt 20: 24-26