Vatican Council II turns 60 – with still so much to teach us!

By Tony Magliano – One of the most important events in the modern history of the Catholic Church will soon reach a historical milestone. December 8 marks the 60th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council – popularly known as Vatican II.

On the opening day of the council, Oct. 11, 1962, St. Pope John XXIII confidently threw open the windows of the church trusting that the Holy Spirit would blow through it with a fresh breeze of renewal.

During this most recent worldwide ecumenical council – the 21st in the history of the Catholic Church – over 2,500 bishops approved 16 documents designed to enliven Catholic spirituality, and make the church far more relevant to the modern world.

The most important of these documents in my opinion is Gaudium Et Spes (“Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World”). It prophetically insists that the Catholic Church must tirelessly promote the Gospel message of nonviolent peace in our war-torn world, and must with equal vigour place herself at the service of all humanity, especially those most in need.

The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World’s very first words powerfully proclaim this teaching: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these too are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ”.

As a step in this direction, “the Church has always had the duty of scrutinising the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel.” We are then called to strengthen those signs of the times that conform to Christ’s teachings, and to transform those signs that oppose the Gospel.

The world’s Catholic bishops insisted that the Church – “the people of God” – cannot show any bias in protecting the lives and dignity of human beings. As one of Vatican II’s active participants Archbishop Karol Wojtyla would later declare – as Pope John Paul II – “We are all really responsible for all.”

Therefore, action on behalf of the unborn, while largely ignoring the sins of militarism and the injustices that cause poverty, is an insufficient Vatican II Catholic position. On the other hand, working to end militarism and poverty while ignoring the sin of abortion is also an insufficient Vatican II Catholic position.

Therefore, Vatican II’s “Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World” boldly declared that “from the moment of its conception life must be guarded with the greatest care, while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes” (No. 51).

“God intended the earth and all that it contains for use of every human being and people. … Since there are so many people in this world afflicted with hunger, this sacred Council urges all, both individuals and governments, to remember the saying of the Fathers: ‘Feed the man dying of hunger, because if you have not fed him you have killed him’ ” (No. 69).

Reflecting on “the horror and perversity of war,” the world’s bishops powerfully proclaimed: “All these considerations compel us to undertake an evaluation of war with an entirely new attitude. The men of our time must realise that they will have to give a sombre reckoning for their deeds of war (No. 80).

“While extravagant sums are being spent for the furnishing of ever new weapons, an adequate remedy cannot be provided for the multiple miseries afflicting the whole modern world (No. 81). …

“It is our clear duty, then, to strain every muscle as we work for the time when all war can be completely outlawed by international consent” (No. 82).

Let’s also strain every muscle to promote the Second Vatican Council’s entire prolife, social justice and peace teachings!

Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated Catholic social justice and peace columnist. He is available to speak at diocesan or parish gatherings. Tony can be reached at .