When I saw the article below, I knew I would have to file it in my infrequently used "Rants" category--this time because I knew that it was going to give a lot of people plenty to...discuss. Also, I have to wonder, has Archbishop Zollitsch been collaborating closely with Dr. Rowan Williams? After all, concerning his statement on the state-sanctioned establishment of Islam in Europe, he seems to have similar ideas in mind:
Berlin, Feb. 18, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The newly elected president of the German bishops' conference has called for reconsideration of clerical celibacy and distanced himself from a Vatican pronouncement that Protestant communities cannot be regarded as churches.
In an interview with Der Spiegel, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg observed that priestly celibacy is "not necessary, theologically." He said that a shift away from that discipline would lead to "a revolution, in which a part of the Church might not join." But he said the option should be considered.
Questioned about relations with Protestant groups in Germany, the archbishop said that he hoped to improve ecumenical ties. He said that a statement released last year by the Vatican-- saying that Protestant groups do not qualify as "churches" in the full sense of that word, since they have not preserved the apostolic priesthood and the Eucharist-- was harmful to ecumenical relations. The Protestant community, Archbishop Zollitsch announced, "is a church; I cannot deny it."
In his Spiegel interview Archbishop Zollitsch was critical of the Christian Democratic Party in Germany, saying that the group's historic ties to the Catholic Church have been weakened. He said that the Christian Democrats were too heavily influenced by "neoliberal" economic theories, and suggested that Church leaders are becoming more sympathetic toward the economic views of the Socialist and Green parties in Germany.
The archbishop told Spiegel that Muslims should have the right to build mosques in European countries, and have training in the Islamic faith provided by German schools.
Do you suppose that the Islamic faith training that he is advocating in German schools would be required of all students? I hope that I'm wrong in my feeling about all of this--that the news media is simply following their nature to be sensationalistic. Undoubtedly the views expressed in the story above and others like it seem rather extreme. Extremism breeds extremism, and extremism of any kind leads to division. It runs the risk of becoming schism.
If Zollitsch's views on celibacy and the nature of ecumenical relations with Islam are not enough, there is his reported insistence on identifying non-Catholic Christian ecclesial communities as churches (and I assume that he means "church" in the same sense of of the word used in the unnamed document to which the story refers), it would do well to consider what then Cardinal Ratzinger said in a year 2000 interview:
That all the existing ecclesial communities should appeal to the same concept of Church seems to me to be contrary to their self-awareness. Luther claimed that the Church, in a theological and spiritual sense, could not be embodied in the great institutional structure of the Catholic Church, which he regarded instead as an instrument of the Antichrist. In his view, the Church was present wherever the Word was proclaimed correctly and the sacraments administered in the right way. Luther himself held that it was impossible to consider the local Churches subject to the princes as the Church; they were external institutions for assistance and were certainly necessary, but not the Church in the theological sense.
Around the time of the interview above I recall a conversation I had with a Baptist minister who told me that including Protestants in the Catholic definition of Church is rather presumptuous. At least my Baptist friend understood the historical implications involved in the development of the Protestant ecclesiology and that the fact that it differs sharply from the Catholic position.
The problem I see clearly in the Zollitsch story is the degree of division that it reveals. Frankly, I do not see the Church headed at all in the direction of liberalizing priestly celibacy or in loosly formulated ecumenism.
If anything, wrongheaded notions only serve to separate further. The Holy Spirit indeed speaks to our hearts of being one with one another. However, our unity is achieved through our acceptance of the Church's guidance and our willingness to come to an understanding of its teachings. Dissent is self-serving only. We are called, perhaps more in our times now than at other times in the recent past, to stand up and claim--or proclaim--the truths given to us in the Deposit of Faith.
We are also called in our times to be as gentle as lambs; to turn the other cheek; to forgive our persecutors; to be longsuffering; to carry our Cross--our Lord's Cross. We are called to love all people regardless of their creed; we are even called to love those who hate us and take our lives. If we as Catholics are separated from one another, or separated into ideological camps, we cannot stand and we cannot witness to the world. If we do not witness, another witness may come to stand--and it may be one that does know Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
In Italy, religion is taught in public schools, as one of the conditions of a treaty signed between the Church and Mussolini many years ago. The curriculum of these courses, in each grade, includes an overview of the three great monotheistic religions, as well as others like hinduism and buddhism and then more detailed study into our own religion. If children belong to another religion or are atheist, they can be exhonerated and do something else during that hour. So I think what he means is that islamic students can study their religion at school. This would not be such a bad idea, because by being hosted in the school system, there may be less opportunity to form extreme views...but I doubt it would be useful. In particular I doubt it because I firmly believe that one of the biggest mistakes the Church has ever made is to have signed that treaty so long ago. There are very few teaching jobs in Italy, so those who really wanted to teach ended up studying to be religion teachers, so they could get a job. They are not doing it out of conviction, and they certainly are not teaching anything useful to the kids. It is no more than a glorified study hall. In fact, next year my 15 year old will not be taking religion, because it is counterproductive. It's one of the main reasons why most kids refuse religious values here in Italy.
As far as liberalization of celibacy is concerned, I would welcome it. I have my good reasons for believing this, but I'll spare you a longer comment.
Posted by: Pia | February 20, 2008 at 07:52 AM
"I have to wonder, has Archbishop Zollitsch been collaborating closely with Dr. Rowan Williams?"
You mean he's not an Anglican Archbishop?
Doesn't it seem that we have pandered to every condition under the sun, i.e., EMHCs shall not be used without extreme good reason, etc. --the extremity apparently extends to "Tuesday morning Mass, when there are more than 16 communicants." This report is about pandering-to.
There seems little that is catholic about Catholicism in news reports. However, we should keep in mind that the good stuff, especially when steady, never makes it into the news. We never hear of the millions of Frs. Joe Blow From Windy City globally who quietly and faithfully administer sacraments (themselves) and even ask so-and-so's teen if he/she has been to confession lately, and who may even allow this or that homeless one to sleep in the pew, or who personally hires this or that developmentally delayed one to work on landscaping around the parish hall. Heck, we don't even read it in diocesan newspapers. That's just the way it is.
An archbishop never speaks ex cathedra, so I won't worry, but what he's said is proof of the need for holy obedience, not mindless obedience, but HOLY obedience. If it doesn't come from a son of the Church, it's up to his brothers and his father in the faith to address it.
Celibacy is (these days even moreso?) lonely, wearing, tempting, etc., but it is the means of unlimited fruitful spiritual parenting. Unlimited! Another look at John's "Little children" or "Beloved" speaks powerfully to the efficacy of celibacy. Plus, Jesus the High Priest did not marry. Those who pick up the Cross nearest to His footsteps, follow Him as He Himself was in His humanity.
Posted by: JustMe | February 20, 2008 at 09:37 AM
Pia-if religion courses are mandated in Germany, it seems fair to offer instruction in Islam alongside the mix. However, I feel the best people to offer religious instruction are those who are its practicing adherents. My kids--with one exception--attend Catholic school. They get religious instruction there, and the third kid gets it from the parish and from my wife and me. I wouldn't want the state to be teaching religion to my kids. Offering comparative religion as an elective is a different thing and I support that wholeheartedly. However, for the most part, I feel that religion is too important to be entrusted to the state.
Also, I hear what you're saying regarding celibacy and I would probably support a married priesthood as well; yet I do not in any way see the Church headed in such a direction at this time--actually the opposite direction is more like it.
Posted by: Deacon DW | February 20, 2008 at 06:45 PM
I know, DD. I remember the first time a priest in religion class talked to us about it. he said that personally, he had made his choice and would not change his mind if the rule had changed the next day, but that it wouldn't be such a bad idea for others, although a bit complicated to work out, especially in the transitional phase, if ever it were to happen.
I remember thinking about that and hoping that it would happen soon, but here we are, 35 years later...
I know that Pope Benedict XVI has clearly stated that it won't happen in his time. Too bad.
Posted by: Pia | February 22, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Hopefully, it will never happen. The priesthood isn't sidework, let alone a career. The Pauline directive about celibacy was primarily ordered to those who were to come. Naturally it would take hundreds of years for anyone to listen to him; he made perfect sense, based on Jesus'.
I can foresee the widowed who discern a call, being supported in undertaking a lifelong priesthood now, but those presently married priests who visibly keep their vestments at the back of the closet and/or those who are (re)/ordained by an excommunicated AB Milingo have too much a self-oriented/duplicitous heart for either vocation.
Posted by: JustMe | February 22, 2008 at 08:19 AM