Comment and debate on faith issues in Scotland February/March 2021 www.openhousescotland.co.uk Issue No 292 £2.50 Lent 2021 with SCIAF: Fratelli Tutti: response to Choosing a new bishop: in solidarity with the poorest criticism from senior cleric a complicated process Editorial Critique of Fratelli Tutti A critique of Pope Francis’ widely acclaimed encyclical, Aires, but now his pronouncements belong to the pastoral Fratelli Tutti, by one of the most senior priests in the seat of the bishop of Rome. The problem is not that he is Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, has caused not a theologian, but rather that his theology is pastoral. widespread concern among Catholics in Scotland. What really bothers his detractors, Codina suggests, is Monsignor Patrick Burke, who is Vicar General of the that it stems from reality: the reality of injustice, poverty archdiocese, wrote an article on Fratelli Tutti in the and the destruction of nature, and the reality of ecclesial January/February issue of the magazine of the Faith clericalism. Movement (www.faith.org.uk/magazine). In it he argues In terms of socio-political criticism, Codina points out that the ‘subjective frame of reference’ used by the pope in that Pope Francis’ messages are in continuity with his encyclical means that his reflections are ‘more his own prophetic biblical teaching and the social teaching of the individual views than an act of magisterial teaching’. The church. What hurts some people, he suggests, is their Tablet responded with an online article in which papal prophetic clarity: the Pope says no to an economy of biographer Austen Ivereigh and theologian Massimo exclusion and inequality, no to an economy that kills, no Faggioli challenged Mgr Burke’s analysis. Faggioli argued to an unjust social and economic system that locks us into that his critique ignores the role that the parable of the unjust social structures. Good Samaritan plays in the encyclical, which is to Opposition to Pope Francis, Codina argues, is in reality provide its theological foundation. opposition to the Second Vatican Council. Francis speaks Writing in America magazine in 2019, theology of the church as an inverted pyramid, as polyhedral, and professor Victor Codina SJ discusses the theological above all as synodal, which means as we travel the same background to opposition to Pope Francis within the path together we should listen to one another, as priests, church. Those who oppose Francis on theological people and pope. Pope Francis belongs to a long line of grounds, he suggests, do so from the conviction that his prophets who have wanted to reform the church, from his lack of theological professionalism - in contrast to that of namesake Francis of Assisi to Angelo Roncalli. Popes John Paul II and Benedict - explains what they consider to be his inaccuracies and even doctrinal errors. See pp 5-7 for a response to Mgr Burke’s article by Dr Codina points out that Francis studied and taught Mary Stevens, and a reflection by Fr Noel Colford on the pastoral theology as Jorge Mario Bergoglio SJ in Buenos parable of the Good Samaritan. Sunday of the Word Pope Francis was gently mocked for his recent the passage from the Gospel then that passes in a blur too. pronouncement opening the order of Lector/Reader (and This is in contrast with other churches which, not having Acolyte/Server) to women. It’s a long time since anyone communion, see the reading of the Word and the sermon as would be surprised by a woman reading in church. The sacramental. Pope was making a stronger claim than people being Pope Francis has made the Third Ordinary - near the stopped on the way into Mass and being asked to ‘do the beginning of the year - the Sunday of the Word of God. It is reading’. He was seeking some dignity to the task such as intended to jolt Catholics in general out of their lethargy is, mostly, accorded to Ministers of the Eucharist. with respect to the Bible. They can all read nowadays so When the Lectionary was introduced into the Mass after there is no reason why they shouldn’t be aware of which Vatican II it was done as part of ‘business as usual’. One Gospel and what part thereof they are going to hear when week the old readings were used, the next week the new they go to Mass. And even perhaps to check out any Old ones were read. Although the Lectionary is a magnificent Testament reference. achievement (now imitated by other churches) it was over the heads of average Catholics. Fifty years later, you only The ‘People of the Book’ is a reference in the Quran to have to ask a regular Sunday Mass-goer which gospel is Jews and Christians. During the current pandemic when being followed that year to be met by a blank stare. Mass is online, some Catholics are appreciating that title. For Catholics, going to Mass is going to Communion. In which case there will be no going back to what was The bit before, the readings, are an endurance test. The first ‘normal’. Catholics will be better versed in the Bible than reading, usually from the Old Testament and supposedly previously, and be more comfortable with other Christians. connected to the gospel, is often incomprehensible. And And when they get back to Mass they will appreciate more unless the priest or deacon has prepared an explanation of the first half of the Eucharist. 2 OPEN HOUSE February 2021 Contents International development DUNCAN MACLAREN reflects on this year’s SCIAF Lent campaign and its approach to development. Page 3 SCIAF’s mission Duncan MacLaren Page 5 A very personal interpretation SCIAF’S mission Mary Stevens Page 6 Return to the source As we mourn the untimely death 11th May, but because of SCIAF’s Noel Colford of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia, we adherence to Integral Human Page 7 How good was your remember, as Lent approaches, the Development (IHD). This is a Catholic school? way he spoke movingly of SCIAF’s form of development, emerging Mark Wilson mission in his homily during the out of the Catholic Social Justice Page 9 Learning from lockdown special Mass last November to Tradition, which brings real, Stephen McKinney, Stuart bring to mind those who had durable, sustained change into Hall & Kevin Louden supported SCIAF and were now the lives of the poorest, enhances Page 11 A suitable candidate with God. He said: their dignity and gives them the Helen Costigane ‘The mission of SCIAF, born from confidence and means not just and sustained by the love of Jesus Page 13 The way we were to cope but to flourish as active Christ, is to seek to lift people Joe Fitzpatrick participants in their own societies. across the world out of poverty and The programme the SCIAF team Page 14 Medieval Glasgow to help them to achieve the change is focusing on this year is in South Gerry Carruthers that is necessary for families, Sudan, the newest independent Page 15 Inspiring women communities and nations to live nation on earth, one of the poorest Mégan Buhrmann and to prosper according to their and wracked by conflict. In the Notebook human dignity, in peace and in UN’s 2020 Human Development justice’. Page 17 Letters Index, it is fourth from the bottom. The Archbishop summed up Page 19 Reviews: books, film, music well the mission of SCIAF: born Page 22 Obituaries out of scripture and the Church’s Page 24 Moments in Time teaching and praxis throughout the Children who are disabled ages, its mission is to lift people out of a poverty that diminishes are, in the words of Pope them as human beings created in Francis, the ‘abandoned… the divine image; and to achieve those considered disposable transformation so that they can live because they are only in peace and justice and flourish considered as part of Thank you to all those who according to their human dignity, contributed to this edition of possessing agency over their own a statistic’ Open House. lives. Open House, which was founded in Just as the pandemic reduced the Dundee in 1990, is an independent effect of SCIAF’s Lenten Campaign The project will be run by journal of comment and debate on last year, in terms of awareness- a trusted Sudanese partner faith issues in Scotland. It is rooted raising and funds, so the same is organisation which will work in the reforms of the Second Vatican most likely about to happen this with 400 disabled children, their Council (1962-65) and committed year. I want to suggest why readers communities and schools, in the to the dialogue which began at the and their families and colleagues Council - within the Catholic region of Western Equatoria. This should support SCIAF even more Church, in other churches, and with is an area where there is food all those committed to issues of enthusiastically this Lent. insecurity, an illiteracy rate of 67 justice and peace. per cent and school enrolment is Integral human www.openhousescotland.co.uk only 56 per cent of the total school- development age population - and now there is Cover photo by kind permission The reason is not just because the COVID. Children who are disabled of SCIAF UK Government will double the are, in the words of Pope Francis, income supporters contribute to the ‘abandoned… those considered SCIAF between 12th February and disposable because they are only February 2021 OPEN HOUSE 3 considered as part of a statistic’, for schools, parishes, groups and children who lead hidden and individuals - and for those parents impoverished lives.