At a time when flaws in the governance of the Church have been thrown into sharp relief, even by the Pope himself, a Jesuit and Scripture scholar argues that contemplating the new-born Christ Child offers the best lesson in exercising authority It will soon be Christmas, and we shall bow in startled awe at the image of a very helpless God, represented by Jesus in the feeding trough at Bethlehem. We need to hear this message of helplessness, especially we who find ourselves as part of the diminishing numbers within the Catholic Church. All organisations, including the Church, require authority structures if they are to survive. That is a sociological fact. The difficulty comes with Original Sin; for another fact is that you and I come over all funny when power is in question, and resist t