Christian Conscience, Catholic Teaching and Lay Participation in Public Life

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-313
Author(s):  
Julie Clague
Keyword(s):  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Unfinished Business ◽  
Pope Benedict Xvi ◽  
Benedict Xvi ◽  
Lay Participation ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church ◽  
Church Teaching

AbstractVatican II left Catholicism with some unresolved tensions: on the one hand between the authority of conscience and the teaching authority of the church and, on the other hand, concerning the proper relationship between the hierarchy and the laity. Such unfinished business continues to play itself out in public and political life. This article traces developments in the Catholic understanding of conscientious participation in public life, stretching from John F. Kennedy’s presidential candidature in 1960 up to the present writings of Pope Benedict XVI. In the post-Vatican II era, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI have emphasized the strong correspondence that should exist between church teaching and the Christian conscience.

A Hermeneutic of True Reform

2019 ◽  
pp. 18-42
Author(s):  
Shaun Blanchard
Keyword(s):  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
Pope Benedict Xvi ◽  
Benedict Xvi ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
Christian Thought ◽  
Catholic Reform ◽  
The Church ◽  
Different Levels

This chapter argues that the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, are best understood through a triadic grid: ressourcement (retrieval of past Christian thought and texts, especially scripture and of the church fathers), aggiornamento (updating), and the development of doctrine. It highlights four areas in which Vatican II sought to reform the Church—ecclesiology, religious liberty, liturgy and devotions, and ecumenism. The interpretation of Vatican II is still heavily contested. The chapter argues that the best hermeneutic for interpreting the council, advanced by Pope Benedict XVI and praised by John O’Malley, is a “hermeneutic of reform,” a theologically rigorous and historically conscious hermeneutic that sees Vatican II as having “continuity and discontinuity on different levels” with past teaching. It argues that such a hermeneutic can aid conciliar interpretation and deepen reflection on the nature of Catholic reform through a study of forerunners of Vatican II, who attempted aggiornamento and ressourcement.

scholarly journals The Criteria of “Authentically” Catholic Theology: Reading Theology Today a Decade Later

Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1071
Author(s):  
Ethna Regan
Keyword(s):  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Word Of God ◽  
Catholic Theology ◽  
10Th Anniversary ◽  
Pope Benedict Xvi ◽  
Benedict Xvi ◽  
Critical Commentary ◽  
Faith Integration ◽  
The Church

In light of the fecundity and diversity of Catholic theology since Vatican II, a 2012 report of the International Theological Commission (ITC) identified perspectives, principles, and criteria—distinctive family traits—of Catholic theology, what Pope Benedict XVI called its “genetic code”: primacy of the Word of God; the faith of the Church as its source, context, and norm; the science of faith; drawing constantly on the canonical witness of Scripture; fidelity to the Apostolic Tradition; attention to the sensus fidelium; responsible adherence to the ecclesiastical magisterium; practiced in collaboration with the whole company of theologians; in dialogue with the world; giving a scientifically and rationally argued presentation of the Christian faith; integration of plurality in the intellectus fidei; and sapiential. This article marks the 10th anniversary of the ITC report by offering a critical commentary on the criteria, examining the possibilities, limitations, and tensions inherent in each, and the ongoing relevance of these criteria for contemporary Catholic theology. It argues that although the aim of the ITC report is not to promote uniformity but to avoid fragmentation, and its framework is an ecclesiology of communion, when the interpretative possibilities of theology are discussed, the report tends to retreat from these possibilities and adopt a restrictive emphasis on conformity. The article then examines what Pope Francis (2013–) says about the characteristics of Catholic theology and the role of theologians in his major documents and his addresses to faculties of theology. It argues that Francis makes a distinctive contribution to consideration of what is “authentically” Catholic theology, and may offer a less restrictive understanding of such theology for the diverse academic, cultural, and ecclesial contexts in which Catholic theologians find themselves.

The Catholic Church

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Roman Catholicism ◽  
Pope Benedict Xvi ◽  
Benedict Xvi ◽  
Church Hierarchy ◽  
Christian Family ◽  
The One ◽  
Cover Up ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Roman Catholicism stands at a crossroads, a classic ''best of times, worst of times'' moment. On the one hand, the Catholic Church remains by far the largest branch of the worldwide Christian family, and is growing at a remarkable clip. Yet the Church has also been rocked by a series of scandals related to the sexual abuse of minors by clergy, and, even more devastating, the cover-up by the Church hierarchy. The decade-long crisis has taken a massive financial toll, but the blow to both the internal morale and the external moral standing of the Church has been even steeper. Today, the Church has enormous residual strength and exciting future prospects, but also faces steep internal and external challenges. The question of ''whither Catholicism'' is of vital public relevance, for believers and non-believers alike. In The Catholic Church: What Everyone Needs to Know, John L. Allen, Jr., one of the world's leading authorities on the Vatican, offers an authoritative and accessible guide to the past, present, and future of the Church. This updated edition includes a new chapter on the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the election of Pope Francis, and his extraordinary tenure thus far.

scholarly journals TEOLOGIA W SŁUŻBIE WIARY – REFLEKSJA NAD LEKTURĄ KATECHEZY BENEDYKTA XVI „RADOŚĆ WIARY”

2018 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 147
Author(s):  
Jerzy Lewandowski
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Moral Relativism ◽  
Human Existence ◽  
Pope Benedict Xvi ◽  
Benedict Xvi ◽  
Assurance Of Salvation ◽  
The Church

In a contemporary, secularized society, faith is undervalued and marginalized.How can we find the “joy of faith” nowadays? A deepening response to this questionis found in “Joy of Faith,” which is a type of catechesis by Pope Benedict XVI connected to the Year of faith. A re-reading of Pope’s thought gives a specialopportunity to realize the apparent truth that modern theology serves to awakenthe “joy of faith.” Turning this thought aside: believers need contemporary theologyso that their faith can be deepened, joyful and courageous in the discourse with“apostles” of religious indifference and moral relativism. Reading of papal catechesisreveals that faith gives a renewed glimpse into human existence, enables usto discover in God the source of truth, introduces in the experience of the action ofthe Holy Spirit and of the Church, and finally gives assurance of salvation, whichfor the Christian is the foundation of the ultimate (eschatological) joy.

scholarly journals The Teaching of the Church on Religious Freedom: A Break or Continuity of Tradition?

2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 553-584
Author(s):  
Michał Chaberek
Keyword(s):  
French Revolution ◽  
Religious Freedom ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Pope Benedict Xvi ◽  
Benedict Xvi ◽  
The Past ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
Final Acceptance ◽  
The Church ◽  
The French Revolution

This paper elaborates upon the Catholic Church’s teaching on religious freedom in the period from The French Revolution to The Second Vatican Council. Based on quotations from the original documents, the author presents the evolution of the Church’s position that switched from the initial rejection to the final acceptance of the religious freedom over past two centuries. The fact of this dramatic change begs the question about the continuity of tradition and credibility of the contemporary position of the Church. Based on the document by the International Theological Commission, “Memory and Reconciliation: The Church and the Faults of the Past,” as well as the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI, the author demonstrates that – in contrast to some contemporary interpretations – the hermeneutics of continuity is possible regarding Church’s teaching on religious freedom.

scholarly journals The mercy of God as the foundation of charity of the Church

Diacovensia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 637-651
Author(s):  
Wiesław Przygoda
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Image Of God ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
Pope Francis ◽  
Pope Benedict Xvi ◽  
Benedict Xvi ◽  
The Bible ◽  
1 John ◽  
The Image Of God ◽  
The Church

Charity diaconia of the Church is not an accidental involvement but belongs to its fundamental missions. This thesis can be supported in many ways. The author of this article finds the source of the obligation of Christians and the whole Church community to charity service in the nature of God. For Christians God is Love (1 John 4, 8.16). Even though some other names can be found, (Jahwe , Elohim, Adonai), his principal name that encapsulates all other ones is Love. Simultaneously, God which is Love showed his merciful nature (misericordiae vultus) in the course of salvation. He did it in a historical, visible and optimal way through his Son, Jesus Christ through the embodied God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who loved the mankind so much that he sacrificed his life for us, being tortured and killed at the cross. This selfless love laid the foundations for the Church, which, in essence, is a community of loving human and God’s beings. Those who do not love, even though they joined the Church through baptism, technically speaking, do not belong to the Church since love is a real not a formal sign of belonging to Christ’s disciples (cf. John 13, 35). Therefore, charitable activity is a significant dimension of the Church’s mission as it is through charity that the Church shows the merciful nature of its Saviour. A question that needs to be addressed may be expressed as follows: in what way the image of God, who is love, implies an involvement in charity of an individual and the Church? An answer may be found in the Bible, writings of the Church Fathers of and the documents of Magisterium Ecclesiae and especially the teachings of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

scholarly journals NO RESPEITO E NO AMOR. ENSINAMENTO DE BENTO XVI E FRANCISCO SOBRE A SOLICITUDE ECUMÊNICA

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 357
Author(s):  
Maria Teresa De Freitas Cardoso
Keyword(s):  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Pope Francis ◽  
Gaudium Et Spes ◽  
Benedict Xvi ◽  
John Paul Ii ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
De Se ◽  
Joseph Ratzinger ◽  
The Church

RESUMO: O artigo apresenta traços do ensinamento de Bento XVI sobre a solicitude ecumênica e uma nota sobre sua renovação e avanço pelo papa Francisco na sua programática exortação Evangelii Gaudium. Depois de se reportar ao compromisso ecumênico do Concílio Vaticano II, considerado irreversível por João Paulo II, e de observar algumas dificuldades, como sobre a Declaração Dominus Iesus, examinam-se entrevistas, discursos e encíclicas de Joseph Ratzinger/Bento XVI, especialmente em relação com uma afirmação da constituição Gaudium et Spes do Concílio Vaticano II, sobre respeito e amor. No final, acrescenta-se uma anotação breve, mas importante, sobre a renovação e o avanço na Evangelii Gaudium do Papa Francisco. Destacam-se o ensinamento de respeito e o amor como fundamentais para o ecumenismo e o diálogo inter-religioso e valorizam-se: a oração e a espiritualidade; o testemunho da fé preservando a harmonia nas diversidades; a gratuidade e a reciprocidade; o diálogo; a promoção do bem e da paz. Finalmente, a abertura, a Igreja em saída, ao encontro dos outros, como é acentuado na Evangelii Gaudium.ABSTRACT: The article presents traces of the teachings of Benedict XVI on the ecumenical concern and a note on its renewal and advancement by Pope Francis in his programmatic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. After reporting back to the ecumenical commitment of Vatican Council II, considered irreversible by John Paul II, and to observe certain difficulties, such as on the Declaration Dominus Iesus, it examines interviews, speeches and encyclicals of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI, especially in relation with an affirmation of the Constitution Gaudium et Spes of Vatican II, about respect and love. In the end, it adds a brief but important annotation on the renewal and the advancement of Evangelii Gaudium by Pope Francis. Here is highlighted the teaching of respect and love as fundamental for ecumenism and inter-religious dialog and value: prayer and spirituality; the testimony of faith while preserving the harmony of diversity; generosity and reciprocity; dialog; the promotion of goodness and peace. Finally, openness, the Church ready to go out, to meet others, as is emphasized in Evangelii Gaudium.

The First Vatican Council

1971 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 329-344
Author(s):  
E. E. Y. Hales
Keyword(s):  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
People Of God ◽  
Vatican I ◽  
The People ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church

Centenaries are supposed to be occasions when we take stock of the event we are commemorating. In the light of developments in the last hundred years how does the work of the First Vatican Council look today? And since it so happens that the hundred years in question includes the Second Vatican Council, recently concluded, it is natural to put the question in this form: how does the work of Vatican I look today, in the light of Vatican II?I think it would be fair to say that it is widely considered that the work of Vatican I was a little unfortunate, and has since proved embarrassing, because its definitions enhanced the authority of the papacy. Vatican II is supposed to have helped to redress that balance by disclosing the nature of the Church as a whole, from the bishops down to the People of God, or perhaps I should say from the bishops up to the People of God, in view of our preference nowadays for turning everything upside down. Such critics of Vatican I are not, of course, denying either the dogmatic infallibility or the juridical primacy of the Pope, which were defined at that Council; but they are saying that it is a distortion to stress the powers of the papacy and to neglect the powers of the college of bishops or the rights of the rest of the Church, and they are saying that the one-sided definitions of Vatican I tended to create such distortion in men’s minds until they were balanced by the pronouncements of Vatican II.

scholarly journals ECUMENISM IN EVANGELII GAUDIUM AND IN THE CONTEXT OF FRANCIS’ PONTIFICATE

2016 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Faggioli
Keyword(s):  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Social Challenges ◽  
Pope Benedict Xvi ◽  
Benedict Xvi ◽  
The Poor

Abstract: Ecumenism is one of the areas in which the transition from the ‘theologian pope’ Benedict XVI to Francis has made the most dramatic impact. Francis’ ecumenism is not systematic, but contextual and inductive. It is spiritual, not dogmatic. It is post-confessional: it breaks the boundaries of post-Reformation Europe. Francis’ ecumenism is part of his effort to address systemic social challenges, to care for the poor and disenfranchised. Overall, Francis’ ecumenical ecclesiology is non-ecclesiocentric, and in this sense it is a step forward from the mixed ecclesiology(ies) of Vatican II where institutional ecclesiology had the last word over ecumenical ecclesiology.Resumo: O ecumenismo é uma das áreas em que a transição do ‘papa teólogo’ Bento XVI a Francisco teve um dramático impacto. O ecumenismo de Francisco  não é sistemático, mas contextual e indutivo. Ele é espiritual, não dogmático. É pós-confessional: ele quebra as fronteiras da Europa pós-Reforma. O ecumenismo de Francisco é  parte de seu esforço para enfrentar os desafios sociais sistêmicos, para cuidar dos pobres e marginalizados. Em geral, a eclesiologia ecumênica de Francisco  é não-eclesiocêntrica e, nesse sentido, é um passo adiante da(s) eclesiologia mista(s) do Concílio Vaticano II, onde  a eclesiologia institucional teve a última palavra sobre a eclesiologia ecumênica.

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