Perhaps it could emerge from the current Roman Catholic synodal movement? I would like to see a Roman Catholic constitutional convention, with a broad selection of lay and ordained members, assisted by historians, theologians, and sociologists.

The task would be three-fold:

First: Draw up a constitution for the Roman Catholic Church, as one of several – very valid and important — Christian traditions. The constitution would clarify that the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Christian Community is broader than than just the Roman Catholic Church.

Secondly: Create a new administrative structure, covering all aspects of Roman Catholic ecclesiastical governance, from the bishop of Rome to local bishops and to local parishes.

Thirdly: Clearly establish that the bishop of Rome, the pope, could be a man or a woman and should be elected for a limited term of office by an international body of lay and ordained representatives. She or he would be the chairperson of an international administrative board of directors. Much of the old Vatican bureaucracy could be dismantled.

Under the new Roman Catholic Constitution, there would be no need for a papal electoral college or a smoking stove in the Sistine Chapel. The cardinal electors could be retired and hand in their red hats. The old stove that sent up white smoke when a new pope was elected could be put in a papal museum or simply recycled.

We need to move ahead. Broad-reaching church reform is necessary. But, I would emphasize that church reform is about much more than the necessary structural institutional changes.

Genuine church reform must be primarily about how people experience and live their Christianity. About one’s pattern of life. About how one lives respectfully with others and lives with self respect.

The historical Jesus did not establish or lay down any pattern or plan for church structure. He clearly did imphasize, however, a necessary pattern of life, which we see in the “Sermon on the Mount” found in Matthew 5-7. It is a message of love, compassion, and selflessness. Jesus encourages his followers to love their enemies, to forgive others, and to care for the poor and marginalized.

Paul the Apostle reminds Christians as well, in 1 Corinthians 13, that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Constructive and effective reformation promotes healthy religion.

For many years I promoted and conducted performance appraisals for church ministers, calling attention to signs of their involvement in healthy or unhealthy religion. I was appraised as well by colleagues.

1. Healthy religion is grounded in contemporary life with all of its ups and downs. It deals with reality not fantasy.
2. Unhealthy religion is grounded in fantasy and longings for the “good old days,” which, we know from history, were not so good for a great many people.
3. Unhealthy religion is anchored in historical ignorance and antiquated and discredited theological understandings. The disciples of Jesus, for example, were men AND women. Women DID preside at Eucharist in early Christian communities. The historical Jesus did not ORDAIN anyone.
4. Healthy religion builds bridges between people and promotes collaboration.
5. Unhealthy religion separates people into qualitative classes. It demonizes “those who don’t fit in” and validates hatred and cruelty through racism, misogyny, and homophobia.
6. Unhealthy religion imposes power OVER people in often dismissive and demeaning ways through abuse, control, repression, and coercion. It uses guilt, fear, and overly-strict rules. 
7. Healthy religion empowers people and promotes love and respect, and compassion and collaboration.

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Concluding thoughts for today: As I have now done for several years, starting next week I will be away from my blog for some late spring R&R. I hope to return around mid-June with fresh thoughts. Frankly, I do not want to become just another babbling old man.

For your summer reading I strongly recommend an excellent book by William G. Joseph: An Evolutionary Biography of God: Christianity in a World of Science. It is well worth reading and available on Amazon.

Bill is a Roman Catholic priest, physicist and computer scientist. He is also a very good friend. Bill brings his knowledge and awareness to bear on biblical narratives by looking at them through the scientific knowledge we have today, with attention to the profound human truths they are dealing with. In the process Bill calls us to a deeper and richer contemporary belief. I find his book energizing.

Jack