Church is bigger than Vatican

The Point of Debate by Bishop Kevin Dowling (January 14-20) has received favourable comments with which I associate myself.

The responses of Bishop Edward Risi (February 11-17) and Cardinal Wilfrid Napier (February 18-24) strengthen my perception of the “systematical and well managed dismantling of the vision, theology and ecclesiology of Vatican ll”.

Apart from the defence of particular changes, Bishop Risi makes the statement: “Only the Holy See has the authority to alter the text — no one of us, nor any priest has that authority”. Cardinal Napier says: “…there are two legitimate authorities in the liturgy: (i) for the universal Church it is the pope as successor of Peter, and (ii) for the particular Churches it is the diocesan bishop as successor of the apostles.”

However in practice it is clear that the Vatican overrules individual bishops. It is ironical that in 1962 Fr Joseph Ratzinger (Quaestiones Disputatae 4  — Herder and Herder) dealt with “Primacy, Episcopate and Apostolic Succession”. It is a finely nuanced article, but the future pope quoted with approval: “The pope cannot arrogate to himself the episcopal rights, nor substitute his power for that of the bishops”.

I wonder if, in the course of his rise through the ranks of the Roman curia to his present exalted position, this was forgotten?

I thank Bishop Dowling for his “deep concern about the hurt and damage decisions like these can cause to the People of God”. I feel increasingly alienated from the Catholic Church. I see its governance as autocratic, patriarchal and legalistic.

Its approach to sexuality takes no cognisance of science (Michael Carstens, “Sex and Sensibility”, December 31 to January 6) or modern scriptural studies — see New Jerome Biblical Commentary on several passages relating to sexuality. 1 Corinthians 6:13: “Keep away from fornication”, is seen not as a condemnation of all sex outside marriage but an admonition to avoid “casual copulation”.

I experience the “official” Church as sexist and homophobic. Many Catholics feel as I do. We have consoled each other with the thought that the Church is bigger than the Vatican. While I respect those who can soldier on, I personally find this approach less and less tenable as the Vatican speaks more frequently and stridently on behalf of all the Church.

So, beloved Southern Cross, please continue to be a voice for the disempowered.

How I long for a new Ecumenical Council, which will return to the spirit of Vatican II, and to paraphrase the great Archbishop Denis Hurley, will “keep the dream alive”.

Ed Dexter, Johannesburg