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Does anyone have any advice as to how to curb nepotism in an eparchy. My eparchy, one I'm rather proud of, suffers from one pastor in particular who has no scrupples when it comes to advancing one of his sons especially over the good of others, to the point, not of scandal, but of sowing resentment among people. This guy is a big wig in the eparchy so one must not step on his toes if there be no need to do so. At the same time, how can a Christian ever permit any form of nepotism? What to do? Furthermore, the bishop goes along with it because, I assume, he wants to build the lad's self-esteem or because he doesn't want to offend the lad's father, the big wig pastor. How have the Eastern Churches typically resolved nepotism, in the absence of their own Gregorian reform? All replies would be appreciated.
The Publican

Publican:

Christ is in our midst!! He is and always will be!!!

If you can figure out how to rid human society and human associations of nepotism, you will be either a millionaire or the most persecuted person on the face of the earth. People will either reward you generously or persecute you mercilessly.

It seems that this thing is rooted in our own human nature. We all want to advance our offspring ahead of the place where we started or, at least, to let them start out at a more advanced place than we started at. To do this, we use all the influence and contacts that we have. Sometimes that will mean that the person helped is not worthy or not talented or not the best candidate for the position or honor or whatever.

Beyond that, a form of nepotism is at work every time we ask someone for a reference or if we may use them as a reference. We are trying to use some form of influence to help us attain our goal. Though it might not be called nepotism, it is a cousin.

The question I would have about this situation is why you would think that the Church is different from the rest of human society. Indeed She is the Bride of Christ. But She is also a hospital for sinners. On the one hand, a Divine Institution; on the other, a human organization. (And some of us sinners get in and out of the hospital each week without having much of the cure take hold.) So I guess the Church will suffer flaws as any other human institution will. Her hope is in Her Savior Who lifts Her up and makes Her holy.

Sorry I can't offer anything more. I have been around ecclesiastical politics long enough to know that one needs to be very careful about what one says, to whom one says it, and how one goes about righting a perceived wrong.

Even in the Latin Church where there is mandatory celibacy, everyone comes in without a father to help grease his way, but everyone who rises has found someone on the way up himself or someone who is already high-placed to serve as his sponsor or patron.

I have never heard that nepotism is a sin, unless it is done so ruthlessly that it causes scandal. So I would guess that it is just another question of fairness. And, if you will permit me and not take offense, I have always told my children that "nowhere on your birth certificate is there a stamp that says life is fair."

In Christ,

BOB

From an Old Testament perspective, one might argue that nepotism is a divine institution. God directed Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons high priests. The Jewish priesthood traces it lineage back to Aaron. Why not someone else? After all Aaron was the one who forged the goden calf, while Moses was on the mount. Among the tribes of Israel, it was Moses' tribe, Levi, which was selected for tabernacle and temple service. Jumping to the NT, God chose His Only Begotten Son to be Our Lord and Savior. Sounds like nepotism has been alive and well in our faith.

Among the Carpatho-Rusyns, the Greek Catholic priesthood was virtually dynastic, passing from generation to generation.

Some of our priests today are descendants of such priestly families, like Father Tom Loya in Chicago.

--tim

The biblical passages that discuss the appointment of officers in the Church provide qualifications for the respective offices. They do not address nepotism, but rather spiritual gifts. Further, the examples of installation of officers indicate that spiritual qualifications were the focus, not incidentals like family relations. From my understanding, nepostism has historically been associated with abuses in the Church and nepotism typically produced men who did not meet the biblical qualifications for office.

The Old Testament certainly has a familial line of priests. However, with the coming of Christ we have a new a better priesthood, with Christ as high priest. The Levitical (Aaronic) priesthood was flawed (see Heb. 7:11).

While, nepotism is not per se wrong, the focus should be on spiritual qualifications.

The most holy and devout priest I know is the priest that I presently serve with! His father is a priest as is his brother, his two uncles, his grandfather before him...his greatgrandfather...and on and on. Inspite of this---or maybe because of this?---Father Peter is THE most impressive priest I know! He puts in 13-15 hour work days visiting the sick, counseling the troubled, working with the youth of our parish and serving all the regular services PLUS extra services also. As a monk for almost 40 years, I can tell you I've NEVER seen a priest pray as hard. He is an example to all of us! Priests from priestly families are just like those of us who were the first priests in our families---some are great and some as just OK...and some are even poor. In the end it probably has little to do with what your father did or what his vocation was, as to what kind of priest you are? What matters is how YOU (we) cooperate with the grace of Holy Orders. Remember always the Prayer of Ordination: The Grace Divine which always heals those things that are ill and completes all those things that are lacking, elevates the worthy Deacon _________ to the Order of Priest through the grace of the All-Holy Spirit and the laying on of my hands!

Let us instead PRAY for all priests, because heavy is the head that wears the crown!

In Him Who calls us,
+Father Archimandrite Gregory

We have sometimes had similar concerns within my own diocese. Appearances of nepotism should be avoided, but can not always be avoided when the pool of candidates is small.

My main concern would be whether or not the man's sons are worthy or qualified for the positions into which they have been advanced. If they are are qualified, equal to or more so than other candidates, let them be. If not, then the nepotism is sinful.

Over time, their works/service will demonstrate whether or not they should have been appointed.

In Christ,
Andrew