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No Small Thing
[In another reminder of just how close Catholics are
to collegiality within our Church, the Bridgeport, CT diocese
refused to publish an ad in their newspaper for an upcoming
lecture by Notre Dame theologian Fr. Richard McBrien. The
talk is sponsored by VOTF Bridgeport, CT and Fairfield
University. Joe O’Callaghan of VOTF Bridgeport said, “By
refusing to announce a lecture by one of America’s foremost
theologians on a topic of particular interest, our diocesan
newspaper is engaging in an act of censorship that Catholics
everywhere will surely find unacceptable.” VOTF Bridgeport
placed the following text on their web site at www.votfbpt.org.
What do you think? Write to pthorp.ed@votf.org]
Dr. Joseph McAleer, spokesman for Bishop William E. Lori and editor of Fairfield County Catholic, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Bridgeport, recently rejected an advertisement for a lecture to be given by Father Richard P. McBrien, Crowley-O’Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame.
The ad announced that Fr. McBrien will give the keynote address on “The Election of Bishops: The Return to Tradition” at a conference at Fairfield University on Saturday, April 29 sponsored by Voice of the Faithful in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
In a letter dated March 14 and addressed to James Alvord, a member of VOTF, Dr. McAleer explained that as Fairfield County Catholic is “the official newspaper of the Diocese of Bridgeport, we will not promote your organization or its sponsored events.” Dr. McAleer on March 28 informed John Marshall Lee, vice-chair of VOTF, that as “Father McBrien’s talk is the keynote address of your organization’s conference” he would not publish the ad even if there were no reference to VOTF.
Fairfield County Catholic’s submissions policy states that “the opinions and advertisements published herein do not necessarily agree with the editorial position of this newspaper.” Fairfield County Catholic also declares that it “brings information, education, and events that reflect the life and activities of the People of God” to 90,000 homes in Fairfield County.
Given those statements, VOTF asks why Dr. McAleer would deny the people of the Diocese of Bridgeport the opportunity to learn of a lecture by Father McBrien on a topic of such importance to them. Dr. McAleer’s position seems inconsistent with the spirit of aggiornamento at the heart of Vatican II and contradicts the stated purpose of Fairfield County Catholic.
One of America’s best-known theologians, Father McBrien, a priest of the archdiocese of Hartford, and past president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, was awarded the Society’s John Courtney Murray Award for “distinguished achievement in theology” in 1976. He is also a former chairman of the Department of Theology at Notre Dame. Prior to coming to Notre Dame he was Professor of Theology and Director of the Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College. He is a frequent on-air network commentator on Catholic events and has written a weekly column for the Catholic press since 1966.
Among Fr. McBrien’s many contributions to Catholic theology are his Catholicism, a two-volume presentation of the whole panorama of Catholic belief and practice, used in many theology courses in Catholic universities throughout the United States. He also authored Lives of the Popes and was the general editor of the Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism.
A sociological study completed in 2004 revealed that the members of Voice of the Faithful are highly committed to the Catholic Church. Most are “cradle Catholics” who regularly attend mass and actively participate in the life of the Church as members of parish councils and liturgy committees, lectors, eucharistic ministers, and religious educators. Well-educated, with many holding advanced degrees, they are exceptionally knowledgeable about the history and teachings of the Catholic Church.
The all-day conference entitled “Elect our Bishops? Why Not?” will be held in The Oak Room in the Barone Campus Center at Fairfield University. Fr. McBrien will speak at 10:45 a.m. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the closing mass is scheduled at 4 p.m. Registration is $20 until April 15; thereafter and at the door, $25. Students will be admitted free. For program details and registration forms see www.votfbpt.org. Checks made out to “VOTF April 29th Conference” may be mailed to VOTF, PMB#171, 1127 High Ridge Road, Stamford, CT 06905-1203
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