"You have been telling people that this is the Eleventh hour. Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the hour. And there are things to be considered.
"Where are you living? What are you doing? What are your relations? Where is your water? Know your garden. It is time to speak your truth. Create your community. Be good to each other. And do not look outside yourself for the leader."
Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a good time. There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold onto the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally. Least of all ourselves. For, the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
"The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we have been waiting for."
-A Hopi Elder Speaks
There's been a fairly pervasive atmosphere within the reform movement over the past few years that we've been at that proverbial Eleventh hour. We've done all we could do, the people are with us, we said. The time would soon be at hand for the election of a new pope signaling a refreshing change in the Vatican's public persona.
And while we waited, those who would make our Church into a fundamentalist denomination took strong ownership of their vision and challenged the bishops to be their spokespersons.
Between these latest issues of CORPUS Reports, the clock struck twelve, and the papal mantle passed to Joseph Ratzinger, the dogmatic enforcer of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). The more things change, the more they remain the same.
Many said, let's wait and see... give him 100 days to get comfortable with his new role. Perhaps as pastor his style will change. And as we waited, one of the first actions of Benedict XVI's papacy was completing the removal of Fr. Tom Reese, SJ from his post as editor of America magazine. Three US bishops, it is said, had challenged Ratzinger and the CDF to make an example of this Jesuit whose crime was to be a public, reasoned voice of our Church. Hundreds of other bishops did nothing to support his thought provoking and balanced presence. The Jesuits buckled under their perspective of a lose-lose battle. Catholic theologians shuddered.
Catholic laity shudder... Recently I received an email from a woman who works in the personnel department of one of the larger dioceses and happens to be on a CORPUS mailing list:
"I receive your e-mails because I was involved in early meetings around some possible collaborative projects. I shouldn't be on that list anymore because I no longer hold that position, but I don't want to quit because I really enjoy some of the things you have passed on to the group. This article (A Mennonite Looks at the Holy See) is an example of that. Thank you so much. I work for and am entrenched in the inner workings of this diocese, yet these kinds of reflections, get me out of my cocoon and often give me hope. Please don't quote me because I need to keep my job, but thanks very much for your continued thoughtful reading and sharing of resources."
In the middle of writing this piece to you, I also happened to speak with a friend of mine who had just returned from his ordination anniversary reunion. He candidly, and sadly, reflected on the state of our Church today:
"As you know the climate in the Church at the moment is vindictiveness - people lose their heads and their jobs. It is the way I remember it being in the fifties and early sixties.
"We have been ordained for close to forty years. We witnessed what happened from mid-'60s to mid-'70s - how the deep desire for a change in the celibacy requirement was not only hoped for but perceived to be in the making. We have watched our brothers who have married hurt because they had to give up official ministry in their parishes. We've hurt along with them.
"But one thing we know right now - As we worked for change in the celibacy laws, change in parish structure, change in diocesan structure, change in evangelization and mission, change from devotionalism to ministry, change from all male to women partners - we have not accomplished what we set out to do... in so many ways we have failed.
"We know that our "time" of opportunity is past. We have very little influence any more. The younger priests, the "JPII priests" are in control now along with the Ratzingers, Levadas and Fessios. And we were sad. Several of us have battled terminal illnesses...it has taken its toll.
"But our sadness is overcome by our pride in the fact that for a short time in the church's history, we led a real Vatican II church and it was tremendous. And so we hoisted a few in honor of all the guys in our class that are still doing priestly ministry - official or otherwise. When the story is told, ALL of us, married and celibate, will be at the center of it... and it is a great story!
"What a Church!"
You must go back and tell the people that this is the hour...
Where does that leave us? Some voices have advised that we just sit out what should be a 'short papacy' given Benedict's age, though he seems remarkably spry for 78 years old. Many have just given up and walked away, literally or figuratively from the Church, expecting that nothing can be done. Others wonder if a formal schism may be in the offing.
So many in formal positions of leadership, or employment, within our Church today are afraid. "John Paul II Catholics" are afraid of the slippery slope of what they see as religious relativism or cafeteria Catholicism as they call it. "Vatican II Catholics" are afraid of losing their jobs, their livelihoods, and the roof over their heads, at the hands of orthodoxy police. Sadly, both are just holding on to the shoreline. Both seem to miss the freeing call of Jesus' good news... I've come that you might have life.
Do not look outside yourself for the leader...
As Michael Crosby, OFM Cap noted in last month's CORPUS Reports, we must become comfortable in exile, in the diaspora. Finding our spirituality grounded, not in Church, not in sacraments, not even in ministry, but in Christ. Making our home in this Body of Christ. Like my old friend, Jeff Behrens whose living spiritual commentaries you might have read over the years in the National Catholic Reporter, now taking final vows within a Trappist community:
"I want to share with you the good news that I will make solemn vows here at the monastery of the Holy Ghost on this coming Sunday, the Feast of Corpus Christi. It has been a long time in the making and I am very happy about it. I am much at home here and want to stay for "the long haul." I feel I have found a special place in that Body, which is the Church, which is all of us. I want to thank you ahead of time for helping me find it. It is a good place to be."
Most of us are not ready to join a Trappist monastery, though. Other commitments require us to find our home right where we are. Crosby suggests further that each of us, you and I, become centers of hospitality, the place where others can be at home. Or, as the Hopi elder states, create your own community.
That is truly the path ahead of us in CORPUS at this moment... being at home with the Spirit of Jesus right where we are at... celebrating with those in the middle of the river. Knowing that just as the river has its destination, so too does the Spirit. Doing what we can to help others live their call from Jesus.
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melech ha-olam!
"There is no Jew nor Greek, there is no slave nor free, there is no male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28) Might we say there is no VCII or JPII Catholic, progressive or conservative, inside-the-box or outside-the-box?
"There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12: 32) OR, as the Hopi Elder said quite emphatically ...
It is time to speak your truth! We are the ones we have been waiting for! See who is in there with you and celebrate!
Namaste,
Russ Ditzel July - August 2005 Adsum
Russ would love to hear your thoughts and comments. He can be reached at crditzel@corpus.org.
