Vatican to Jesuits: 'Think with the Church'
Print Friendly VersionBy JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
New York
Speaking out of what he called “sadness and anxiety,” the Vatican’s top official for religious life has called upon the Jesuit order to obey the hierarchy, to defend church teaching and to deepen its commitment to “think with the church.”
Slovenian Cardinal Franc Rodé specifically urged the Jesuits to greater fidelity in theological work as well as in “your magazines and publications,” both areas of tension between the Jesuits and the Vatican in recent years.
The comments came in Rodé’s homily for the opening Mass this morning in Rome of the 35th General Congregation of the Jesuits. The gathering of 225 Jesuits representing the entire order, which is expected to last at least a month, will elect a new leader to replace Dutch Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach and set policy for the next couple of decades.
In effect, Rodé’s homily represents the Vatican’s attempt to help frame the agenda for the Jesuits’ deliberations.
Noting that the Jesuits exercise wide influence through their seminaries, colleges and universities, Rodé said he wanted to share both his “joys and hopes” and his “sorrows and anguishes” as the General Congregation gets underway.
After praising the order for “thousands of religious who generously respond to the Lord’s call,” Rodé cited several areas of concern.
First, he warned of a waning sense of sentire cum ecclesia, meaning “to think with the church.” Love for the church, Rodé argued, was central to the vision of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits in the 16th century.
“It is with sorrow and anxiety that I see that the sentire cum ecclesia of which your founder frequently spoke is diminishing even in some members of religious families,” Rodé said. “The Church is waiting for a light from you to restore the sensus ecclesiae.”
Rodé also bluntly called for greater obedience to the hierarchy.
“With sadness and anxiety, I also see a growing distancing from the hierarchy,” he told the Jesuits. “The Ignatian spirituality of apostolic service ‘under the Roman Pontiff’ does not allow for this separation.”
“The fundamental nucleus of Ignatian spirituality consists in uniting the love for God with love for the hierarchical Church,” Rodé said.
Uniquely among Catholic religious orders, Jesuits have traditionally taken a fourth vow alongside poverty, chastity and obedience, promising special obedience to the pope in missionary matters.
Rodé also asked the Jesuits to defend church teaching, saying contemporary culture creates the “need to present to the faithful and to the world the authentic truth revealed in Scripture and Tradition.”
Rodé appeared to suggest that the wide variety of theological positions espoused by Jesuits can feed what Pope Benedict XVI has called a “dictatorship of relativism.”
“The doctrinal diversity of those who, at all levels, by vocation and mission, are called to announce the Kingdom of truth and love, disorients the faithful and leads to a relativism without limits,” Rodé said.
In that regard, he said, the official teaching authority of the church is “the voucher for revealed truth.”
“May those who, according to your legislation, have to oversee the doctrine of your magazines and publications do so in the light of and according to the ‘rules for sentire cum ecclesia’, with love and respect,” Rodé said.
He also urged the Jesuits to place themselves “at the crossroads between Church and society, between faith and culture, between religion and secularism.”
Finally, Rodé urged contemporary Jesuits to follow “the same path trodden by Ignatius from Loyola to Rome, a path of generosity, of penance, of discernment, of prayer, of apostolic zeal of obedience, of charity, of fidelity to and love for the hierarchical Church.”
Rodé’s emphasis on relations with the hierarchy reflects a troubled recent history between the Jesuits and the Vatican.
Several theologians censured under both John Paul II and Benedict XVI have been Jesuits, including writers on religious pluralism such as the late Belgian Fr. Jacques Dupuis and American Fr. Roger Haight, in addition to the El Salvadoran liberation theologian Fr. Jon Sobrino.
Jesuit-run media have likewise been a source of tension. American Jesuit Fr. Thomas Reese was forced to step down as editor of America magazine in 2005 under pressure from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The Vatican has expressed similar concerns about the German Jesuit journal, Stimmen der Zeit.
Rodé, 73, is a Vincentian appointed as Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life under John Paul II, and made a cardinal by Benedict XVI in March 2006.
According to some people on
According to some people on here also (have you missed this part?), anyone who thinks for him or herself is trying to set up or support an alternative magisterium. May it be more that people--including the Jesuits--think and feel that their voice is important enough to be heard? The Church does say it supports this input; it just doesn't seem to know what to do with it except to slowly incorporate it after declaring it false or defective or heresy for a few generations.
You might also want to be aware that religious orders--particularly those with men in them--tend to be competitive with each other, gee, just like men tend to do in other parts of life. Military cohesion is based, for instance, on bonding with the unit more than to the whole nation per se; that's what works best, especially with men--support and strength built by group bonding and competition over and against others, yes, even in the name of the Lord. So, should your code name on here suggest that you hang with Franciscans, there just might be some other issues involved rather than the TRUTH per se. It's a ripe area for analysis whenever one religious order takes cracks (even, and especially, when "privately") about another...just in case that's a Franciscan theologian talking about the Jesuits..although I think Franciscans were originally opposed to theology and education?
Interesting comment
Interesting comment franciscan2. I just did a scan of the posts up up to yours and the "evidence" doesn't seem to support your contention. It is quite wide ranging with regard to "support" and criticism but mostly about other orders and vows and such. Is it really terrible for people who feel that they are being ignored to hope for a "champion". Didn't St.Francis himself refuse to go to Rome at one point because he was upset with the behavior of the Pope? Maybe it wasn't Francis and maybe I am wrong but it makes for a good story.
The Congregation of the
The Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians or Lazarists) also have a fourth vow of stability.
Here is what I also posted on the American Magazine Blog:
Just loved his comments - a Vincentian lecturing the Jesuits on "thinking with the Church!" It seems his stress was on church defined as Curia and Pope rather than Church as defined as People of God. Focused more on what not to do than on a future direction and the needs of the current church.
Posted By Lone Star Vanguard | 2008-01-08 11:41:13.0
My initial post was partly tongue in cheek. Per a recent post by John Allen of NCR, Bishop Rode, CM was echoing the perspective of his boss, Cardinal Bertone, a Salesian, and B16's right hand man. I am aware of the tension between Pedro Arrupe and JP II years ago and my comments had more to do with my hope that the GC will move in the direction of Arrupe while maintaining respect for the Pope. As Archbishop Quinn has stated eloquently: "If the Church is in need of continual reform then she is in need of continual criticism." The Society has provided a hopeful future direction to the worldwide Church and at times it has been a positive counter-cultural influence on the Church itself through its members e.g. Rahner, deChardin, Ricci, Dupuis, etc.
Posted By Lone Star Vanguard | 2008-01-11 10:57:09.0
While it is true that there
While it is true that there are some other religous institutes that take a fourth vow, some even take a fifth one, none except those members of the Society of Jesus who are admitted to the Final Profession (sometimes it takes ten to tweenty years after being ordained as priest to make the Final Profession) as "professed of the four vows" take a special vow of obedience to the pope in matters regarding mission. Only the professed of the four vows are eligible for posts like novice master, provincial superior or assistant to the general of the society.
The professed of the four vows take, in addition to these solemn perpetual vows five additional simple vows: not to consent to any mitigation of the Society's observance of poverty; not to "ambition" or seek any prelacies (ecclesiastical offices) outside the Society; not to ambition any offices within the Society; a commitment to report any Jesuit who does so ambition; and, if a Jesuit does become a bishop, to permit the general to continue to provide advice to that bishop. The Jesuit priests who are "spiritual coadjutors" do not take the fourth vow, nor the Jesuit brothers, who in the Society are called "temporal coadjutors"; and therefore they are not elegible for any of the posts mentioned above. The fourth vow to the pope in matters regarding mission is UNIQUE to the Society of Jesus and none other religious institute. It is the result of the failure of the project that the first Jesuits had envisioned. After being ordeined in Venice as priests, Ignatius and his first companions bound themselves by a vow of poverty and chastity, to "enter upon hospital and missionary work in Jerusalem", however, the Italian War of 1535-1538 between Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Venice, the pope and the Ottoman Empire rendered any journey to Jerusalem impossible. It is when they decided to become a religious order "per se" and put themselves without questioning under the authority of the pope to take any mission where they may be directed. That is how the fourth vow came into being in the Society of Jesus.
In regards to the comment of our friend Ohevin "If you love me you will keep my commands. I believe in this regard our Lord's Voice on earth, His Holy Vicar Pope Benedict, is reminding his Jesuit sons of this very simple requirement." The Lord, in John 15 commands his disciples "to love one another as I have loved you", not to "love the hierarchical church as I have loved you", as a matter of fact there was no church when The Lord said that, much less a hierarchical one as we know it today. I wonder what the Son of the Carpenter of Nazareth who did not have a place to rest unlike the some animals, would say of his "Holy Vicar" (does the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity NEEDS a Vicar?) living in the so-called "Apostolic Palace". Is not that a contradiction in itself, I think any person with a rational capacity would be able to realize that something very wrong is going on in the Catholic Church as well as in other churches.
Ignatius
"sometimes it takes ten to
"sometimes it takes ten to tweenty[sic] years after being ordained as priest to make the Final Profession"
I'm not sure that this is correct... IIRC, per Canon Law the longest time from entering an order to final profession (barring some sort of leave of absence) would be about 10 years (<2 yrs Postulancy; < 2 yrs Novitiate; <6yrs temporary vows), seminary formation would usually overlap with this lasting about the same length of time (4 undergrad, 1-2novitiate, 4 major seminary). Ordination is usually reserved until after final vows (although one can be granted dispensation to leave an order or diocese and join another).
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What I'm Listening To...
Canon Law has Common Laws
Canon Law has Common Laws which apply to all institutes of consecrated life (that is religious institutes like the Jesuits, secular institutes, and societies of apostolic life) but always leaves a space so that each institute can make up its own rule of life or constitutions As long as the constitutions of an institute do not enter into conflict with the Common Laws established by Canon Law, they (the constitutions) can establish particular norms which only apply to the members of the institute. Besides, sometimes it has been the case that some institutes have established constitutions which are in conflict with the Common Law, and the Pope (when he has willed) has granted a dispense to the intitute in particular from following the Common Law so it can establish a particular law in conflict with the Common Law, this is called a privilege. A good example of it is the so called "manifestation of conscience" in the Society of Jesus, whereby the Provincial meets once a year with each one of his subjects and can ask any question he may consider pertinent and the Jesuit has to answer the truth under the penalty of sin (if he lies to his Provincial during the manifestation of conscience, he is in state of mortal sin, a privilege only granted to the Society of Jesus, since the Common Law would say that no one is obliged to accuse him/herself before the superior). The case of the Jesuitsin general is rather unusual in comparison with other religious institutes. The Jesuits make a novitiate which last two years and then they take perpetual vows, meaning for ever, unlike other institutes that have temporary vows. There is no such a thing as temporary vows in the Society. But those first perpetual vows are simple, meaning, the individual is committing himself with the Society of Jesus for the rest of his life, but the Society of Jesus is not committed yet to the individual in particualar. The commitment of the Society to the individual takes place after the Final Profession, same vows but now they are solemn rather than simple. There are very well known Jesuits, already priests, which have been in the Society more than thirty years who are still scholastics, since they have not been called by the General to make the Solemn or Final Profession. I am thinking right now of one that I know, very well known in the US, I am sure if I write his name (which I will not do) most people will know who he is, who has been a priest in the Society for 25 years and he is still a scholastic because he has not been called to the Final Profession, although he already did his tertianship (preparation for the Final Profession) 15 years ago. Canon Law cannot be applied to all institutes the same way, one has to have into consideration the particular laws of the institutes (their constitutions).
Dear Ignatius~ It seems to
Dear Ignatius~ It seems to me having read the text of Rode's homily as well as John Allen's and the Tablet's review of the opening of the Jesuit General Congregation, that the precise admonition of Cardinal Rode is to love, serve and obey the "hierarchical church". If - as I hope- you are correct, I pray that the Jesuits will take Rode's words for their face value rather than their intimidating admonition.
Actually, most monastics,
Actually, most monastics, particularly those that follow the more mainstream interpretations of the Rule of Benedict, have only three vows:
1. Stability in the community
2. Conversion according to the monastic way of life (conversatio morum)
3. Obedience to the community's superior
1. is the life-long commitment to a particular monastic community. In the typical sense, the monastic community in which a monastic makes vows is where that monastic lives for life. In general, monastic orders do not have hierarchical regions or provinces the way the mendicant orders do.
2. is that from which the celibacy, simplicity, cloister (enclosure), etc. arise.
3. is pretty close to the usual interpretation, though it is tempered in some cases by the Rule and the particular order's constitutions.
Folks, I think what the good
Folks,
I think what the good Cardinal is simply pointing out to these Catholic priest is what our Lord pointed out to the followers of his day (and ours) which is simply this: "If you love me you will keep my commands." I believe in this regard our Lord's Voice on earth, His Holy Vicar Pope Benedict, is reminding his Jesuit sons of this very simple requirement. After all, it was St. Ignatius himself who established this special vow of "obedience" to the Pope, and he knew this special obedience to the Pope was a gift of the Holy Spirit that would truly be a weapon against Satan's temptations of pride that would bedevil his Jesuit sons down thru the centuries.
Peace to all.
Ohevin
If I were a Jesuit, I would
If I were a Jesuit, I would take this as a rallying point for the Jesuits to elect a stong general who can stand up for his men who pursue intellectual and theological "truth." A true friend, a true brother, a true spouse is one who challenges the other to better themselves rather than let them going living in denial that they have no clothes. The role of the Jesuits, in my humble opinion, in their love for the church and the hierarchy is one of challenge and loyalty. They can disagree and remain faithful.
While a theology student at The Catholic University of America, I did a paper on faithful dissent. It was a hot topic that year, being that Rev. Charles Curran was silenced and prohibited from teaching at the univeristy. Unfortunately for me, the professor I submitted the paper to was no other than (now Cardinal) Avery Dulles S.J. I don't think it was the topic as much as my undisciplined preparedness for the paper that was reflected in my relative poor grade. Dulles is a great person and intellectual giant, but a boring professor (through his own admission).
In reading this article which quotes Rode, I was insulted for the Jesuits. They need to come to support their brethern, especially Reese, Sobrino, and Dupuis, who are more like prophets than dissidents. How long will it take the church to recognize their love for the institution, 500 years like Galileo?
While Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach helped to build bridges between the Holy See and the Jesuits during difficult times, he may have done so at the costs of some of his finest men.
I'd like to hear what some Jesuits think about this and will look forward to reading the next America magazine to see its take on this. However, that magazine has become so vanilla in the past two years that nothing has particularly struck me as worth-wild reading.
Looking forward to dialogue.
I would have to hope that
I would have to hope that speaking to the "joys and hopes" for the Jesuits is more uplifting than this would suggest. To tell them of their need for even more obedience to the "hierarchical" Church rather than the "whole" church is fascinating, but to ignore their charism in missionary work, their real understanding of bridging and inculturation, is but a new "sorrow and anguish" to heap upon them. Not to mention that this obedience to the hierarchical church is historically what has brought them the most sorrow and anguish as it applies to conquests of native peoples, lands, and material goods.
In fact, the hierarchical church needs to move closer to the Jesuits' charism and thinking. I guess we can assume that Cardinal Rode and the hierarchical church would benefit from prayers of the elders, cedar blessings, and drumming.
Cardinal Franc Rodé's
Cardinal Franc Rodé's appeal has something of a tragic ring to it. It isn't easy to "think with the Church" when her thinking is so conflicted and outdated with reality. Some would say that the Fathers of Vatican I thought in ways that are not reconcilable with the thinking of the Fathers of Vatican II.
Also, the way Church thinks of herself in the vision of Vatican I is remarkably different from Church's self-vision of Vatican II. Doesn't the world vision of the time, the "sensus fidelium", have relevance to what fidelity to the Church means. The Church is more than hierarchy. Surely the Vatican hierarchy cannot expect the Jesuits to think with the Church of Vatican I in the era of Vatican II, which has divested herself of imperial expectations, demands and irrationality.
Rode: shape up, boyz!
Rode: shape up, boyz! Either knuckle under and become more like the Legionnaires of Christ, or your days are numbered among the chosen of the papcy.
"Uniquely among Catholic
"Uniquely among Catholic religious orders, Jesuits have traditionally taken a fourth vow alongside poverty, chastity and obedience"
This is incorrect - the Redemptorists have a four vow, of perseverance.
No, it is rather caorrect.
No, it is rather caorrect. It is unique to the Jesuits to take a fourth vow of Obedience to the Pope in matters with regards to their mission. There are other institutes which take four and five vows, yet not of Obedience to the Pope in matters regarding mission.
And Poor Clares take a
And Poor Clares take a fourth vow of enclosure!
Englishwoman
And monastic orders take a
And monastic orders take a fourth vow of stability!
Now THAT'S a very
Now THAT'S a very interesting vow to take. Can you explain more about this one?
A theologian I regard as
A theologian I regard as responsible once remarked privately that one of the problems that the Church is facing in terms of its teaching mission is that the Jesuits have set up an alternative magisterium. I hesitate to comment because it might seem needlessly provocative but I think there's plenty of evidence that my friend is correct. Look at some of the comments made here: to the effect of cheering on the Jesuits to tell off the hierarchy. Personal encounters with graduates of Jesuit institutions who champion their former teachers over against the Vatican confirms me in this intuition. I love the Jesuits and think they do tremendous work, but I also think there's a fair amount of pandering to the disaffected and theologically ignorant on the part of dissenters. It wounds unity and is a disservice to the Truth.