No Say, No Pay
emerging paradigm, “obey” is in the process of being changed to a more democratic version. “Obey” is being
changed to “say,” as in having a say in church governance. Another characteristic of the emerging paradigm
is a reexamination by many of the “pay” part of the old troika. In fact, many have decided to withhold money
from their bishops. And who can blame them. After all, the bankruptcies in Portland and Tucson and the lack
of financial transparency and accountability just about everywhere cry out for systemic change.
The withholders say the current system of church governance is unjust and that to change it one must engage
in a political struggle for control. The bishops have the political control, and many Americans, schooled in
democracy and the principles of the Declaration of Independence, want their rightful, God-ordained say in
how things are run. They argue further that money is the mother's milk of politics. They say money is the only
language the bishops understand. To state an old truth, money talks. Finally, they argue that withholding
money is the right thing to do because bishops use the hard-earned fruits of the laity's labor to perpetuate an
unjust system.
Withholders link democratic reforms and money by a little phrase they hope will catch on: “No Say, No Pay."
October 24, 2004