Cardinals urge Asian Church to tackle clericalism

By CathNews New Zealand

July 24th, 2026

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David (Wikimedia Commons)

Two cardinals say the Asian Church needs to confront clericalism as the central obstacle to its mission, because concentrating authority in ordained ministers weakens participation, accountability and responses to social crises. Source: UCA News.

The cardinals, leaders of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, stressed that fighting clericalism begins by honestly recognising it as a problem within the Church.

Federation president Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão and vice president Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan jointly addressed a press conference on July 20 as the bishops’ body began its 12th plenary assembly in Jakarta.

Filipino Cardinal David, head of its Commission for Synodality, recalled how Pope Francis warned against clericalism undermining the spirit of a synodal Church.

During the week-long gathering, the bishops are reflecting on synodal conversion and bridge-building in Asia. Cardinal David said synodality requires Church leaders to acknowledge the gifts of lay people and learn to work together, rather than allow one sector to dominate another.

Cardinal Ferrão, archbishop of Goa and Daman, said clericalism remains significant in Asia, where lay Catholics, religious sisters and women often run schools, clinics, social programmes and parish ministries, while decision-making structures remain heavily clerical.

Cardinal David said clericalism also narrows social action when ministry is treated mainly as charity directed from above, rather than a shared mission. He wanted local churches to study the structures that produce inequality, adding that Asia’s progress is real but “not equally distributed”.

FULL STORY

Asian Church must confront clericalism as root challenge: bishops (By Ryan Dagur/UCA News)