Guide to Ongoing Formation for Priests

110 | GUIDE TO ONGOING FORMATION FOR PRIESTS

in the twentieth century away from largely European immigration toward Latin American, African, and Asian immigration. The cultural diversity of missionary priests has therefore grown ever broader to include priests from all over the world.

THE POWER OF CULTURE

284. The cultural diversity of the Catholic Church in the United States, with its accompanying diversity of Catholic clergy, is a rich blessing to the life of the Church. Immigrant Catholics frequently bring renewal and new life to Catholic parishes, and the missionary clergy form a critical element of the pastoral care of US parishes and institutions. In addition, nonim migrant members of the presbyterate reflect the varied background of the United States and add to the rich cultural expressions of the faith. At the same time, we must acknowledge that this diversity also brings new challenges. Culture is a powerful force in human behavior and in the life of the Christian community. The nature of that power must be clarified, as the word “culture” is used to refer to several realities. In common use, it might evoke the particularities of dress, food, and custom among varied ethnic identities; or it might refer to the world of “high culture” such as museums, orchestras, and so on. This discussion does not focus specifically on these outward expressions of cultural identity. The concern here is with the basic underlying worldview and views that shape the perceptions and behavior of individuals. Social scientists frequently use the image of the iceberg to visualize the visible outward expressions of culture that float above the surface, as well as the much larger body of culture hidden beneath the surface, where attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors find their origin. These aspects of culture may frequently be unexamined, even unconscious, motivators for behavior and judgments concerning others. At issue is the worldview of the individual, shaped by a life immersed in a given culture. From that environment, an individual absorbs attitudes concerning the relative roles of old and young, male and female, clergy and laity. Here too is the foundation for the individual’s outlook on critical matters like authority, conflict, rights and responsibilities, and so on. When unexamined, such attitudes frequently lead one to consider one’s own viewpoint the norm, or the right way to think and act. For example, a priest from one culture might have a strong sense of deference to authority 285. 286.