Westminster almost gets it right

Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster, has declared his priorities. In today's Zenit we read:

"The five priorities are (1) call to holiness, prayer and Eucharist; (2) formation of adults and young people; (3) encouragement of small communities; (4) encouragement of priesthood and vocations; (5) structures for participation, change and accountability."

I like no.s 1, 2 and 4; I'm not sure what 3 means; and 5 is very dubious indeed.

But there is an obvious flaw: no. 4 should be no. 1. Why? Because that's the first priority of Our Lord in the Gospels.

Let's do a little survey, shall we?

St Matthew. What's the first thing Our Lord does? Call the apostles (Matt 4:18).

St Mark. What's the first thing Our Lord does? Call the apostles (Mk 1:16).

St Luke. What's the first thing Our Lord does? Well, he seems to launch into his ministry alone, but it is clear he already knew Peter (Lk 4:38) and the official call comes in Lk 5:10.

St John. What's the first thing Our Lord does? Call the apostles (Jn 1:39).

I wish bishops would simply read the New Testament and accept what they find there. Their first priority must always be vocations to the priesthood. Why? Because that was the first priority of Our Lord.

By the way, I have discovered no scriptural references to Our Lord's interest in "structures for participation, change and accountability."