"We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church" (Nicene Creed).
What does "catholic" mean? And what does it mean when we say "Catholic Church?"
the Greek word "katholikos" means "universal." (Thus making the term Roman Catholic not only an oxymoron but also a mix of Latin and Greek). The term was first used after the Christian Church got used to being called Christian.
The reality of it is that Christian was meant to be an insult. The Greeks and Jews used it to call the believers "followers of Christ," pointing out that they didn't worship the Greek gods nor did they follow the normal Jewish customs. After awhile, the believers took pride in this term. When the leadership of the Church (viz Paul and Peter in Acts) allowed Gentiles into their ranks, they earned the distinction of being "universal."
Fast forward a few centuries. The Church gets the distinction of Roman after Great Schism. It becomes a matter of Rome versus Constantinople. Hence we end up with Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic.
Within the last few centuries, the Catholic Church has distinguished itself in as a conservative way as possible. Trent and Vatican I established the Church in a reactionary light. Then, in the twentieth centuries, figures such as Thomas Merton and Dorothy Day step into the picture. Both of them "leftists."
Then, after the reactions of Trent and Vatican I, Vatican II comes along and establishes many liberal policies for the Church. Pope John Paul II then preaches his doctrine of solidarity, and Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Over the course of fifty years, the big figures of the Church become some of the most liberal figures in the world.
Thus, the term "universal" truly becomes applicable. On one hand we have such conservative figures as Cardinal Ratzinger, and on the other hand, we have people like Dorothy Day. In the Catholic Tradition one can be anarchist, republican, democratic, socialist, capitalist, or libertarian.
So here's where it becomes applicable. In the news recently, and in viewpoint articles, Notre Dame has received a lot of flack for allowing President Obama to speak at our commencement. Some proclaim that this is against our Catholic identity. But, truth be told, it seems as though not only is taking a leftist stance within Catholic Tradition, but there are, in fact, great examples for it.
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I don't want to detract from your main points, which I think are valid, although "liberal" and "conservative" are not, IMHO, as applicable in this discussion as they are when discussing politics apart from religion; or, maybe better, one can be "conservative" ("traditional") when it comes to religion and "liberal" politically, or vice-versa.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do want to address is the precise meaning of "catholic". Its first meaning is "according to the whole" with the connotation of "full, complete, lacking in nothing". After Augustine used the universality ("ecumenicity", in fact) of the "orthodox" Church(es) to argue for its "catholicity" against the claims of the Donatists (sorta like proto-SSPXer's, or sede's), the meaning of the two terms got pretty conflated.
This is all preface, of course, to explain why those of us who are "Orthodox," whether Byzantine or Oriental, resist allowing the Churches in communion with Rome to use "Catholic" without qualification. "Catholic," unlike "Orthodox", is a creedal word, and we too identify as "Catholic". We argue that "Catholic" cannot simply be reduced to "papal". BTW, the same thing applies when the Byzantines try to appropriate "Orthodox" exclusively to themselves, over against the non-chalcedonian "Oriental" Orthodox.
Christ is risen!
Fr Blevins,
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank you for your clarification. I do readily admit that there has been a lot of controversy concerning the use of the term "catholic." Indeed, there have been a lot of schisms because of the Councils of Chalcedon and Ephassis, as also with the phrase "proceeds from the Father through the Son" or "proceeds from the Father and the Son."
In fact, there was still a lot of controversy in the Reformation period when Luther, Calvin and the other Reformers argued about the Church of Rome's "catholicity."
However, I would emphasize that the Church (in its general sense) is catholic in that people from all backgrounds, races, political positions, etc, are welcome into its fold. When people question the "Catholic identity" of Our Lady's University, it seems appropriate to clear up the meaning of "catholic."
Indeed. The Catholic faith is "the whole faith, for all people, for all time."
ReplyDeleteI think the controversy surrounds the honorary law degree being offered Obama. What legal work has Obama performed that this country's flagship Roman Catholic university wishes to honor? Abortion being the greatest moral crime of our time, I can't imagine...
ReplyDeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteI have indeed heard some cries against the presentation of a law degree to President Obama, however, most of the rants, and Randall Terry's own position is based on the simple presence of Obama here.
I would also argue against the notion that abortion is the worst moral crime of our time. What with genocide in Darfur, and Iraq, women and child trafficking in southeast Asia and both infanticide in China, I think there are greater moral crimes. Furthermore, from my arguments in my previous post on abortion, I think we could even say that the death penalty, euthanasia and acts of war are worse than abortion.
Those are indeed horrible moral crimes, but they don't add up to the 50 million death toll (since roe v wade) of the singular philosophy of "pro-choice". I'm not sure if you realize that the Catholic Church views the moral worth of a newly concieved child as equal to that of any other human being.
ReplyDelete"today's gravest injustice is the suppression of nascent life"
-Pope Benedict XVI
You might find this helpful to your understanding of Roman Catholic teaching.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.priestsforlife.org/magisteriumteachings.html
Steve,
ReplyDeleteActually, under Stalin, estimates hover around 50 million deaths. World War II boasted 55 million.
However, it's wrong to assume that Mr. Obama is responsible for ever abortion since Roe V Wade, nor is it the same to say that he is responsible for any in the same way that Stalin, Hitler, Mao Zedong or any other genocidal tyrant.
Secondly, it would be completely wrong to read me as supporting abortion. I have never said, nor have I implied that I support abortion.
I was talking about our *current* time. Stalin and WWII aren't battles we are currently fighting. Also, based on your argument you don't seem to understand the difference between what is potentially evil and what is *inherently* evil (although I would probably agree that communism is inherently evil).
ReplyDeleteNor have I assumed Obama is responsible for every abortion since R v W. However, his policies do seek to perpetuate it, allow easier access to it, and force health care workers to act against their conscience with respect to it (FOCA). According to a 2004 USCCB statement Catholic institutions “should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles”. I really don't think I need to add anything to demonstrate Notre Dame's neglect in this regard.
As for the Catholic Churches teaching on abortion, I have provided plenty of resources from which you can read and learn, or you can to ignore if you wish.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteAside from providing us with councils of Bishops, God also provided us with powers of reasoning and the example of His Son. Jesus ate with publicans and sinners and said, "do good to them that spitefully use you." It makes more sense to try to change Obama's mind through outreach, not through outrage.
Furthermore, in our time, there are plenty of worse atrocities. Look at the African continent and the genocide, AIDS pandemic and starvation that plagues them which is far more preventable than abortion. Look at Asia and the women and child trafficking, child labor and infanticide. Aren't these inherently evil?
Once again, you seem to misunderstand me as supporting abortion. That's not even what the fiasco at Notre Dame is about. It's about politics. Calling it otherwise doesn't change the fact, it only exacerbates it.