Catholics for a Changing Church

by Nicholas Lash,  America Magazine

When the Second Vatican Council ended, several of the bishops who took part told me that the most important lesson they had learned through the conciliar process had been a renewed recognition that the church exists to be, for all its members, a lifelong school of holiness and wisdom, a lifelong school of friendship (a better rendering of caritas than “charity” would be). It follows that the most fundamental truth about the structure of Christian teaching cannot lie in distinctions between teachers and pupils—although such distinctions are not unimportant—but in the recognition that all Christians are called to lifelong learning in the Spirit, and all of us are called" />hen the Second Vatican Council ended, several of the bishops who took part told me that the most important lesson they had learned through the conciliar process had been a renewed recognition that the church exists to be, for all its members, a lifelong school of holiness and wisdom, a lifelong school of friendship (a better rendering of caritas than “charity” would be). It follows that the most fundamental truth about the structure of Christian teaching cannot lie in distinctions between teachers and pupils—although such distinctions are not unimportant—but in the recognition that all Christians are called to lifelong learning in the Spirit, and all of us are called to embody, communicate and protect what we have learned. Much of what is said about the office of “teachership” or magisterium seems dangerously forgetful of this fact.

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Paul Paniccia. Vatican II, Voice of the Church

Now that the euphoria and the immediate afterglow of Pope Benedict’s state visit to the UK has faded a sober assessment of the visit and longer term consequences can now be outlined.

First of all, given the media commentary and the way arrangements were being made for the event in the weeks leading up to the visit, expectations were exceeded in terms of the execution of state and liturgical events, the absence of anticipated papal gaffes in any of the many addresses that were delivered and failure of all those who protested against the visit to make any impact at all. The media coverage, which was fairly extensive, during the visit was generally favourable and the papal image was transformed from an autocratic authoritarian figure to cuddly grandfather.

Many non-Catholics who observed the events through the medium of television or those who were actually present at the ecumenical liturgy in Westminster Abbey have commented favourably on the proceedings. They have definitely been left with a positive impression. However, is this a matter of image over substance?

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: