When thinking about where it is that some priests get the attitude that plays out in a ‘you serve me’ belief, (the antithesis of Christianity), I am forced to endure horrible thoughts of being a seminarian.  At the seminary priests on the faculty, involved in what is innocuously termed ‘formation’ or in fact have anything to do in any way with a seminarian, can, and often do, present a ‘you serve me attitude’.  Some don’t but the majority seem too.

Once ordained and permanently scarred by the psychologic warfare that has been termed ‘formation’ it is probably much easier to adopt the ‘you serve me’ attitude.  Since a seminarian has absolutely no power and has not been served in any healthy way it seems logical that serving others as a priest would be a mystery.  It’s hard to remember the gospel when the situation, (read seminary), you have been living in for years does not resemble the gospel at all.

Now expound that to many priest, some of who become bishops or work for bishops, living what has been termed in the USA as entitlement.  Is it a wonder that problems keep arising?  Since bishops make other bishops there is a sick ecclesiastical cloning that has taken over in the hierarchy.  One likes to have, “like thinkers”, in their circle of power.   (It is not that I could do any better.)  I am confident that the Holy Spirit will work it all out in the end even though the Holy Spirit seems sometimes to be ignored.  God gets what God wants.