COMMENTARY
Editorial
Dissent: Watching our Language

Every so often an organization or individual will identify VOTF as “nothing but a group of dissenters,” as if this term qualifies our membership for “mass” excommunication. These critics cite various speakers who have addressed VOTF affiliates, such as Roman Catholic theologian Paul Lakeland (author and Fairfield University’s 2005 Teacher of the Year), or they will hearken back to a panelist (one of about 20) at our first convention four years ago. Critics will even pick through a newsletter to identify independent thinking or postings of discussions (books, conferences) that challenge the docility of mind so long favored, and now sorely missed, among Catholic laity. In doing so, the very real difference between dogma, which is infallibly held, and Church teachings, gets blurred. The Church recognizes this distinction; it is time that all the faithful share in the understanding. First, however, let’s consider a brief look at dissent.

Dissent Has Prospered Our Faith
There is a fortuitous history in our Church of many a new idea that has righted grave wrongs in Church teachings, made our Church more truly “catholic”, and prospered our faith. Critics of dissenters do the Church a great disservice; our Church has, blessedly, changed its teaching and understanding on some of the greatest issues of its time. Usury, Copernican theory, divorce, slavery, our Jewish siblings, religious freedom, human rights, capital punishment – all of these teaching moments surfaced at the hands of faith-filled dissenters whose arguments were first dismissed and later embraced by the Church.

Significantly, these teaching moments began with dissent not from infallibly held doctrine but dissent toward a Church teaching. The aggiornamento introduced in Vatican II invited Catholic laity, even expected us, to join in the caretaking of our faith. Discussion of all issues of concern held among ourselves and shared with the entire Church seems the only rational response to that call. Until that forum is a reality, labeling will keep dialogue in “lock down.”

Faithful questioning is a central feature of responsible Christian Catholic behavior. Often, the Church’s opposition to one or the other of dissenters’ positions was grounded in the challenge to the Church’s authority and less so on the substance of the argument; there was an initial refusal to hear, to engage, and to remain “at the table” on the part of Church officials. That reality did not stifle voices of conscience that have marked every century of Church history – including our own.

The Church Recognizes Dissent
Like others before us, VOTF does question particular behaviors that have put children in jeopardy, fostered hostility between lay Catholics and the ordained, and effected the alienation of countless thousands of Catholics of all ages. We are not the first to care enough about our Church to take on these hurdles; we will not be the last.

In 1968, US bishops wrote in a pastoral letter “Human Life in Our Day” that dissent might be legitimate under three conditions: 1) it is based on serious reasons; 2) it is respectful of teaching authority; and 3) it does not cause scandal (scandal is defined as “conduct that gives moral offense to others, incites others to do evil or provides others with an occasion for morally wrong conduct”).

Is demanding a voice for the People of God in the conduct of our Church rightly called “dissent”? We think not (see Theologian’s Corner – “Servants of the Gospel; Servants of the Church”). By the Church’s definition, this claim for a voice in our Church is serious, respects the Church’s teaching authority and is not scandalous. If anything in our Church over the past century can be called scandalous, it is the crimes against children perpetrated for decades by clergy and covered up by bishops. A close second would be the absence of engagement by bishops with the laity – the recent statement about Eucharist (link), for one example, was another opportunity missed for “communion” between bishops and the rest of us. Our lived faith is essentially in and of community. Voice of the Faithful does not challenge that definition; we seek it in Church leadership.

Inherent Challenges for Dissenters
Dissent is no “easy out” for Roman Catholics. There are levels of authority, even in non-infallible Church teachings; some non-infallible teachings are “more non-infallible” than others, which is to say that some non-infallible teachings are more approachable than others. Clearly, history supports this understanding. VOTF secretary Gaile Pohlhaus notes a principle that recognizes the relative importance assigned to various Christian doctrines/teachings: “...in Catholic teaching there exists an order or ‘hierarchy’ of truths, since they vary in their relationship to the foundation of the Christian faith.” (Second Vatican Council, Decree on Ecumenism, 11). However, to this day, these levels of authority in Church teaching are not universally codified.

Language, while technically the same (in this case, English), is often challenged as if it were foreign and the point being made is lost in a morass of “Church-ese” or genuine ignorance – among the laity and within the hierarchy. Things are not as clear cut as one might need them to be; dissent or even a simple question is lost in nuanced listening. Too, “wishful thinking” and the selective use of texts threaten genuine understanding and abiding consensus. If our Church has been and can be wrong, so can the faithful err.

Mutual respect is meaningless without dialogue and mutual benefit impossible. One diocese welcomes female altar servers and another won’t even discuss the subject. One diocese refuses Eucharist to a politician and another doesn’t. One parish welcomes inquiry and the sharing of information and another is offended by the question. One diocese or parish bans VOTF from meeting on Church property and another attends VOTF meetings and works with our members side by side. The USCCB issues statements that presumably impact our faith lives but where is the lay input? How do we navigate as a true community of believers with so many competing charts? If dioceses operate like fiefdoms, how might anyone expect uniformity of conviction at all?

The Good News
Profoundly significant teaching moments that grew out of dissent have prospered our Church. Even a crisis as horrific as the sexual abuse of children by clergy cannot shake the fundamental, immutable conviction that God holds all of us – dissenters, traditionalists, progressives, reactionaries – in God’s Hands. That conviction grew directly out of dissenters’ arguments on behalf of religious freedom and ecumenism. PLT

VOTF welcomes thoughts on this commentary in the spirit of “catholic” Catholicism. Please address your response to pthorp.ed@votf.org.

[For a quick overview on dissent in our Church, see Rome Has Spoken by Maureen Fiedler and Linda Rabben and Faithful Dissenters by Robert McClory; “dissent” in the Encyclopedia of Catholicism, ed. Richard McBrien. Vatican Council II, Vol. 1, ed. Austin Flannery, O.P.

“The Canonical Doctrine of Reception” by Academic Dean Emeritus of Washington Theological Union James A. Coriden is available at the ARCC website.

“The Future of Dissent in the Catholic Church”, April 2005: An interview with various theologians, including Charles Curran, prior to the election of Cardinal Ratzinger to the papacy is available .

Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, Article 6, “Moral Conscience."

An interesting perspective from Australia

Also, visit the Voice of Renewal/Lay Education pages on the VOTF website for additional reading.]




In the Vineyard
November 30, 2006
Volume 5, Issue 21 Printer Friendly Version (PDF)


Page One

Diocese/State Watch

VOTF “Cards”: A “Thank you!” to Susan Troy as the founding chair of VOTF Prayerful Voice resigns; and “Get Well!” to Fr. Jim Sullivan, VOTF Rockaway, NY.

COMMENTARY

Dissent: Watching our Language" - Editorial

“Thomas Merton on Ecclesial Reform and Renewal” - (second installment) – Fr. Patrick Collins, VOTF

Servants of the Gospel; Servants of the Church” VOTF vice-president Sally Vance-Trembath and VOTF secretary Gaile Pohlhaus

BOOK Review: David Gibson’s The Rule of Benedict


Structural Change Working Group

Voice of Renewal/Lay Education

Prayerful Voice

Goal 2 - Priest Support


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