text: The agonizing over vocations to the priesthood while keeping tight rein over opening the priesthood only to men, while keeping jealous control over how Catholic sacrament and ritual are allowed to be conducted among people, and while prohibiting diverse and creative explorations and variations of Christian thought and celebration by individuals tells me that the underlying motive of the Catholic hierarchy is not the spiritual life and well-being of people but, rather, maintaining the institution. This ultimate lack of caring for what is most important: the spiritual life of individuals in all its variety of needs and seasons, regardless of how it affects tight control over the Church institution, is, I believe, sensed by many and is what is driving the Church into irrelevance and disrespect.