scholarly journals Polish Catholic Bishops, Nationalism and Liberal Democracy

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.

Author(s):  
Lucas Soares Portela

Da mesma forma que Cristo dividiu sua missão com os apóstolos, o Papa divide seu pontificado com colaboradores, sendo estes determinantes para a condução da Política da Igreja. Este artigo aborda as alterações que o Papa Francisco realizou durante o primeiro ano de seu pontificado, com o objetivo de analisar as tendências organizacionais deste novo pontificado e sua relação com a “hemorragia de fiéis” na América Latina. Esta reflexão é realizada abordando inicialmente os aspectos metodológicos sobre a Política Vaticana. Posteriormente, o artigo realiza um debate sobre novos órgãos no processo decisório vaticanista e a reconfiguração de órgãos antigos. Além de falar das mudanças, o artigo também fala das manutenções no processo decisório da Igreja, pois elas também trazem muito significado sobre as intenções do papa Argentino. Para tanto, o método de pesquisa utilizado é a documentação direta, tendo com instrumentos a pesquisa bibliográfica e documental. Ao final do artigo, foi concluída uma tendência ao perfil moderado no governo do Papa Francisco, além de uma predisposição por nomes latino-americanos ou que tiveram experiências e residências no continente latino-americano. Os resultados deste estudo contribuem para futuras pesquisas sobre o governo da Santa Sé em resposta a “hemorragia de fiéis” na América Latina. Palavras-chave: Igreja Católica. Cardeais. Organização Política.AbstractAs the same way Christ shared his mission with the apostles, the Pope shares his administration with his collaborators and the choice of these men is crucial for the conduct of Church.This article discusses the changes that the Pope Francis held during the first year of his pontificate to analyze the organizational trends of this new pontificate and its relationship with the bleeding of the faithful in Latin America. The discussion covers methodological issues about Vatican policy; a debate on new organs of the Vatican in political decisions; reconfiguration of existing agencies; and maintenance in the decision making process of the church. Thus, the research method used was direct documentation, and used the bibliographic and documentary research. Finally, the article noted a tendency to moderate profile in the government of the Pope Francisco, and it also noted a predisposition for Latin-American names or who have had experiences and residences in the Latin American continent. Result of this priority to stop the bleeding of the faithful in Latin America and manage crises in the Church as a whole.Keywords: Catholic Church. Cardinals. Policy Organization. 


1989 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-381
Author(s):  
Arthur R. Liebscher

To the dismay of today's social progressives, the Argentine Catholic church addresses the moral situation of its people but also shies away from specific political positions or other hint of secular involvement. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the church set out to secure its place in national leadership by strengthening religious institutions and withdrawing clergy from politics. The church struggled to overcome a heritage of organizational weakness in order to promote evangelization, that is, to extend its spiritual influence within Argentina. The bishop of the central city of Córdoba, Franciscan Friar Zenón Bustos y Ferreyra (1905-1925), reinforced pastoral care, catechesis, and education. After 1912, as politics became more heated, Bustos insisted that priests abstain from partisan activities and dedicate themselves to ministry. The church casts itself in the role of national guardian, not of the government, but of the faith and morals of the people.


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.


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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 323-348
Author(s):  
Joel Hodge

Abstract The Western discourse and norms around secularism, particularly Church-state relations, are foreign in many ways to the majority world, especially Asia. However, as the modern nation-state has taken root in Asia, different models of secularism have developed with interesting relationships to the particular cultural and religious context of each country. In the difficult course of forming a secular nation-state, Asian nations have had to address the dominant religious traditions and institutions of each nation, including Christian churches. This process has occasionally provoked conflict and has presented a particular dilemma to Christian churches in how to respond and relate to the developing nation-state. In order for theology to adequately address this situation (particular the context of modern secular discourses) and conceptualise the public shape and role of the church, a practical examination of the church’s relationship to and formation of culture and politics is required. To explore this process, this essay examines the case of Timor-Leste (or East Timor) and its relationship with the Roman Catholic Church, particularly in regards to the state-building process that has occurred after independence. The Church’s influence, which grew rapidly during the Indonesian occupation (1975–1999), has been contested since independence by some in the political sphere, such as in the 2005 dispute with the Government. By examining the 2005 dispute, the essay analyses the nature of the Catholic Church’s influence on Timorese cultural and political identity and her relationship with the new Timorese nation-state. The essay identifies the different models of secularism operative in Timor as they have relevance to the Asian context more generally.


2021 ◽  
pp. 134-153
Author(s):  
Vadim V. Volobuev ◽  

The chapter describes the influence of the Roman Catholic Church on the domestic and foreign policies of Poland from the signing of the Treaty of May 1989 between the government and episcopate to the parliamentary elections of 2019. The author shows the interaction of the clergy and parties sharing the social doctrine of the church, in particular the Law and Justice Party, and the role of the personality and views of John Paul II in current Polish politics. Finally, the author considers the disputes and conflicts within Polish Catholicism.


1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 622-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Podmore

Most Anglican crises, including recent ones, seem to boil down in the end to two linked questions — those of identity and authority. Is the Church of England pre-eminently a national or a catholic Church, a Protestant Church (and if so, of what kind?) or Anglican and sui generis? With which of these types of Church should it align itself? Where lies the famed via media, and which are the extremes to be avoided? And who has the authority to decide: as a national Church, parliament, the government, the monarch personally; as an episcopal Church, the bishops? Or should the clergy in convocations (or, latterly, the General Synod, including representatives of the pious laity) take decisions? Anglican crises have always raised these twin problems of identity and authority. In the mid-eighteenth century — from the end of the 1730s and particularly in the 1740s — the Church of England faced another crisis. The Anglican bishops had to come to terms with the movement known as the ‘evangelical revival’. Principles had to be applied to a new situation. The bishops had to decide how to categorise the new societies (or would they become new churches?) which were springing up all over England.


Author(s):  
Karolus Budiman Jama ◽  
I Wayan Ardika ◽  
I Ketut Ardhana ◽  
I Ketut Setiawan

Manggaraian ethnic has a special art named Caci. The art holds and became an identity of the whole of Manggaraian. The art was begun as the ritual of farmer’s land fertility. In its developing, the aesthetic has gone under the multifunction in it show time. The art is not only performing for the shake of the local people culture, but also perform for the political interest as well as the catholic church in Mangggarai.  This research used ethnographic method, data collected through the observation, interview, documentation, and triangulation. The research was done in Manggaraian ethnic of Flores. Every Caci performance has its own unique ideology. The ideology goes behind the cultural Caci performance is the ideology of fertility. The ideology goes behind the government interest of Caci performance is capitalism economy and political power.  The church ideology is inclusivism through the inculturation languages. Keywords: dynamic, multifunction, caci, ideology, culture identity


Author(s):  
Kathleen Sprows Cummings

Canonization, the process by which the Catholic Church names saints, may be fundamentally about holiness, but it is never only about holiness. In the United States, it was often about the ways in which Catholics defined, defended, and celebrated their identities as Americans. This book traces saint-seeking in the United States from the 1880s, the decade in which U.S. Catholics nominated their first candidates for canonization, to 2015, the year Pope Francis named the twelfth American saint in the first such ceremony held on U.S. soil. It argues that U.S. Catholics’ search for a saint of their own sprung from a desire to persuade the Vatican to recognize their country’s holy heroes. But Rome was not U.S. saint-seekers only audience. For the U.S. Catholic faithful, saints served not only as mediators between heaven and earth, but also between the faith they professed and the American culture in which they lived. This panoramic view of American sanctity, focused on figures at the nexus of holiness and U.S. history, this book explores U.S. Catholics’ understanding of themselves both as members of the church and as citizens of the nation—and reveals how those identities converged, diverged, and changed over time.


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