scholarly journals Bernardin and Bergoglio: What the Cardinal’s Legacy Offers to a Church Led by Pope Francis

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Kevin J. V. Mannara, CSB

As the papacy of Francis unfolds the Church is experiencing a time of rebirth, grounded in our long tradition but with shifting emphases and fresh outlooks. Seminaries and other graduate schools of study may struggle to find frames of reference in which to structure education and formation to fit these shifts. They would do well to revisit the work of Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, in particular his Consistent Ethic of Life and Common Ground Initiative, as a way forward during this springtime of renewed interest in the church and its relevance to contemporary issues. The two men seem to be kindred spirits, as well as products of their eras. Bernardin’s work will need updating, but it provides a solid foundation from which to begin the implementation of Francis’s vision for a church at the service of Christ’s mission today.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 149-163
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Kirch

Both Pope Francis and Robert Schreiter recognize that the world has been profoundly affected by conflict, globalization, and the breakdown of relationships on multiple levels. They also assert that the Church must address these situations. The ecclesiologies of both Schreiter and Francis offer effective tools for this work. This article will examine several key, shared concepts within their ecclesiologies. Specifically, their understandings of the missionary nature of the Church and their robust understanding of catholicity prove to be key concepts in the Church's response to a world marred by sin.


Religions ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Madalena Meyer Resende ◽  
Anja Hennig

The alliance of the Polish Catholic Church with the Law and Justice (PiS) government has been widely reported and resulted in significant benefits for the Church. However, beginning in mid-2016, the top church leadership, including the Episcopal Conference, has distanced itself from the government and condemned its use of National Catholicism as legitimation rhetoric for the government’s malpractices in the fields of human rights and democracy. How to account for this behavior? The article proposes two explanations. The first is that the alliance of the PiS with the nationalist wing of the Church, while legitimating its illiberal refugee policy and attacks on democratic institutions of the government, further radicalized the National Catholic faction of the Polish Church and motivated a reaction of the liberal and mainstream conservative prelates. The leaders of the Episcopate, facing an empowered and radical National Catholic faction, pushed back with a doctrinal clarification of Catholic orthodoxy. The second explanatory path considers the transnational influence of Catholicism, in particular of Pope Francis’ intervention in favor of refugee rights as prompting the mainstream bishops to reestablish the Catholic orthodoxy. The article starts by tracing the opposition of the Bishops Conference and liberal prelates to the government’s refugee and autocratizing policies. Second, it describes the dynamics of the Church’s internal polarization during the PiS government. Third, it traces and contextualizes the intervention of Pope Francis during the asylum political crisis (2015–2016). Fourth, it portrays their respective impact: while the Pope’s intervention triggered the bishops’ response, the deepening rifts between liberal and nationalist factions of Polish Catholicism are the ground cause for the reaction.


Exchange ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 209-237
Author(s):  
Stan Chu Ilo

Abstract This essay argues for a participatory synodal Church and the possible contributions of the African palaver as a model for participatory dialogue in the Roman Catholic Church. The African palaver is the art of conversation, dialogue, and consensus-building in traditional society that can be appropriated in the current search for a more inclusive and expansive participatory dialogue at all levels of the life of the Church. I will develop this essay first by briefly exploring some theological developments on synodality between the Second Vatican Council and Pope Francis and some of the contributions of the reforms of Pope Francis to synodality in the Church. Secondly, I will identify how the African palaver functions through examples taken from two African ethnic groups. I will proceed to show how the African palaver could enter into dialogue with other new approaches to participatory dialogue for a synodal Church.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-200
Author(s):  
Gerardus Rahmat Subekti

The article deals with pastoral care for family according to Amoris Laetitia. The author’s concern is to discuss the pastoral steps for the families in the face of crisis situations: What kind of pastoral steps can be organized to assist families in crisis situations? This article is based on the study of ecclesial document Amoris Laetitia, a post-synodal apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis addressing the pastoral care of families. First of all, the article describes the basic thoughts of this document, especially those related to the reality and ideals of family life. Then, it shows some practical pastoral thoughts for assisting families in special situations. The results can be a significant contribution for the Church in terms of its important duties and responsibilities in assisting the families today, but also for family pastoral activists. This description concludes that the crisis situation faced by families is not a fact to be constantly regretted, but an opportunity for the Church to show God's mercy to those who are struggling in difficult situations.


Author(s):  
Koos Vorster

This research deals with the question of whether an ecumenical ethics can be developed in South Africa that at least will be applicable in the field of political ethics and that can assist the various ecclesiastical traditions to ‘speak with one voice’ when they address the government on matters of Christian ethical concern. The research rests on the recognition of the variety of ethical persuasions and points of view that flow from the variety of hermeneutical approaches to Scripture. However, within this plethora of ethical discourses, an ‘overlapping’ ethics based on a proposed set of minimum theological ideas can be pursued in order to reach at least an outline of an applicable ecumenical political ethics conducive to the church–state dialogue in South Africa today. The article concludes that a ‘minimum consensus’ on the role of revelation in the moral discourses is possible and is enriched by traditional ideas such as creation and natural law, the reign of God and Christology, and it can provide a suitable common ground for an ecumenical ethics applicable to the moral difficulties in the political domain in South Africa today.


2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (300) ◽  
pp. 958
Author(s):  
João Décio Passos

Síntese: As análises desenvolvidas nesse artigo têm como objeto as relações entre o Papa Francisco e a Cúria romana. A distância crítica visível do atual Pontífice em relação à dinâmica curial levanta a problemática do exercício de poder no governo central da Igreja católica. Assumindo como principal referência teórica as tipologias de poder weberianas, distingue o poder carismático, exercido por Francisco, e o poder burocrático, exercido pela Cúria. A reflexão indica que se trata de uma duplicidade de autoridade inerente ao poder central da Igreja que se torna, no momento histórico, explícita nas posturas e discursos do Papa. Afirma também que a Cúria, com suas doenças expostas por Francisco, constitui uma burocracia com características próprias e que as reformas prometidas deverão colocá-la na posição de autêntica burocracia, cuja função é estar a serviço de um governo colegiado exercido pelo Pontífice, conforme indicou o Concílio Vaticano II.Palavras-chave: Autoridade. Cúria romana. Igreja. Papado. Reforma.Abstract: The analyses developed in this article have as object the relations between Pope Francis and the Roman Curia. The critically visible distance between the current Pontiff and the curial dynamic raises the issue of the exercise of power in the central government of the Catholic Church. Taking as main theoretical reference the Weberian power typologies the article distinguishes the charismatic power exercised by Francis, and the bureaucratic power, exercised by the Curia. The reflection suggests that we are dealing with a duplicity of authority that is inherent to the central power of the Church and that, in this historical moment, becomes explicit in the Pope’s postures and speeches. It also states that the Curia, with its diseases exposed by Francis, is a bureaucracy with its own characteristics; and that the promised reforms should put it in a position of an authentic bureaucracy whose function is to be of service to a collegiate government exercised by the Pontiff, as indicated by the Second Vatican Council.Keywords: Authority. Roman curia. Church. Papacy. Roform.


2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (300) ◽  
pp. 990
Author(s):  
Francisco De Aquino Júnior

Síntese: A pretensão deste artigo é provocar uma discussão sobre o atual panorama eclesial, fortalecendo e contribuindo com o movimento de renovação ou de conversão eclesial desencadeado pelo papa Francisco e formulado por ele nos termos de “Igreja em saída” para as “periferias do mundo”. Depois de algumas considerações mais gerais sobre a problemática da análise do panorama eclesial, apresenta a novidade que representa Francisco e seu projeto de uma “Igreja em saída para as periferias”, no atual panorama eclesial, e indica alguns desafios e algumas tarefas teológico-pastorais que emergem deste projeto de renovação ou de reforma eclesial. E conclui com uma convocação ao fortalecimento e ao aprofundamento teológico-pastoral deste projeto, não desperdiçando o “tempo de graça” que o Senhor nos concede.Palavras-chave: Conjuntura eclesial. Papa Francisco. Missão da Igreja. Periferias. Teologia.Abstract: The purpose of this article is to provoke a discussion about the current ecclesial panorama, strengthening and contributing to the movement of renewal or of ecclesial conversion triggered by Pope Francis and formulated by him in terms of “the Church on exit” to the “peripheries of the world “. After a few more general considerations on the issue of the ecclesial landscape analysis, the article presents the novelty that Francis and his project of a “Church on exit to the peripheries” represents in the current ecclesial scene, and indicates some challenges and some theological-pastoral tasks that emerge from this project of renewal or of ecclesial reform. It concludes with a call for the strengthening and theological-pastoral deepening of this project, so that the “time of grace” that the Lord is granting us will not be wasted.Keywords: Ecclesial conjuncture. Pope Francis. The Church’s Mission. Peripheries. Theology.


Kulturstudier ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Tina Wilchen Christensen

<div>Artiklen vil belyse de mekanismer, der ligger til grund for et velfungerende f&aelig;llesskab&nbsp;i en af Indre Missions ungdomsforeninger i &Aring;rhus. Troen har p&aring; forskellige&nbsp;m&aring;der en central position i f&aelig;llesskabet, og denne artikel vil argumentere for de&nbsp;unges tro som en social identitet, idet deres habitus synes at have en afg&oslash;rende&nbsp;betydning for den og deres oplevelse af det religi&oslash;st funderede f&aelig;llesskab. Artiklenvil ogs&aring; belyse, hvordan Biblen og dens fort&aelig;llinger udg&oslash;r den fortolkningsramme,&nbsp;som de unge er opvokset med og forst&aring;r livet igennem. Artiklen viser&nbsp;desuden den rolle, det kollektive samv&aelig;r spiller i de unges konstruktion af Gud&nbsp;og egen identitet som kristen.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Faith as common ground- community feeling among young evangelicals in Denmark</div><div><br /></div><div>The aim of this article is to demonstrate the mechanisms that underlie a youth association in the so-called Home Mission, a branch of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark. It is the result of anthropological research focusing on the sense of community among members aged between 15 and 27. In a number of ways faith plays a central role in the community, and the main argument of the article is that the young people's faith constitutes a social identity, since their habitus seems to have a decisive impact on their experience of the faith-based community. The article further demonstrates how the Bible and its narratives form the framework of interpretation with which the young people have grown up, and which, in their present life as adults, continues to mould their understanding and view of life, as well as the role that collective interaction plays in the young people's construction of God and their own identity as Christians. A core argument in the article is that faith is a socialization into a structure which results in all participants having the same frame of reference and therefore experiencing a strong feeling of community with one another within this particular wing of the Church of Denmark.&nbsp;<br /> <br /></div>


Author(s):  
Benoît Vermander

This chapter maps the road traveled by the Jesuits from the time they chose Pedro Arrupe as their Twenty-Eighth Superior General in 1965 till the election of their confrere Jorge Maria Bergoglio (Pope Francis) in March 2013, followed by the one of Arturo Sosa as the Thirty-First Superior General of the order in October 2016. During that period, the Jesuits significantly shifted priorities, highlighting integration between faith and justice and a return to the sources of Ignatian spirituality. Today’s mission is presented as being one of reconciliation among peoples, among religions, and with the whole creation. Internal challenges include shrinking global membership (while Asia and Africa are growing numerically), formation model for younger members, collaboration with laity, and protection of minors. Jesuits need to further their internal reform process while helping the church and society at large creatively respond to pressing global challenges.


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