REFORMATION

JUDGEMENT

All human life is personal. It is impossible to avoid responsibility for thought and action, so when it becomes essential to make judgments about any organisation or person each of us has an awesome responsibility:
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgments you give are the judgments you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given," says Jesus, as reported by the disciple and writer Matthew. (ch7.1-12)

            My opinions, my judgments, are my responsibility, and will provoke both favourable and unfavourable reaction, perhaps even some that may be downright hostile.
            I ask you who read what I have written to think well before you decide where you stand and what you say and do.
            Truth is the guideline.
            I deeply regret that my opinions may give personal offence. It is not my intention to cause hurt, but I accept that it is possible, and hope that injury will not be lasting.

            So, as all human perspectives are personal, let me begin in a most personal way.

            When Pope John Paul II died, the person who gave the homily over the wooden casket in St. Peter's Square was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who had been Prefect of the Congregation of Faith for more than twenty years.
            His homily was whisper perfect, an impressive tribute to a strong, holy man whose life had been devoted to giving witness to Jesus. Many in the crowd cried out for immediate declaration of his sainthood, and I agreed totally with the placards that appeared: "Santo Subito!", "Saint Now!"!"
            John Paul was a remarkable man, though some did not like his dramatic approach.
            I did not object to this, for I well remember his impassioned plea in Dundalk, in the Republic of Ireland , to the ruthless men of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (the IRA) to stop killing: "Murder by any other name is still murder!"

It was only later that I began to appreciate how conservative his religious beliefs were, supported by his good friend Joseph Ratzinger, also known as `God's Rottweiler!' - doing all John Paul's `dirty' work for him.
I liked John Paul very much. He was a full-hearted man, without doubt a saint, simply because he loved God and neighbour without reserve, gave so much of himself over such a long time.

I regret to say that I was not so impressed by Joseph Ratzinger, despite the clarity of his thought and the impressive oration at his friend's funeral.
I had only one reaction at that time: "This man must be a favourite to be elected Pope," and so it turned out to be.

            When the new Benedict XVI appeared on the balcony above St. Peter's Square I was, however, shocked to see him shake his clasped hands above his head, like a boxing champion celebrating victory.
            It was not something I had expected. Other popes had modestly spread wide their arms and acknowledged the crowd, offering themselves to the people before giving the Urbe et Orbe blessing.
            Do I make too much of the impression I had? I believe not. Body language is strong, involuntary and almost impossible to hide.

The future Benedict later recalled nervousness and reluctance when it became clear that he was to be elected pope. I can well believe this, and also believe that the new Pope was celebrating a victory not so much for himself but for the Church, convinced that he knew what was required for church deliverance from abuses that he perceived: greater control of lax teaching and practice.

            `God's Rottweiler', in my view, had not disappeared. As pope he was now in outright control, and expected all right-thinking Catholics to join with him in his celebration.
            I had deep reservations about what the future might bring. They developed and increased throughout the next five years.
            I really do not like to have to point to some of Benedict 's less positive actions: his immediate effort to bring renegade clerics of the traditionalist Pius X Society back into the church - without any preconditions - including the reception of illegally consecrated bishops who continued to reject central directives of the Second Vatican Council - including liturgical reform, freedom of religion and rapprochement with Judaism. It was a shock.

His enthusiastic support for the medieval Tridentine Mass in Latin was a further retrograde step that I did not relish. It offended against the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, reducing the practical effect of the findings of the Fathers of the Church regarding the vital necessity of understandable vernacular worship. Much needed reforms of church and the Vatican also seemed set to be ignored.

Benedict seems prepared to skim over the fact that the Council, attended by all Bishops of the Catholic Church, is the full Church Magisterium, the final teaching authority of the apostolic church.
He has stated that Protestant churches are not real churches, in the proper sense of the word - an unnecessary, injudicious and finicky statement that ignores the root meaning of the word `church' - `ecclesia': i.e., those who are `chosen or called out'; appearing to discount Jesus' assurance that He had given faith, that is, `called out' people who were `not of this fold'. (John 10:16)

The pope also appears to regard Judaism as merely the historic root of Christianity, refusing to respect it as a separate, valued religious community, despite the regrettable rejection of a fellow Jew as the Messiah.
Courteous and friendly acceptance of the modern rejection of Jesus could have been more productive, even in the context of expressing sorrow and regret.

In matters of pastoral ministry within the Church, Benedict , reacting against easy declaration of Nullity of marriage, especially in America , issued orders that make strict legal procedures obligatory.

Truth, justice and genuine love are the words he uses, but the result throughout the Catholic world is the instigation of a barren legal process that eliminates care for individual people and an acceptance and understanding of valid psychological reasons for marital breakdown. Thousands of Catholic couples are forced into a limbo of shattered dreams and a life without the sacraments, especially the reception of the Body and Blood of Christ.

            It is a heartless enforcement of Rules, born out of an exaggerated desire for control and conformity. Not something I like to see in the church.
            I do not enjoy being so critical, and I expect to be criticised in return.
            The only thing I ask is that truth be sought and expressed, in a spirit of loving kindness. Realisation of truth, no matter how unwelcome, leads to understanding.

As I am being so personal let me reflect on the source of some of our church problems, caused, as I have indicated above, by the attitude of our present Pope.................