DOCSLIB.ORG

The Catholic Church and the Chicago Parliaments of Religions

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Catholic Church and the Chicago Parliaments of Religions Standing with Unfamiliar Company on Uncommon Ground: The Catholic Church and the Chicago Parliaments of Religions by Carlos Hugo Parra A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Theory and Policy Studies in Education Ontario Institute for Studies in Education University of Toronto © Copyright by Carlos Hugo Parra 2012 Standing with Unfamiliar Company on Uncommon Ground: The Catholic Church and the Chicago Parliaments of Religions Carlos Hugo Parra Doctor of Philosophy Theory and Policy Studies in Education University of Toronto 2012 Abstract This study explores the struggle of the Catholic Church to be true to itself and its mission in the midst of other religions, in the context of the non-Catholic American culture, and in relation to the modern world and its discontents. As milestones of the global interfaith movement, American religious freedom and pluralism, and the relation of religion to modernity, the Chicago Parliaments of Religions offer a unique window through which to view this Catholic struggle at work in the religious public square created by the Parliaments and the evolution of that struggle over the course of the century framed by the two Chicago events. In relation to other religions, the Catholic Church stretched itself from an exclusivist position of being the only true and good religion to an inclusivist position of recognizing that truth and good can be present in other religions. Uniquely, Catholic involvement in the centennial Parliament made the Church stretch itself even further, beyond the exclusivist-inclusivist spectrum into a pluralist framework in which the Church acted humbly as one religion among many. In relation to American culture, the Catholic Church stretched itself from a Eurocentric and monarchic worldview with claims of Catholic supremacy to the American alternative of ii democracy, religious freedom, and the separation of church and state. In relation to modernity, the Church stretched itself from viewing the modern world as an enemy to be fought and conquered to befriending modernity and designing some specific accommodations to it. In these three relationships, there was indeed a shift, but not at all a clean break. Instead a stretch occurred, acknowledging a lived intra-Catholic tension between religious exclusivism and inclusivism, between a universal Catholic identity and Catholic inculturation in America (and in other cultures), and between the immutability of Catholic eternal truths and their translatability into the new languages offered by the modern world. In all this the Second Vatican Council was the major catalyst. For all three cases the Chicago Parliaments of Religions serve as environments conducive to the raising of important questions about Catholic identity, the Catholic understanding of non-Catholics, and Catholic interfaith relations. iii To my beloved parents, Juan and Nelsa, my first and ongoing teachers, and to those in the Roman Catholic Church who have the freedom to be themselves, the courage to hold different opinions, the humility to accept their fallibility, and the love to embrace the Church in the totality of its complexity. iv Acknowledgments The author wishes to acknowledge In Toronto Professor Harold Troper, the thesis supervisor, for his academic maturity as a seasoned historian, his careful attention as an open interlocutor, his expedite responsiveness to the various demands of the dissertation process, and his wise flexibility to embrace with a positive attitude and a good sense of humor even the most transcendental questions and topics; Janet Somerville, former Editor of the Catholic New Times and former General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches, for her proofreading of the manuscript and her insightful Catholic and ecumenical feedback; Professors Mark McGowan, Rosa Bruno Jofre, Ruth Sandwell, David Levine, and Glen Jones for their helpful suggestions and/or questions; University of Toronto Robarts Library, Interlibrary Loan and Media Archives and Microform; University of St. Michael’s College Kelly Library, Special Collections; Victoria University E. J. Pratt Library, Special Collections; Regis College Library; Trinity College Graham Library; In Rome Bishop Luis Manuel Cuna Ramos, Archivist of the Propaganda Fide Archives; Dr. Marco Grilli, Secretary of the Prefecture of the Secret Vatican Archives; Archbishop Francesco Gioia, Vatican Delegate to the 1993 Parliament of Religions; Monsignor Andrew Vissanu Thanya-anan, Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue; Rev. Francisco Egaña, SJ, Vice Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University; Monsignor Gerald Cadieres Araujo, Officer of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith; Pallotini Fathers and Brothers, Basilica of San Silvestro Community; In Chicago DePaul University Special Collections and Archives Department; Kathryn DeGraff, Department Head; Morgen MacIntosh Hodgetts, Archivist Librarian; Michelle McCoy, Bibliographic Assistant; Helen Fedchack, Archives Assistant; Ben Martorrel, Graduate Student Assistant; Kelle Gosa, Graduate Student Assistant; Rev. Thomas Baima, former director of the Office of v Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Archdiocese of Chicago; Sister Joan McGuire, Director, Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, Archdiocese of Chicago; Mr. Jim Kenney, former Program Chair of the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions; Professor Robert Schreiter, Catholic Theological Union; In Berkeley and Big Sur, California Lucinda Glenn, Archivist, and David Stiver, Special Collections, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California; Rev. Thomas Matus, OSB Cam, Camaldolese Monastery of the Incarnation; Rev. Bruno Barnhardt, OSB Cam, New Camaldoli Hermitage; In Maracaibo, Venezuela Most Reverend Ubaldo Santana, Archbishop of Maracaibo; Maria Gracia Parra, Mariela Hernandez, and Maria Carolina Acosta; His supportive family and friends and thesis-related interlocutors His parents Nelsa Pirela de Parra and Juan Parra Vera, his sister María Gracia Parra, and his friends Alberto Dumit, Oscar Yánez, Rona McDonald, Frank Coffey, Charles Fensham, and Dr. Brian Bustard; Scholarships and Grants Ontario Institute for Studies in Education’s Guaranteed Funding Package (2007-2011); University of Toronto School of Graduate Studies Thesis Research Travel Grant (2010); Ontario Study Abroad Opportunity Award (2010); Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the Vatican (2010); Franciscan Friars of the Atonement’s “That Nothing Be Lost” Fund (2010); University of Toronto’s Doctoral Completion Award (2011-2012). All interpretations and opinions are solely the responsibility of the author. vi Table of Contents Point of departure: a frame of reference and a personal note “Can the Church afford not to be there?” Towards the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago First steps towards Catholic involvement The decision of the Catholic Church to participate A Pilgrimage to Chicago Catholic Educational Exhibit and Columbian Catholic Congress “It would seem more advisable to hold assemblies apart” The World’s Parliament of Religions Catholic delegates and Catholic Day A Catholic dissenter who was not invited Adjournment of the Parliament Mixed reactions A Methodist minister’s call to the Pope Toronto’s little Congress on Religion and Education European responses and Vatican discouragement The Parliament idea “on hold” vii “Let the fresh air come in”: From Anti-Modernism to Aggiornamento A new contemptus mundi: modernity as an enemy The enemy inside de house: the heresy of the twentieth century The Second Vatican Council: the Catholic Church embracing modernity The good Pope and Vatican II The Catholic Church and other religions John Paul II and the Assisi Event of 1986 “Your efforts deserve our most careful consideration” Towards a Centennial Celebration of the 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions The 1933 Parliament of Religions in Chicago “We are both beneficiaries” Attempts of other potential stakeholders The decision of the Catholic Church to participate “Inexperienced, underfunded, understaffed and running out of time” “The most diverse celebration in history” The Parliament of the World’s Religions An almost totally inclusive program Conflict at the Centennial Parliament India-related issues Jewish withdrawal viii Greek Orthodox withdrawal Other issues “In omnia, Caritas” The Complexity of the Catholic presence Vatican II and parallel ecumenical developments Common ethical concerns Aboriginal-Catholic identity Buddhist-Catholic dialogue Hindu-Catholic interaction Catholic Women at the Parliament Catholic critics, dissenters, “apostates” and absentees The Declaration towards a Global Ethic The Assembly of Religious and Spiritual Leaders Closing Plenary and Aftermath Point of arrival, not a final destination: The Catholic Church and the Chicago Parliaments of Religions The meaning(s) of Catholic identity and the Chicago Parliaments of Religions The non-Catholic Other and the Chicago Parliaments of Religions Catholic interfaith relations at the Chicago Parliaments of Religions ix “What remains of the world of deeds is the world of words” (Historiography survey) The 1893 Parliament of Religions The 1993 Parliament of Religions Sources, Archives, and Bibliography x List of Appendices Appendix A: Timeline Appendix B: Catholics in Chicago’s 1893 Parliament of Religions program Appendix C: Catholics in Chicago’s 1993 Parliament of Religions program Appendix D: Alphabetic Gender
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Writers and Artists Service and Social Justice Lay
    10a | JULY 9-22, 2006 JULY 9-22, 2006 | 11a Deacon Abrom Salley, house director of Zaccheus House, Maryknoll Father Bill Donnelly a residence for homeless men I’ve worked 30 years in Guatemala. One of the great I see Christ in the people we serve pleasures was serving the people there in the mission, everyday. I see the transformation the Mayan Indians and the Ladinos. Most of the time I in the men. The same men who worked there it was a country at war—civil war. Being have always been receiving, with the people in those hard times, I thank God for panhandling, stealing, through that. While I was there they killed 17 priests and a Zaccheus House they are able to bishop and hundreds of catechists, sisters and brothers. find God’s grace. To empower Those people giving their lives was a great inspiration. these men, to me, that is seeing God’s grace. Sometimes the simplest words are the hardest to define. This seems to be the case with the word “grace.” As can be seen in Anne Marie Tirpak, vicariate stewardship coordinator service and social justice We are bathed in God’s grace. I experience grace always in nature, Deacon Christopher Virruso, the following pages, God’s grace takes on many different forms. often times in people and the arts and in the early morning and the late night. went to New Orleans with a group of It’s during the quiet and stillness of the early morning and the late night that I Glenmary Father John Rausch, The premise of this special section was simple, talk to people Chicago Deacons through Project Hope am aware that I am not by myself; I am feeling something greater than myself.
    [Show full text]
  • “Spiritual Thoughts of Collegamento CH” Pedagogia Chiary Lubich W
    PAEDAGOGIA CHRISTIANA 1/43 (2019) – ISSN 1505-6872 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/PCh.2019.013 Maria José Dantas* ORCID: 0000-0003-1776-4501 São Cristóvão, Brasil Chiara Lubich’s Pedagogy in the “Spiritual Thoughts of Collegamento CH” Pedagogia Chiary Lubich w „Myślach duchowych konferencji telefonicznych Collegamento CH” Summary: The current study addresses the writings by Chiara Lubich, who founded the Focolare Movement in the 1940s. Lubich adopted the “Spiritual Thoughts” as an education resource capable of reaching people and places that she could not physically reach. In addition, throughout her life, she developed an educa- tional approach seen as a different Catholic pedagogy perspective due to its notoriety in the religious and social spheres. The aim of the current study is to investigate, through the analysis of one of the “Spiritual Thoughts” by Chiara Lubich, how she configured her educational practice through messages and, more specifically, to as- sess the pedagogical approach in her writings. The reflection presents the concepts of charisma, religious field and symbolic relations based on the historical and social perspective as theoretical reference. Keywords: Collegamento; Chiara Lubich; catholic pedagogy; spiritual thought. * Maria José Dantas PhD is professor in Department of Education, Federal University of Sergipe; member of the Brazilian Society of History of Education; member of the Brazilian (Auto)Biographical Research Association; member of the Group for Studies and Research in History of Education: memories, subjects, knowledge and educational practices. Address: 262 Maria José Dantas Streszczenie: Niniejsze studium odnosi się do pism Chiary Lubich, która zało- żyła Ruch Focolari w latach 40. XX wieku.
    [Show full text]
  • Individual Confession Bishops Asked to Avoid Abuses of Generai Absolution by Agostino Bono VATICAN CITY (NC) - Pope John Paul II Has Told U.S
    The Denver Catholfc R j^tster JUNE 8, 1988 VOL. LXIV NO. 23 Colorado’s Largest Weekly 28 PAGES 25 CENTS Individual Confession Bishops asked to avoid abuses of generai absolution By Agostino Bono VATICAN CITY (NC) - Pope John Paul II has told U.S. bishops to promote greater individual Confession and to avoid abuses of general absolution. The sacrament of Penance is in crisis in many parts of the world because of “unwarranted interpretations’’ of the requirements for general absolution, he told a group of U.S. bishops May 31. The renewal process envisioned by the Second Vati­ can Council requires “the practice of integral and individual Confession of sins,’’ he added. The Pope said national bishops’ conferences must continuously promote better understanding of the re­ quirements for general absolution contained in canon law, the church’s legal code. “Sporadic efforts are not enough to overcome the crisis,’’ he said. Not criticizing U.S. One U.S. bishop who attended the papal meeting said the Pope was not criticizing U.S. practices but reiterating general principles. “I welcomed it," said Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly of Louisville, Ky. “It was encouragement to foster the sacrament of Penance.” The Pope spoke to 20 bishops from Louisiana, Ken­ tucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama and the Archdiocese for the Military Services. They were at the Vatican for their “ad limina ” Photo by Mark Beede visits, required of diocesan heads every five years to Charity Chase report on the status of their dioceses. General absolution takes place when a priest grants Proper tension on a sweatband is important or than 2,350 runners traversed the three-plus-mlle absolution from sin to a number of people at the same runners might iose their concentration.
    [Show full text]
  • "Catholic Church, Where Are You Going?" a Conference. That It Not Lose Its Way
    "Catholic Church, Where Are You Going?" A Conference. That It Not Lose Its Way Dm, 20/03/2018 URL article: http://magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2018/03/20/catholic-church-whe … > Italiano > English > Español > Français > All the articles of Settimo Cielo in English * It is confirmed. Next April 7, the Saturday of Easter Week, a very special conference will be held in Rome. The intention of which will be to show the Catholic Church the way to go, after the uncertain journey of the first five years of the pontificate of Pope Francis. The reckoning of this five-year period, in fact, is rather critical, to judge from the title of the conference: “Catholic Church, where are you going?” And even more so if one looks at the subtitle: “Only a blind man can deny that in the Church there is great confusion.” This is taken from a statement of Cardinal Carlo Caffarra (1938-2017), not forgotten as an endorser, together with other cardinals, of those “dubia” submitted in 2016 to Pope Francis for the purpose of bringing clarity on the most controversial points of his magisterium, but which he has left without a response. In a Church seen as being set adrift, the key question that the conference will confront will be precisely that of redefining the leadership roles of the “people of God,” the characteristics and limitations of the authority of the pope and the bishops, the forms of consultation of the faithful in matters of doctrine. 1 These are questions that were thoroughly explored, in his time, by a great cardinal who is often cited both by progressives and by conservatives in support of their respective theses, Blessed John Henry Newman.
    [Show full text]
  • Chiara Lubich and Gender Sociology
    woman founder, diarchy, sisterhood, and the rule of a woman presi- dent. The author also discusses six cultural aspects, including love at the center, the dignity of lay vocations, the conversion of masculinity, the conversion of femininity, going against the current, and wise igno- rance. The author presents issues of concern and emphasizes that we are Chiara Lubich still far from solving the issues in our culture, society, and the church. 1 But the Focolare Movement makes an important contribution, gener- and Gender Sociology ating in its communities new relationships between men and women Giulia Paola Di Nicola and new models of masculinity and femininity. University of Chieti remise “Every time the church shakes on her columns, we see that I would like to begin by establishing a few relevant points a woman rises up to support her as the church stands on the in order to qualify Chiara Lubich’s impact on society with verge of the precipice.”2 Prespect to the relationships between men and women in light of sociology and the women’s movements. I will briefly illustrate four structural aspects (Part A) and six cultural aspects (Part B). This article sets out those points that define the societal influence of Chiara Lubich on relationships between men and women from the Part A: Structural aspects perspectives of sociology and the women’s movements. Di Nicola high- lights four structural aspects, including Chiara’s status as a young A Young Woman as Founder Even though contemporary historiography tries hard, it is not 1. This article is based on a talk Di Nicola gave at the University of Trent, Italy, spon- sored by the Sophia University Institute, December 16-17, 2011.
    [Show full text]
  • Defending the Faith
    DEFENDING THE FAITH DEFENDING THE FAITH an anti-modernist anthology Edited and translated by William H. Marshner Introduction by C. J. T. Talar The Catholic University of America Press Washington, D.C. English translation copyright © 2017 The Catholic University of America Press All rights reserved The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standards for Information Science—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984. ∞ Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Marshner, William H., editor, translator. Title: Defending the faith : an anti-modernist anthology / edited and translated by William H. Marshner ; introduction by C.J.T. Talar. Description: Washington, D.C. : The Catholic University of America Press, [2016] | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2016042161 | ISBN 9780813228969 (pbk. : alk. paper) Subjects: LCSH: Modernism (Christian theology)—Catholic Church. | Catholic Church. Pope (1903-1914 : Pius X). Pascendi Dominici gregis. | Catholic Church—History—20th century. | Catholic Church— Doctrine—History—20th century. | Modernist-fundamentalist controversy. Classification: LCC BX1396 .D44 2016 | DDC 273/.9—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016042161 To the historical Jesus, qui salvandos salvat gratis contents Editor’s Preface ix | Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 C. J. T. Talar Part 1. Critical Responses to Alfred Loisy’s L’Évangile et l’Église . 1 “The Gospel and the Church” (1903) 27 Pierre Batiffol . 2 Review of Alfred Loisy, L’Évangile et l’Église (1903) 38 M.-J. Lagrange Part 2. Critical Responses to Alfred Loisy’s Autour d’un petit livre 3. “Jesus and Gospel Criticism”: Part 1 of “Autour des fondements de la foi” (1903) 73 M.-J.
    [Show full text]
  • The Man Who Had to Be Elected Pope
    The Man Who Had To Be Elected Pope Dg, 2/04/2017 URL article: http://magister.blogautore.espresso.repubblica.it/2017/04/02/the-man-who-had-to- … > Italiano > English > Español > Français > All the articles of Settimo Cielo in English * Mission accomplished. After four years of pontificate, this is the assessment that has been made by the cardinals who brought Jorge Mario Bergoglio to election as pope. The operation that produced the Francis phenomenon arises from a long time ago, as far back as 2002, when for the first time "L'Espresso" discovered and wrote that the then little-known archbishop of Buenos Aires had leapt to the top of the candidates for the papacy, the real ones, not the figureheads. It laid the groundwork at the conclave of 2005, when it was to none other than Bergoglio that all the votes were funneled from those who did not want Joseph Ratzinger as pope. And it came into port at the conclave of 2013, to a large extent because many of his electors still knew very little about that Argentine cardinal, and certainly not that he would deal the Church that “punch in the stomach” spoken of a few days ago by his rival defeated in the Sistine Chapel, Milan archbishop Angelo Scola. Between Bergoglio and his great electors there was not and is not full agreement. He is the pope of proclamations more than of realizations, of allusions more than of definitions. There is however one key factor that meets the expectations of a historic turning point of the Church capable of making up for its emblematic lag of “two hundred years” with respect to the modern world that was denounced by Carlo Maria Martini, the cardinal who loved to call himself the “ante-pope,” meaning the anticipator of the one who was to come.
    [Show full text]
  • The Church, Abortion, and Sister Margaret Ellen Traxler
    The Church, Abortion, and Sister Margaret Ellen Traxler Robert McClory “A Chicago nun’s battle with Rome” Chicago Magazine, December 1985 Used with Permission At 11 p.m. on December 7, 1984, Sister Margaret Ellen Traxler had just finished night prayers in her small room at St. Patrick’s parish convent, on Chicago’s Far Southeast Side, when the telephone rang. The caller was Sister Maureen Murray, a superior of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, the Roman Catholic religious order to which Traxler belongs. “Peggy, I’m afraid I have some bad news,” said Murray, who then proceeded to read a letter that the international president of the order had just received. It was from Archbishop Jean Jerome Hamer, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation on Religious and Secular Institutes-in other words, the man who oversees the affairs of Catholic nuns all over the world. The letter stated, in effect, that the authorities in her order should demand that Traxler recant a public declaration that she had signed two months earlier. Appearing as a full-page advertisement in The New York Times, the declaration had challenged the church’s official teaching on abortion. If Traxler refused to recant, Hamer’s letter said, she was to be threatened with removal from the order. Similar letters had been sent to the superiors of 23 other U.S. nuns and of two priests and two religious brothers who had signed the same declaration. There could be no doubt about the intent: the offenders were in serious trouble, and the Vatican meant business.
    [Show full text]
  • Kofc News Mar13
    Knights of Columbus March All Saints Council 11402 2013 Dunwoody, Georgia Volume 20 (Established July 4th, 1994) “Opere et Veritate ” 1 John 3,18 Issue 3 Brothers: biblical scholar who speaks six languages. However he has caused controversies in the We are now more than halfway through the past few years with some of his comments, Fish Frys – and what an amazing start! While including linked clerical sex abuse with homo- the numbers are down slightly from last year’s sexuality. record-setting Lenten season, the customer experience is better than ever. The lines are The leading candidate from North America is moving faster, the orders are more accurate, Cardinal Marc Ouellet, 68, of Canada. and the food is fabulous. Ouellet served as Archbishop of Quebec from 2002 to 2010 before taking over as head of the Thanks to all the volunteers that have made powerful Vatican office that oversees the this possible. Your hard work not only helps appointment of the world’s bishops. Critics unify our parish and community, but fills our point to the poor state of the Church in council’s coffers with the funds that our Quebec during his tenure, and wonder if he charities have come to rely on. would be able to reinvigorate the faith in the Later this month the College of Cardinals will West. form a conclave in Vatican City to pick the Insiders have long said the Vatican has an next leader of the church. Just who are the unwritten rule that no American will ever favorites to replace Pope Benedict XVI? head the Catholic Church.
    [Show full text]
  • Notre Dame Alumnus, Vol. 13, No. 02
    The Archives of The University of Notre Dame 607 Hesburgh Library Notre Dame, IN 46556 574-631-6448 [email protected] Notre Dame Archives: Alumnus IMHHHMHiilHa LU S6c < Notre Dame ALUMNUS O^ o o ^^'«;^5^ > CO UJ > TIMOTHY P. GALVIN, PH.B., '16 Devoted Alumnus President of the Alumni Association Supreme Director, Knights of Columbus Eminent Attorney and Orator November, 1934 34 The 1<lo t T e 'Dame cA lumnus November, 1934 Association; while the Editor may be that our infringement upon the in­ confined to a large portion of routine; dulgence of the University, no matter CCA4HENT and while the treasury continues to how satisfied Notre Dame may be sufl'er a most pernicious financial with the results, is difBcult to justify '. anemia—^the Association continues a in the face of economic recovery. Radio waves have controlled the definite, even rapid, progress, con­ While we do not pretend to believe direction of cars, ships, planes, etc., trolled by those radioactive forces that all our members are happily or without the aid of human hands. that have always worked for our profitably employed, we bring up progress, though in normal times again those time-worn contentions The direction of the Notre Danie through human agents. Alumni Association is in somewhat that we still hold to be most moder­ similar vein now. • ate— five dollars, the annual dues, Bills have been mailed as in the represent very little drain on any The waves of the depression over­ happy days of yore. No veneer, no form of income. We maintain that whelmed us financially.
    [Show full text]
  • “This Volume Offers a Perceptive Reading of One of Vatican II's Most
    “This volume offers a perceptive reading of one of Vatican II’s most important documents, Lumen Gentium, balancing an appreciation for the document’s enduring contributions with an acknowledgment of its inevitable inconsistencies. Combining fresh theological perspectives with a dry wit and a perceptive reading of the state of the Catholic Church today, Lakeland uses Vatican II as a springboard for diagnosing what ails the church today. He concludes with a bracing call for a more humble church focused on its mission in the world.” — Richard Gaillardetz Joseph McCarthy Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology Boston College “This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the challenges of being Catholic today. In this concise, engaging, and delightfully readable volume, Lakeland provides a commentary on Lumen Gentium that sheds light not only on the Second Vatican Council but also on the current situation and the contemporary issues facing the Catholic Church. Even while probing some of Catholicism’s most neuralgic debates with his characteristically honest and insightful judgment, Lakeland’s tone of patient hope and good humor inspires rather than polarizes. I know of no better answer to the question of whether the Second Vatican Council still matters than A Council That Will Never End.” — Mary Doak Associate Professor of Systematic Theology University of San Diego “Paul Lakeland has produced another groundbreaking study which will inspire and energize so many throughout the church and academy alike. In this period of significant anniversaries concerning Vatican II, The Council That Will Never End is a self-consciously forward-looking book that draws on the inspirations of the past in order to serve the church of the future.
    [Show full text]
  • Saint John Henry Newman, Development of Doctrine, and Sensus Fidelium: His Enduring Legacy in Roman Catholic Theological Discourse
    Journal of Moral Theology, Vol. 10, No. 2 (2021): 60–89 Saint John Henry Newman, Development of Doctrine, and Sensus Fidelium: His Enduring Legacy in Roman Catholic Theological Discourse Kenneth Parker The whole Church, laity and hierarchy together, bears responsi- bility for and mediates in history the revelation which is contained in the holy Scriptures and in the living apostolic Tradition … [A]ll believers [play a vital role] in the articulation and development of the faith …. “Sensus fidei in the life of the Church,” 3.1, 67 International Theological Commission of the Catholic Church Rome, July 2014 N 2014, THE INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL Commission pub- lished “Sensus fidei in the life of the Church,” which highlighted two critically important theological concepts: development and I sensus fidelium. Drawing inspiration directly from the works of John Henry Newman, this document not only affirmed the insights found in his Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1845), which church authorities embraced during the first decade of New- man’s life as a Catholic, but also his provocative Rambler article, “On Consulting the Faithful in Matters of Doctrine” (1859), which resulted in episcopal accusations of heresy and Newman’s delation to Rome. The tension between Newman’s theory of development and his appeal for the hierarchy to consider the experience of the “faithful” ultimately centers on the “seat” of authority, and whose voices matter. As a his- torical theologian, I recognize in the 175 year reception of Newman’s theory of development, the controversial character of this historio- graphical assumption—or “metanarrative”—which privileges the hi- erarchy’s authority to teach, but paradoxically acknowledges the ca- pacity of the “faithful” to receive—and at times reject—propositions presented to them as authoritative truth claims.1 1 Maurice Blondel, in his History and Dogma (1904), emphasized that historians always act on metaphysical assumptions when applying facts to the historical St.
    [Show full text]