"Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church" by Bishop Geoffrey Robinson

Bishop Robinson is from Australia. He was a relatively conventional bishop until he was appointed by the Australian bishops to head a group that would deal with the sexual abuse scandal that erupted in Australia (as in many other nations). His involvement with victims helped him to see clerical sex abuse within a larger context. He eventually come to an understanding of the problem that forced him to resign his position as bishop while remaining active in the Church, i.e., he remains a bona fide bishop but has no responsibilities as a pastor in a diocese.

His book is written with good theology but also in a pastoral tone. He is not so much protesting as pleading for the bureaucracy of the church to recognize the need for major change if it is to be faithful to the spirit and teachings of Jesus.

His vision of the church would include the following:

1. People would be encouraged to adopt a healthy relationship with God rather than one based on guilt and fear.

2. People would have increased trust in his/her conscience as the primary tool for adopting beliefs and behavior. Those in power would be responsible for convincing people of the validity of their teaching rather than warn them of the consequences of failure to follow certain edicts.

3.  Recognition that the church is called to serve the "Kingdom of God" which is more than the church. The church is the servant of the Kingdom of God.

4. Authority in the Church is subservient to truth. There is a need for the church to admit mistakes and errors. Infallibility is a major hindrance in such a reformation.

5. Recognition that the body is as relevant to spirituality as is the spirit. Sex has to be promoted as good.

6. There is a need for some form of democracy. Without spelling out how such a form of government would be achieved, it is clear that the views of people have to be incorporated into teaching and governing mechanisms of the church. This view would not so much minimize the power associated with the pope and bishops as much as incorporate this power within the inherent power of the People of God, the entire church.

There is nothing in this book that has not been discussed by many theologians. He is not presenting the material as original. He is framing his presentation as a method of trying to reach out to everyone that there is a need for major changes with suggestions regarding what such changes should be adopted.

Personally, I totally agree with his points of view but I do think that the time may have gone by when change could make a difference. If and when such changes would occur, I have afraid that it would be considered too late for most.