Dutch warned of 'parallel clergy'

by Desmond O'Grady in Rome POPE John Paul has suggested that Dutch priests who are opposed to the increasingly conservative hierarchy imposed on their Church by Rome are finding refuge in religious orders. Addressing the Dutch bishops, many of them hand-picked by the Vatican against local wishes, Pope John Paul also warned against the laity becoming a "parallel clergy".
The Dutch Church was one of the most enthusiastic recipients of the wisdom of Vatican H and throughout the late sixties and seventies was noted for its liberal tendencies. However, the Vatican, soon after John Paul II's election, began to reign in the freedoms of the local church by a series of unpopular hierarchical appointments.
In his talk to the Dutch bishops, Pope John Paul praised the progress that had been made towards greater understanding between the Netherlands and the Vatican since the special synod in 1980 and the previous ad limina visit in 1983.
There was much still to be done though, he added. New seminaries were needed, and a greater sense of community between the bishops "who are believing persons worthy of trust" and the faithful was necessary.
Nevertheless, the Pope continued, difficulties remain such as the "very secularised society, polarisation within the ecclesial community, widespread indifference, particularly among the young, insufficient collaboration by intellectuals and theologians, the negative images of the church and the faith often given by the media".
For their part the bishops, continued John Paul, should avoid the orders becoming "a kind of alternative church". A refuge for those who refuse to accept the bishops' authority.
John Paul told the 11 bishops that they should deepen the affective and effective communion between themselves "to avoid that others say they are divided". He concluded his lengthy talk by admitting the bishops have a fearfully "difficult and demanding task" and that they will be tempted to be "discouraged and resigned" but he asked them to rise to the challenge.