Scandal and Church Reform | Boston University's World of Ideas

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Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 9:00 PM UTC

Scandal and Church Reform

The allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests that have surfaced during this past year, have plunged the U.S. Catholic Church into the worst scandal to ever hit it. The sex-abuse scandal has also triggered a renewed debate over the reformation of the Church’s policies on such issues as gay men in the priesthood, priestly celibacy, and women priests. But, will such rhetoric lead to actual reform?

On this week’s show, we heard a lecture by Emory University professor Mark Jordan on the topic of “Telling Secrets: Scandal and Church Reform.” The lecture was delivered as part of Boston University’s 2002 Brown Lecture Series, the theme of which was “Truth Telling in the Churches.”

Professor Jordan focused his discussion on finding ways to talk about reforming church policies outside the rhetoric of scandal. Afterwards, he responded to questions and comments from the audience attending the lecture.

Steve Joanis

This is a copy of a letter to Dean Louis E. Lataif
Boston University School of Management
595 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215

Dean Lataif,
I am a former Graduate Student at the Boston University School of Management. Although every aspect of the education I was receiving at BU exceeded my expectations, I was forced to choose between my religion and my education. I have withdrawn from studies at Boston University as the result of a lecture at the BU School of Theology.

I had the misfortune to be listening to Boston University’s “World of Ideas” on December 15, 2002 at 9:00 PM. The lecture was by Emory University professor Mark Jordan on the topic of "Telling Secrets: Scandal and Church Reform." The lecture was delivered as part of Boston University's 2002 Brown Lecture Series, the theme of which is "Truth Telling in the Churches."
Listening to Jordan made me feel as though I was watching a friend be beaten. This lecture was an all-out attack on the Catholic Church and everything that I know the Church to be. Jordan’s words cannot be dismissed as open discussion or helpful criticism. His lecture was nothing more than a thinly veiled attack on my religion. I am shocked that BU would host a self proclaimed "Sodometic Heretic" on the topic of Church Reform, especially at a time when the faithful have been shaken by revelations of sexual abuse by priests. It is unthinkable that someone could harbor such disdain for the Church as an institution and still call himself a Catholic.

I originally intended to write a critical analysis of the lecture as part of this letter but I have decided to let Prof. Jordan speak for himself. I have enclosed a copy of the lecture for your review. The lecture can also be heard at http://www.buwi.org/shows/2002/12/20021215.asp.

What follows are some highlights and analyses of the lecture.

One interesting attribute of his lecture is the way he attempts to mitigate the force of any reaction to his lecture by projecting his distortion strategies onto the church. To quote Prof. Jordan “every class of evidence has been discounted in advance.”

Here are just a few highlights from Prof. Jordan’s Lecture:
1. Unlike someone who is truly concerned with reform Jordan says, "For those leaving Christianity, I say God Bless you".

2. Jordan talks about the “Normative male on male relations within the clergy”. While these relationships may exist, to say that they are “normative” requires the burden of proof.

3. Jordan compared the lack of priests that are sympathetic to his cause with the Soviet invasion of the Ukraine where priests were ordained in the absence of the Church Hierarchy. Implicit in Jordan’s statement is that the entire Church Hierarchy is illegitimate.

4. The Church executes, abuses, deceives, and tortures "to defend its purity, that is its power". Jordan’s use of the current tense in conjunction with the word “executes” is more than a little misleading.

5. The Church "butchers" the principals of theology.

I learned from his lecture that Mr. Jordan does not understand the real value or the values of the Church. The espoused values of the Church and the believer's faith in Christ are what the Church has to offer as value. The "underlying value" that Prof. Jordan cites in his lecture is part of the deceit that led the Church to the sexual abuse crisis it is now in. Simply put, you should not change the rules to accommodate those who are cheating.

Mr. Jordan does not want reform of the Church; Mr. Jordan wants a comfortable religion he can identify with. I am frightened to think what damage can be done when people like Jordan are given credibility.

Sincerely and with regrets,

Steve Joanis

Graduate Student at Babson College