Systems and institutions are never punished and thrive. Sinners within them cloak themselves in layers of bureucracy and policies and underlings who are complicit in the “institutional corruption”. Nobody need examine their conscience, because nobody, individually, is truly responsible. Institutions can’t sin because they aren’t people. We as the victims of corruption find ourselves in a catch-22 of “smoke and mirrors”.

Here are two real life personal examples about a victims’ inability to place blame and effect change for restitution and protection of the next consumer.

1.) Chase bank charged a $50.00 finance charge in error on my last VISA statement. “How did this happen?”, I asked. “Did somebody just go in and say, “Hey! Let’s see if we can slip in a charge!”. Was a computer misprogrammed? (My balance was paid in full and on time.) “Errors” just don’t happen. So what DID happen? I’ll never know and nobody will ever be held accountable. I’m just lucky that I caught this “error” (and the THREE other ones Chase has made in 5 months) Who goes to confession for trying to steal from me? Is it the customer service rep with whom I spoke? Is it the CEO? Is it the trashman? Who?

2.) My husband purchased me a car DVD receiver. It was several hundred dollars and blew out after 2 months. It was replaced under warrenty and we paid–again–to have it reinstalled. During the installation of the 2nd receiver, the tech said, “This thing’s going to blow again…..it’s cheap!” CHEAP!!!!! We paid $400.00 for it (I never would have–it’s a man thing). It did blow again after 2.5 month of use! Who’s responsible for producing a shoddy product and marketing and selling it? Is it VALOR who produced? Who at VALOR: the designer, the assembler, the customer service person lying to me on the phone about how this never EVER happened to anybody else. Is it Crutchfield who continues to market it? Is it my husband who thought several hours of research would suffice for a $400.00 purchase? Nobody will be held accountable. Everybody is protected. Not a sinner to be found. I’m driving around with a darkened clock and silent speakers —which actually makes me happy because I hate the demands of time and 11 kids are loud enough!

Cardinal George is correct: “If we can at least begin to realize how we are often complicit in corruption, and if we can recognize it as sinful and cease simply taking it for granted that that’s the way things are and must be, then we can pray with more sincerity for the light and grace that bring us conversion and new life.”

So, Cardinal George, perhaps all of us could benefit from your guidance on how to examine our souls within the context of operating within a corrupt organization. Does the buck ever stop? And, when will we stop parsing hairs about gradations of culpability and refuse to participate at any level? I’m awaiting Part II

BTW if you work at Chase, who’s to blame: the Man on the Moon?

If there were such a thing as a Cardinal George Fan Club, I would join. But such a club would itself be a corruption of his office. Sigh!