--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Clericalism is a form of elitism in which…" description: "\"Clericalism is a form of elitism in which some are viewed as having special rights and privileges.\" — Blase J. Cupich" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/blase-j-cupich-6316_clericalism_clericalism-is-a-form-of-elitism-in-whic_2669666.jpg" --- # Clericalism is a form of elitism in which some are viewed… ![“Clericalism is a form of elitism in which some are viewed as having special rights and privileges.” quote by Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/blase-j-cupich-6316_clericalism_clericalism-is-a-form-of-elitism-in-whic_2669666.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/blase-j-cupich-6316_clericalism_clericalism-is-a-form-of-elitism-in-whic_2669666.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/blase-j-cupich-6316_clericalism_clericalism-is-a-form-of-elitism-in-whic_2669666.jpg) > “Clericalism is a form of elitism in which some are viewed as having special rights and privileges.” [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Clericalism as elitism critiques hierarchical privilege within religious institutions, urging equity and humility. **In simple terms:** Clericalism equals elitism. Key Takeaway Promote humility and equity. Themes religion elitism equity humility institutional critique Mood thoughtful critical Type theological social When to use this quote - church leadership - faith community discussions - policy reform - educational programs Key Concepts theology social ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can institutions foster inclusivity? - What steps reduce perceived privilege? A Different Perspective Resistance from traditionalists. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clericalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clericalism/) [Elitism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elitism/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [I see that being looked at askance as a form of elitism now, which is really scary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-see-that-being-looked-at-askance-as-a-form-of-elitism-now-which-is/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [We Catholics have been in the forefront in defending the dignity of the human person. Clericalism is a direct violation of human dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/we-catholics-have-been-in-the-forefront-in-defending-the-dignity-of/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [“If freedom once required a secular critique of religion, it can also require a religious critique of the secular.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cox/if-freedom-once-required-a-secular-critique-of-religion-it-can-also/) [Harvey Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cox/) > [Clericalism: the habitual confusion between that which is of Caesar, and that of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-andreotti/clericalism-the-habitual-confusion-between-that-which-is-of-caesar/) [Giulio Andreotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giulio-andreotti/) > [It also happens to me that when I meet a clericalist, I suddenly become anti-clerical. Clericalism should not have anything to do with Christianity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-also-happens-to-me-that-when-i-meet-a-clericalist-i-suddenly/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“When exactly did this all change, and what were the social and theological factors that led to the change? The answer seems to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-witherington-iii/when-exactly-did-this-all-change-and-what-were-the-social-and/) [Ben Witherington III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-witherington-iii/) > [Clericalism has rendered some of Ireland's brightest, most privileged and powerful men either unwilling or unable to address the horrors cited in the Ryan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/clericalism-has-rendered-some-of-ireland-s-brightest-most-privileged/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [I tell priests to flee from clericalism because clericalism distances people. May they flee from clericalism and I add: it's a plague in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-tell-priests-to-flee-from-clericalism-because-clericalism-distances/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“We have seen some gatekeeping or fencing-the-table language already beginning to rear its head in this context. One needed to be baptized to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-witherington-iii/we-have-seen-some-gatekeeping-or-fencing-the-table-language-already/) [Ben Witherington III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-witherington-iii/) > [I want to see the church get closer to the people. I want to get rid of clericalism, the mundane, this closing ourselves off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-see-the-church-get-closer-to-the-people-i-want-to-get-rid/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“It is scarcely the same thing to put a man on the Moon as to put a bone in your nose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-henry-iii/it-is-scarcely-the-same-thing-to-put-a-man-on-the-moon-as-to-put-a/) [William A. Henry III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-henry-iii/) > [Everybody keeps calling for Excellence - excellence not just in schooling, throughout society. But as soon as somebody or something stands out as Excellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/everybody-keeps-calling-for-excellence-excellence-not-just-in/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/anti-intellectualism-has-been-a-constant-thread-winding-its-way/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken-2/as-democracy-is-perfected-the-office-of-president-represents-more-and/) [H.L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken-2/) > [The person I love would never wear fur. Fur just makes me think of shallow women who have no conscience. The fur industry belongs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-rossdale/the-person-i-love-would-never-wear-fur-fur-just-makes-me-think-of/) [Gavin Rossdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-rossdale/) ## More by Blase J. Cupich > [There is a synergy between the way Croatians approach life and the way Jesuits do. Croatians are very real about situations. We don't gloss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/there-is-a-synergy-between-the-way-croatians-approach-life-and-the/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [Chicago is highly segregated, a fact that both causes and compounds the problems we face in bringing an end to violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/chicago-is-highly-segregated-a-fact-that-both-causes-and-compounds/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [We have always wanted to make sure that we start the conversation by saying that all people are of value and their lives should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/we-have-always-wanted-to-make-sure-that-we-start-the-conversation-by/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [People are looking for a way in which their spiritual life can be deepened. They are finding it in some of our Catholic parishes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/people-are-looking-for-a-way-in-which-their-spiritual-life-can-be/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [Let's face it: grandparents are very important to family systems. You're babysitters, but you also instill values in children that sometimes skip a generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/let-s-face-it-grandparents-are-very-important-to-family-systems-you/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [Once a bishop is appointed, in terms of governance, we are semi-autonomous. It's not like we are branch managers of a bank or something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/once-a-bishop-is-appointed-in-terms-of-governance-we-are-semi/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [Voting for a candidate solely because of that candidate's support for abortion or against him or her solely on the basis of his or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/voting-for-a-candidate-solely-because-of-that-candidate-s-support-for/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [For generations, our political life was distorted by the influence of public officials whose foremost goal was to preserve the essence, if not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/for-generations-our-political-life-was-distorted-by-the-influence-of/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [I did my doctoral dissertation on the lectionary readings that we use at mass and how you have biblical texts that have been taken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/i-did-my-doctoral-dissertation-on-the-lectionary-readings-that-we-use/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [We help immigrants because we are an immigrant nation, and we are an immigrant church. We've always done that; this is nothing new to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/we-help-immigrants-because-we-are-an-immigrant-nation-and-we-are-an/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [I think that the Pope has trust in every bishop that is appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/i-think-that-the-pope-has-trust-in-every-bishop-that-is-appointed/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [Our schools must be places where all are respected and the values of tolerance and peacemaking are taught and nurtured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/our-schools-must-be-places-where-all-are-respected-and-the-values-of/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [In the 40 years that I've been a priest and the 17 as a bishop, I have experienced people coming at things in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/in-the-40-years-that-i-ve-been-a-priest-and-the-17-as-a-bishop-i-have/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [Science can and should inform debate about abortion and the law. But science does not resolve questions of moral value and moral choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/science-can-and-should-inform-debate-about-abortion-and-the-law-but/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [People should be called the way that they want to be called rather than us coming up with terms that maybe we're more comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/people-should-be-called-the-way-that-they-want-to-be-called-rather/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) [Explore all 99 Blase J. Cupich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) ## More Clericalism quotes > [We Catholics have been in the forefront in defending the dignity of the human person. Clericalism is a direct violation of human dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blase-j-cupich/we-catholics-have-been-in-the-forefront-in-defending-the-dignity-of/) [Blase J. Cupich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blase-j-cupich/) > [I want to see the church get closer to the people. I want to get rid of clericalism, the mundane, this closing ourselves off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-want-to-see-the-church-get-closer-to-the-people-i-want-to-get-rid/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“We have seen some gatekeeping or fencing-the-table language already beginning to rear its head in this context. One needed to be baptized to take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-witherington-iii/we-have-seen-some-gatekeeping-or-fencing-the-table-language-already/) [Ben Witherington III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-witherington-iii/) > [I tell priests to flee from clericalism because clericalism distances people. May they flee from clericalism and I add: it's a plague in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-tell-priests-to-flee-from-clericalism-because-clericalism-distances/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Clericalism has rendered some of Ireland's brightest, most privileged and powerful men either unwilling or unable to address the horrors cited in the Ryan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/clericalism-has-rendered-some-of-ireland-s-brightest-most-privileged/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [“When exactly did this all change, and what were the social and theological factors that led to the change? The answer seems to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-witherington-iii/when-exactly-did-this-all-change-and-what-were-the-social-and/) [Ben Witherington III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-witherington-iii/) > [It also happens to me that when I meet a clericalist, I suddenly become anti-clerical. Clericalism should not have anything to do with Christianity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/it-also-happens-to-me-that-when-i-meet-a-clericalist-i-suddenly/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Clericalism: the habitual confusion between that which is of Caesar, and that of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-andreotti/clericalism-the-habitual-confusion-between-that-which-is-of-caesar/) [Giulio Andreotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giulio-andreotti/) > [“If freedom once required a secular critique of religion, it can also require a religious critique of the secular.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-cox/if-freedom-once-required-a-secular-critique-of-religion-it-can-also/) [Harvey Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-cox/) [Browse all 10 Clericalism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clericalism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Clericalism is a form of elitism in which some are viewed as having special rights and privileges.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Blase J. 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