Wednesday, December 12, 2007
MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY - THE VATICAN
(RNS) U.S. Catholic bishops, acting at the direction of the Vatican, have rebuked a theologian at Georgetown University for writings that they say conflict with church doctrine on the uniqueness of Christianity and Catholicism....
The bishops specifically criticized Phan for arguing that that non-Christian religions offer an "autonomous" path to salvation.
The link below will take you to the full article.
Imagine, the thought of it, that a priest of the Roman Church might go so far as to think that there might be some validity to the ministsrations of non-Roman authority; that maybe, just maybe, the sum of all truth just might not reside entirely within the Holy See.
http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=9819
One is tempted to think, indeed, to say, so much for ecumenism.
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My Friend Paul has me a bit perplexed on this writing. Indeed, I say AMEN! to my Roman Catholic brothers on this item.
Even in my divestiture from the Romans (some 20 years ago now), I have always admired their steadfastness to doctrine that is their hallmark.....While my own Church crumbles under popular opinion and the "Dogma DuJour" that has become the American Episcopal Church.
Now the irony here, is that the same Vatican inflexibility that I write about is exactly why I left them! But (and this is huge); the conflicts I had with their doctrine do not include that little item about Christ being "unique". (How extremely inadequate the word unique is here anyway!).
The Vatican, in this case, is certainly speaking ecumenically regarding "uniqueness". This is not Roman authority. No, it's a bit higher than that. Can there be a more ecumenical Christian message than that of the exclusivity of Christ?! Or has that somehow become non-ecumenical only because other Christian denominations want to reduce The Truth to hushed tones? They are so fearful of offending non-Christians, that they forget to pray for them!
The Rev. Phan in this case is arguing with much more than the Vatican! But, not all is lost for him. I would suggest that he consider The Episcopal Church as a career option. Our Bishops don’t have any of those old hang-ups! It brings to mind an old advertising jingle that would fit the Episcopalian hierarchy very well; “No rules, Just right!”
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