Over the past few days, while political and religious analysts have written about Libya and the latest sex abuse scandals, I have thought about the success of Catholic high school sports coaches. On Saturday, my alma mater played in the California boys basketball championship. On Sunday on 60 Minutes, the legendary Bob Hurley of St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City, New Jersey was profiled. Each of the schools graduates virtually all of their players, an achievement that in the case of St. Anthony’s, a school located in a black ghetto, is especially impressive. And based on initial signs, each of the teams say Catholic prayers and promote Church teachings in their programs.

Also, many Catholic leaders fall far short of Lombardi’s example (or Terence Cooke’s, David L. Lawrence’s, and George Meany’s). Some succeed on the court but use questionable means to do so. Others are benevolent and autocratic but incompetent in some areas. But in Catholicism’s two big institutions, its dioceses and schools, being a benevolent autocrat is still possible. Achieving democratic results, such as graduating players from poor backgrounds and serving the faithful, continues to be viewed as more important than following democratic procedures. Imagine if Lombardi had been in charge of the Philadelphia archdiocese or urban parochial schools. He would be all about getting rid of abusive priests rather than hoping in vain that they repent and inspiring affluent Catholics to donate to the archdiocese’s schools rather than assuming the laity will step up.