Catholics for a Changing Church

by Pam Wearing, CCC Vice Chairperson

Having witnessed the recent events leading up to the beatification of Cardinal Newman, I wonder how those who went to see it were aware of just who he was and what he stood for. He is undoubtedly the theologian whose work led to the Second Vatican Council and above all its acknowledgement of the role of the laity in the Church.

Part of his vision for the future of the Church was to foster the education of the laity. He became a Catholic during decades which saw the restoration of the hierarchy and a rise in ultra- montanism. He was no revolutionary but he saw no conflict between the necessity for authority and the necessity for academic freedom, together with the best possible education for the laity. He saw the plain historical fact that in the church as a whole, even on occasions without the episcopate, there was a fundamental sense of the faith. He had learned as a young clergyman in a poor parish in Oxford to understand, care for and respect the souls in his charge. Likewise among the poor in Birmingham:

The papal cancellation of the excommunication of bishops from The Society of St. Pius X signifies the reception into full communion with the See of Rome of those who have consistently opposed the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.

Regarding the anti-Semitic remarks and the denial of the German national-socialist persecution of the Jews by Bishop Richard Williamson and his followers, we share the indignation of our Jewish sisters and brothers. Moreover, we state that the SSPX’s attitude towards Judaism does not correspond to the Council’s understanding of and commitment to Jewish-Christian dialogue. We support the recent statements of Bishops’ Conferences, and others, all over the world, the German Bishops’ Conference, the Central Committee of German Catholics, the French Bishops’ Conference and other bishops all over the world on this matter. We also welcome the recent statements made on these matters by Pope Benedict XVI and the Vatican’s Secretariat of State.

We believe that the close correlation between the excommunication’s cancellation and the 50th anniversary of the calling of a General Council of the Church by Blessed Pope John XXIII gives a clear indication of the direction which the present Papacy wishes to take. We sense a desire to return to a pre Vatican II Church with its fear of openness to the breath of the Holy Spirit, fear of a positive appreciation of ‘the signs of the times’ modernity, and fear of the values of democratic institutions.

by Colin Stockford

Clericalism is sometimes thought of simply as the way of doing things with clerks (the educated) in charge. However, the basic origin of the word is the Greek "kleros". This has two meanings; take your pick.

Kleros(1). "A mischievous insect in beehives". Unless you have known clerics who could be so described in a parish, diocese, or Vatican dicastery, move to the second definition.

Kleros(2). "One's lot (as in drawing lots), then one's allotment or piece of land or estate." Thus in church usage it might be considered one's allotted task, duty, power, privilege, or form of service. Therein lies the rub.

Benedict XVI has begun well. He is taking his own time to make his mark and to shape his vision of Catholicism on the church. He is clearly a man of genuine spirituality and culture. But there are elements of his theology that should certainly cause concern for Catholics who have inherited a more "open" vision of Vatican II, that is the majority of Catholics in the English-speaking world.
The core of the theological problem is that many in ecclesiastical leadership at the highest level are moving in an increasingly sectarian direction and watering down the catholicity of the church and even unconsciously neglecting elements of its teaching.

Since this word "catholicity" will recur often it is important to define it. It is derived from the Greek word katholikos that means "general," "broad" or "universal." It also has a profound theological meaning. Cardinal Avery Dulles, SJ has a book entitled The Catholicity of the Church (1988). Catholicity, he says, is characterized by (1) inclusiveness, which means openness to various cultures and opposition to sectarianism and religious individualism; (2) by an ability to bridge generations and historical periods; (3) by an openness to truth and value wherever it exists; (4) by a recognition that it is the Holy Spirit who creates the unity of the church through whose indwelling we participate in the life of God.