Public Administration ETDs

John F. Serna

Publication Date

7-21-1972

Abstract

The Roman Catholic Church is an organization that has existed for several centuries. Its organizational structure has directed the operations of a world-wide religious organization. Prior to the Second Vatican Council 1962-65, the Church appeared to be a relatively stable religious organization. The Second Vatican Council instituted changes in the Church which have brought a rethinking of its existing structure. It is the purpose of this thesis to examine the organizational effectiveness of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States from the point of view of some existing criteria for organizational effectiveness as stated in selected works in contemporary organization theory. The methodology of this thesis consists of a comparison of the existing Church structure to models of organization theory. The examination of the Church structure is limited to a description of the pure line structure of the Church, and recent developments and changes which have occurred. The organization model is constructed from selected readings in contemporary organization theory. The selected readings are synthesized in the model to identify the implications tor organizational effectiveness. It is the comparison of the existing Church structure to the organization model which yields the hypothesis of the thesis: The existing structure of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States does not follow some existing criteria for organizational effectiveness. The comparison of the organization model to the Church structure yields the following analytical conclusions:

1. The Church structure prevents the rank and file from having a clear discernment of the relationship between the activities they engage in and the goals of the Church as a whole.

2. The ability to influence the goal-related tasks of the Church is minimal if not completely absent for members of the rank and file.

3. The formal organization of the Church imposes constraints upon the members of the rank and file.

4. The rank and file of the Church are not consulted and do not have an active and effective role in Church decision-making.

5. The consent of the rank and file is not sought by the Church hierarchy and decisions are imposed upon them from above.

6. There exist no free and open channels of communication within the Church structure outside of the formal communication channel monopolized by the hierarchy.

7. The formal communication network in the Church creates a gap between bishops and priests.

8. The concentration of all power and authority in the Church isolates the bishop from the members of the rank and file.

9. The centralization of authority in the Church hierarchy ignores the advice and competence of specialists.

10. The Church structure is wholly at variance with the environment in which it exists.

It has not been the intention of the writer to prescribe any modifications of the Church structure, rather to make certain observations which are relevant to the student of administration.

Degree Name

Public Administration

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

School of Public Administration

First Committee Member (Chair)

Frank Xavier Steggert

Second Committee Member

Nicholas Llewellyn Henry

Third Committee Member

Albert H. Rosenthal

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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