Feature Articles from the Woodstock Report [Woodstock Report, March 1991, no. 25]
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In reports to the synod of bishops in October 1990, Vatican officials said that two major Vatican documents criticized by Woodstock scholars will be modified before final publication. The proposed modifications parallel some suggestions made by the scholars who participated in symposia organized by the Woodstock Theological Center. It is unlikely, however, that all the recommendations made by the Woodstock scholars will be adopted.
Both documents, a statement on episcopal conferences and a universal catechism, were requested by the 1985 synod and were distributed to the bishops of the world as draft texts for discussion and suggestions.
The document on the theological and juridical status of episcopal conferences will be totally revised according to Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops. He noted that "bishops truly feel supported, encouraged and sustained by the respective conferences in their pastoral ministry, in the arduous tasks of teaching, supporting and sanctifying that part of the people of God that has been instrusted to their care."
He acknowledged that part of the pastoral role of conferences is to teach. "In reality, it is unthinkable to have a pastor who does not teach," he noted. This reflects a Vatican reversal since the original draft questioned the teaching role of episcopal conferences.
Cardinal Gantin admitted that since "there subsist also diverse doctrinal positions in the ecclesiological field, it is not the aim of the new document to settle open theological issues, but rather to allow time for them to mature."
These conclusions are similar to the recommendations made by a group of scholars brought together to reflect and comment on the Vatican document by Thomas J. Reese, S.J., a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center. This Woodstock project resulted in articles in America (March 19, 1988) by Avery Dulles, S.J., Joseph A. Komonchak, Ladislas Orsy, S.J., and James Provost. Also published was Episcopal Conferences: Historical, Canonical, and Theological Studies (Georgetown University Press, 1989) edited by Reese containing articles by these scholars plus Brian Daly, S.J., Elizabeth K. McKeown, Gerald P. Fogarty, S.J., Thomas J. Green, and Michael A. Fahey, S.J.
Both the America articles and the book were sent to all the American bishops and to episcopal conferences around the world. Many bishops and conferences wrote to Woodstock thanking us for these publications and indicating that they were helpful in responding to the Vatican draft.
The second document, the Catechism for the Universal Church, will also be revised according to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and chair of the Papal Commission on the Catechism for the Universal Church. Although the Woodstock scholars felt the draft catechism was fatally flawed, Cardinal Ratzinger said that the text is "widely accepted by the bishops as a possible basis for the elaboration of the definitive text." Bishops proposed about 24,000 amendments to the 434-page text during the consultation process.
Cardinal Ratzinger listed several problems with the catechism raised by the bishops, which had also be raised by the Woodstock scholars. "A recurring criticism," he admitted, "which has had a wide echo in the mass media, is that the text does not properly respect the principle of the hierarchy of truths." He said that the term "hierarchy of truths" will be explained in the preface and "in the text of the catechism, the truths solemnly defined will be given in an explicit fashion."
"The way sacred Scripture is used in the revised draft has been greatly criticized," Cardinal Ratzinger acknowledged. "The problem is to be examined by a mixed group of experts, theologians and exegetes."
The cardinal also admitted that there are "some gaps" in the catechism's citations of Vatican II documents. The papal commission agreed that "Gaudium et Spes could inspire the Christocentric vision of the whole of the catechism and the treatment of morals in particular."
The cardinal also acknowledged comments on the catechism's treatment of nonChristian religions and said this would be modified while admitting that any attempt to describe the different religions in the catechism would be superficial.
The catechism's exposition of Christian morals "has been a particular target of criticism," Cardinal Ratzinger said, "no other area of Catholic doctrine is so controversial, so difficult to treat, as that of morals." In the revision of the moral section, the commission will:
The epilogue on the Lord's Prayer will be expanded with a section on Christian prayer. It will also be made the fourth part of the catechism rather than simply an epilogue.
Finally the cardinal noted seven areas that were not covered by the catechism but will be dealt with in the revision:
Many of these criticisms and recommendations were first articulated by the scholars brought together by Thomas J. Reese, S.J., at symposium sponsored by the Woodstock Theological Center in January 1990. This symposium resulted in articles in America (March 3, 1990), Commonweal (March 9, 1990), The Tablet (February 24, 1990), and The Living Light (Spring 1990) by Francis J. Buckley, S.J., Lisa Sowle Cahill, Avery Dulles, S.J., Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J., Berard L. Marthaler, O.F.M.Conv., William J. O'Malley, S.J., Thomas J. Reese, S.J., and William C. Spohn, S.J.
These authors plus Mary C. Boys, S.N.J.M., Lawrence S. Cunningham, Peter E. Fink, S.J., Monika K. Hellwig, David Hollenbach, S.J., Raymond A. Lucker, David N. Power, O.M.I., and John H. Wright, S.J., are featured in The Universal Catechism Reader: Reflections and Responses edited by Thomas J. Reese, S.J. (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1990). Copies of this book have been sent to all the American bishops and to episcopal conferences around the world.
It remains to be seen how extensive will be the revisions of the catechism. It is doubtful that the revisions will satisfy the catechism's critics. Cardinal Ratzinger hopes to have the final text available by 1992. Contrary to the recommendation of the American bishops, the revised text will not be circulated for additional comments but will be given directly to the pope for approval.
To order The Universal Catechism Reader or Episcopal Conferences from the Woodstock Theological Center
Feature Articles from the Woodstock Report