Cardinal Ottaviani and why the labels don’t work

Here is a news story that is 6 years old, reporting on events 55 years old. So why share it now?

During one of the discussion periods at our Bridgefolk conference in July, there was a question about the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and a comment about “liberals” and “conservatives.” I offered a further comment reminding the group that those standard labels can be surprisingly unreliable. To illustrate I mentioned the example of an influential cardinal and Vatican official who has a reputation as an ultraconservative. After all, he led a group of bishops at the Second Vatican Council that tried hardest to put a brake on the reforms we associate with the council. I could not remember his name, but I recalled that his support for the section of the Pastoral Constitution (Gaudium et spes) concerning war played a key role in garnering support for the council’s harsh judgment on modern war and groundbreaking support for pacifism as a legitimate option for Catholics.

The cardinal was Alfredo Ottaviani, and an account of his role and his reasons appeared in the magazine Salt of the Earth, published by the Claretians, who also publish U.S. Catholic. The article, by Tom Cornell, is entitled “How Catholics Began to Speak Their Peace.” It is available online at http://salt.claretianpubs.org/issues/chistory/peace.html. Opening paragraphs appear below.

Continue reading “Cardinal Ottaviani and why the labels don’t work” →

A Tribute to Brother Roger of Taizé

by Ken Henke, Princeton Theological Seminary

On Tuesday, August 23, funeral services will be held for Brother Roger of Taizé. At the age of 90, he was attacked with a knife by a woman, most probably mentally disturbed, in the midst of community prayer in the Church of Reconciliation at Taizé, France. He died shortly afterward.

The son of a Swiss Reformed pastor, at age 25 he left his native Switzerland and came bicycling into the tiny, poor hamlet of Taizé in France, seeking a place where he could quietly devote himself to a life of prayer and contemplation. A peasant woman, keeper of the keys to the run-down house and property which Roger Schutz had come to look at, begged him to buy the house and stay. Later on, when asked, “Why Taizé?” Roger Schutz was to say: “I chose Taizé because the woman was poor. Christ speaks through the poor, and it’s good to listen to them. Anyone who begins with the poorest of the poor is not likely to go wrong.” Continue reading “A Tribute to Brother Roger of Taizé” →

Wise counsel on “bridging” many divides

The latest cover story in Sojourners magazine caught my eye for an obvious reason — it is about “bridging.” No, it is not about Mennonite-Catholic or even Catholic-Protestant bridging. It is about left-right, blue-state-red-state bridging. Those divides are quite familiar within both the Mennonite and the Catholic Church, however. And the article offers some wise counsel for any Christian in any kind of bridging ministry. So here are the opening paragraphs, and a link to the entire article for those who are interested in reading on. — Gerald Schlabach Continue reading “Wise counsel on “bridging” many divides” →

New pope a strong critic of war

Report from the Catholic Peace Fellowship:

http://www.catholicpeacefellowship.org/nextpage.asp?m=2252

Articles on John Paul II and Benedict XVI

This week’s Mennonite Weekly Review gives prominent place to an article by Ivan Kauffman on John Paul II’s role in promoting dialogue between Mennonites and Catholics, an editorial on John Paul II by MWR editor Robert Rhodes, and an intriguing letter to the editor by historian Robert Kreider about the role that two Catholics with Mennonite family connections played in a lay group that especially formative in the priesthood of the young Karol Wojtyla in Poland. The article and the editorial are available online:

Ivan Kauffman, “Mennonite-Catholic dialogue grew at John Paul’s behest”
http://www.mennoweekly.org/APRIL/04-18-05/DIALOGUE04-18.html

Robert Rhodes, “John Paul: A pope revered by all” (editorial)
http://www.mennoweekly.org/APRIL/04-04-05/POPE-edit04-11.html

Also, the Catholic Peace Fellowship as posted very hopeful article on its website about the peace commitments of the new pope, Benedict XVI:

“New Pope A Strong Critic of War”
http://www.catholicpeacefellowship.org/nextpage.asp?m=2252

Ivan Kauffman reflects on the legacy of John Paul II

Has there ever been another person mourned on a global scale in the way Pope John Paul is being mourned? We in Bridgefolk have special reason to join this outpouring of emotion and appreciation. Surely the speed with which the Mennonite Catholic bridge has developed is due, in some major way, to his leadership. It will be years if not centuries before the full impact of this historic life is apparent, but already there are several things for which we may be grateful: Continue reading “Ivan Kauffman reflects on the legacy of John Paul II” →

Are Mennonites sacramental?

Are Mennonites sacramental? Mennonite theologian and Bridgefolk participant Tom Finger takes up that question in the cover story of the latest issue of The Mennonite. That article is available online at the following web address: http://www.themennonite.org/issues/7-18/articles/Are_Mennonites_sacramental

The challenge of being a “pro-life” progressive

Living in the Twin Cities as I do, I cross back and forth over the Mississippi River that divides Minneapolis and St. Paul fairly often. Crossing one bridge, I can usually look across the water and see parallel bridges.

So it is that many of us in Bridgefolk who are “sacramentally-minded Mennonites” or “peace-minded Catholics” and are finding ways to bridge our traditions will easily recognize the challenge of living on another kind of bridge. This is the bridge between “pro-life” commitments often associated with conservative politics and “social justice” commitments often associated with progressive politics. It is a challenge that Catholics in the United States are especially feeling this electoral year. (Apologies to Bridgefolk in Canada and Europe!) But if Mennonite debates around a churchwide resolution on abortion a year ago are any indication, it is a challenge at least some Mennonites may be feeling too.

We haven’t talked much yet in Bridgefolk about the challenges and possibilities in what Catholics call the “seamless garment” of moral and social issues that Christians need to hold together in order to maintain a “consistent ethic of life.” If we are going to continue an honest and fruitful dialogue between Mennonites and Catholics we should expect to take this up too. A recent cover story in Sojourners magazine seems to be a good place to start.

“No Place to Stand” is by Heidi Schlumpf, managing editor of U.S. Catholic magazine. As the editors of Sojourners say in introducing the article, “When you’re Christian, progressive, and ‘pro-life,’ voting your conscience is often easier said than done.” To find the article, click here.

Gerald Schlabach

by Ken Henke, Princeton Theological Seminary

When you’re Christian, progressive, and “pro-life,” voting your conscience is often easier said than done.