Is the Catholic Church Dysfunctional?

As a family, the Catholic Church has some “dysfunction.” So remarked Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, during his inaugural address as president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In using what he wryly called “talk show vocabulary,” Archbishop Dolan attempted to open up discussion not only about why Catholics leave the church but also about the church’s mission in a purportedly “post-ecclesial” American society.

Archbishop Dolan’s remarks defied some expectations and fulfilled others. But there was a fundamental issue underlying everything—it was hinted at, alluded to, but never fully articulated. Just as one would expect in a dysfunctional family.

Archbishop Dolan’s election as president as of the USCCB came as a surprise. He vaulted over the conference’s vice-president, Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, who would ordinarily have been chosen on the basis on seniority. This led some commentators to surmise that America’s bishops had elected a “culture warrior” to do battle against dissenting Catholics and a faithless society.