ECUMENISM 8 things Christians Vol.The XLX, No. 7 DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD—CAPEMirror GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI July 25, 2014 have to say By Tom Ehrich hristians are an extraor- dinarily diverse assembly of believers. However, I think there are a few com- Mission trip reaps Cmon words we would say. 1) We would say the name “Jesus.” We might mean different things by that name, but he is the center, the reason we exist. 2) Allowing ample room for lessons on civil rights our diversity, we would say what we mean by faith in God. Not how By Ruth Campbell right Cape Girardeau we are Ecumenism as and otre Dame Regional High how Evangelization School’s recent mission trip wrong to Montgomery, AL, held others are, but an I-message: Here’s an added bonus for the 35 why I believe in God. Nparticipants—a chance to meet the 3) We would tell stories Rev. Bernice King, youngest daughter about God’s impact on our lives. of Coretta Scott King and the Rev. Dr. Not grand doctrines, not airtight Martin Luther King, Jr. theories, not definitions of who’s During the June 16-21 trip, the inside the circle and who’s outside, group of students and adult chaper- but stories of personal encounter. ones worked in service with Resurrec- 4) We would listen to other tion Catholic Missions in Montgom- stories, respectfully, not defensive- ery. They performed outreach work for ly, eager to hear what our fellow the parish’s grade school and clean- Christian has to say. ing apartments for elderly residents in 5) We would each tell as hon- the community. They also did some estly as we can how we are trying painting and even delivered Meals on SERVICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS—In addition to the service performed with Wheels, among other tasks. Most of the Resurrection Catholic Missions, Notre Dame Regional High School’s June See 8 Things / 9 projects were carried out in the morn- 16-21 trip to Montgomery, AL, held such highlights as: a visit to Dexter Av- ing so the group could visit civil rights enue Baptist Church, where Martin Luther King, Jr., was pastor; the Rosa museums and sights in the afternoon. Parks Library, Museum, and Children’s Wing; the Civil Rights Memorial; As of July 24, Among the highlights: the group and Freedom Rides Museum, and a chance brush with Rev. Bernice King. 2014, 83 parishes went to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, (Photo Notre Dame Regional High School) have reported where Martin Luther King, Jr., was pas- tor when he lived in Montgomery; the but she hadn’t heard much about the Strohmeyer asked the tour guide 8,102 pledges Rosa Parks Library, Museum, and Chil- freedom riders, who forced integration if King would talk to the Notre Dame to the Diocesan dren’s Wing; the Civil Rights Memori- of public transportation. group, too. He said, “Well, you can ask Development Fund al; and Freedom Rides Museum. It was her.” totaling $2,285,596, at the Civil Rights Memorial that the Brush with history Strohmeyer then explained to group met King, a lawyer, who also is The Notre Dame mission group King what the group was doing in or 91 percent of the CEO of the King Center in Atlanta. was watching a movie as part of its Montgomery and the additional bonus $2,500,000 goal. The whole experience, Notre tour of the Civil Rights Memorial when of learning about civil rights in the af- Dame campus minister Sarah Strohm- their tour guide said they needed to ternoon. Strohmeyer said it would be a Thank you! eyer said, was “very, very powerful”— leave because the next group coming privilege if King could say a few words and fitting with the 50th anniversary in was being led by Bernice King. King to the group in the hallway. of the signing of the Civil Rights Act was leading a group of high school stu- During this stint through the me- falling on July 2. dents to various civil rights sites around morial, King spoke about her father’s Strohmeyer said she knew about the South, to teach them peaceful con- legacy and the photo of her on her Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott, flict resolution. See Mission Trip / 8 The Catechism in brief 418 As a result of original sin, human nature is weakened in its powers; subject to ignorance, suffering, and the domination of death; and inclined to sin. (This inclina- tion is called “concupiscence.”) The Catechism of the Catholic Church compiles the living tradition of the Catholic Church and divides it into four sections: What Catholics believe (the Creed), how the faith is transmitted (worship and sacraments), how Catholics are The next issue of The Mirror will be Aug. 8, 2014. called to live (moral life), and prayer. If you would like to receive the diocesan newspaper via Email in digital format, please contact Angie Toben at (417) 866-0841, or Email her: [email protected]. 2 The Mirror COLUMNS July 25, 2014 Commentary: Insights of these 3 religious thinkers may be antidote to ‘feel-good’ faith By A. James Rudin hen people utter the mantra “I’m fulfillment, people quickly “move on” and em- of three major religious thinkers whose once moving on,” it usually means they are brace new teachers or gurus who promise their “radical” teachings are receding into the mists of leaving behind a crisis, conflict or con- followers blessedness. It is a depressing and disillu- forgetfulness. troversy. But “moving on” sometimes sioning process that creates holy burnout. During the mid-20th century, Martin Buber Wresults in abandoning valuable lessons of the past. I have a modest proposal for those who (Jewish), Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (Roman Catho- This is especially true in religion. When constantly “move on” in their quest for authen- lic), and Reinhold Niebuhr (Protestant) influenced spiritual leaders don’t deliver instant inner tic faith: “Move back” and explore the insights the religious scene. Buber, a Vienna- De Chardin, a Niebuhr born Jewish philoso- French Jesuit priest (1892–1971) was born pher (1878–1965), was (1881–1955), was in Missouri and in the “Father of Religious a scientist in the his early years as a Dialogue.” Despite fields of geology Protestant minister writing in a difficult and paleontology. he worked on behalf German idiom, Buber After serving in the of the American trade achieved fame with French army dur- union movement his book I-Thou. One ing World War I, de in Detroit, where of Buber’s best-known Chardin spent many he publicly battled teachings is “all real years in China, India the Ku Klux Klan living is meeting.” and Java studying and the hate group’s When we evolution and the anti-Catholicism. In encounter another development of the later years Niebuhr, a person, Buber taught, human species. vigorous foe of anti- we must not perceive In addition to Semitism, renounced that person as simply his scientific ca- all Christian attempts “you,” an object, but reer, de Chardin, a to convert Jews. He rather as “thou,” a creation of the divine worthy member of the French Academy of Sciences, actively opposed both Nazism and Communism of respect and not something to be manipulated wrote that secular work was equal in value and was a strong supporter of the state of Israel. for financial, sexual, political or egotistical rea- to religious studies. All human activity fed sons. Buber’s I-Thou relationship is the hallmark into what he termed “the divine milieu,” and ‘Man’s capacity for justice makes of authentic dialogue between different religious he taught that science and religion were not communities, and any use of psychological coer- only compatible, but necessary components democracy possible; but man’s cion or hidden conversion motives destroys the of God’s world. “Thou-ness” of other persons and different faith However, the church banned de Char- inclination to injustice makes traditions. He maintained that God is the “Ulti- din’s teachings, he was forbidden to teach in mate Thou” in human lives. Catholic institutions and his writings were democracy necessary.’ While Buber’s influence on religious think- not available in Catholic bookstores. But ing was extraordinary, his I-Thou concept also beginning in the 1960s, a decade after his —Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr influenced psychology, physician-patient, parent- death, several Catholic leaders, including child and teacher-student relationships. It’s no Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict In 1928 he joined the Union Theological surprise Buber’s teachings are either negated XVI, publicly recognized de Chardin’s com- Seminary faculty, and his tough-minded view or neglected by the current “Me Generation,” mitment to both faith and science. It marked of the sinfulness of human nature was termed whose symbol is the “selfie”. the beginning of his rehabilitation within “Christian realism.” Niebuhr wrote: “Man’s In 1938, Buber, a committed Zionist, fled the church. capacity for justice makes democracy possible; Nazism and spent the last 27 years of his life as In one important way, de Chardin’s but man’s inclination to injustice makes de- a Hebrew University faculty member in Israel. thinking paralleled Buber’s. The French mocracy necessary.” He influenced many lead- Because significant religious teachings never die, priest wrote: “No evolutionary future awaits ers, including Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama and Buber’s concepts of dialogue and authentic hu- anyone except in association with everyone Martin Luther King Jr. Niebuhr believed justice man encounters can provide spiritual strength in else.” was more important than love, and he scorned today’s chaotic world.