Having expressed my disapproval of the ideas of 'reform' suggested by a couple of Evangelical Christian commentaries, it seemed to me that perhaps I should offer my own view on the future I would seek.
Let me say straight off I cannot speak for the entirety of Christendom. All I can do is speak for myself and, as a Catholic, speak of where I'd like Catholicism to go. So this is a tad subjective, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
It's largely dependent on the work of others, notably David Armstrong and ... but they've done the research, and I can't think of any gaps, and they doi speak of things that have been in my mind for many years now.
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The idea of 'reform Catholicism' emerged in the Renaissance and came to a point in the Second Vatican Council which really set the court in which the two wings of the Church have been fighting it out ever since. On one side we have the Reformers, and on the other we have the Conservatives, and, of course, both camps have their outliers, the Liberals on the one hand and the Traditionalists on the other. To the outsider it gets confusing (and the insiders, too). It's like a binary-star system.
What the Church has, as its foundation, is its intellectual heritage and its liturgical vision.
Ordain married men – and women
Reform Catholic (RC) thinkers are mostly agreed on the question of priestly celibacy – it's unnecessary. Less so on the question of female ordination (an increasing number trending in that direction – to at least a female diaconate).
A female diaconate had a long history in apostolic tradition. The idea that such were 'necessary' only because of a shortage of men, and now there is no shortage, so no need, is nonsense. The first to be told of the Incarnation was a woman, the first to know of the Resurrection was a woman. Women were instrumental in founding the Church.
A more rigorous formation upon clergy
The current shortage means any prospect of a more rigorous training – including psychotherapy – is unlikely. This is why the hierarchy tends to move priests around, rather than outright dismissal for clerical misbehaviour.
To borrow the metaphor, if the priest is 'a doctor of souls', then the training ought to reflect that. We need a clergy that has learned to heal their own wounds, before seeking to present themselves as healers of others. Likewise marriage and parenthood cannot be learned in the seminary. It takes a doctor 7 years. It takes 2 to get a BA in theology ...
Commit to the intellectual movement in the Church
My Course Director once said, "Christianity is Judaism in the light of the Greek Philosophical Tradition". a sound and wise statement. Catholics should be led towards a study of the bible, the liturgy and patristic theology, as well as church history, comparative theology and ecumenical/interfaith dialogue.
Renew the Liturgy
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the Mass in vernacular language the Novus Ordo), other than rather bland, anodyne and lacklustre translations. The Church should engage poets or lyricists with a deep religious sensibility to the task, and not some kind of bloodless AI translation of Latin and Greek.
Traditional religious 'liturgical' observance across all cultures has the power to move souls – Gregorian, Buddhist, Native American, whatever – learn the lesson.
Commit to synodal governance at local, regional, and universal levels.
If you want people to be human beings, then treat them as such, not as sheep, nor as flocks to be 'corralled' and led by the nose. That means recognition of autonomy, that includes bodily autonomy, and the rights to family planning, and end-of-life determination.
[*]Commit to the development of doctrinal dialogue that speaks to the contemporary world
Patristic theologians like Philo, Clement, and Origen, the Cappadocians, Evagrius Ponticus and Maximus the Confessor, Thomas Aquinas along with Bonaventure (and not Thomas to the exclusion of all else) ... the list of great Catholic thinkers and contributors to science goes on.
Just some thoughts ...
Let me say straight off I cannot speak for the entirety of Christendom. All I can do is speak for myself and, as a Catholic, speak of where I'd like Catholicism to go. So this is a tad subjective, but I thought I'd throw it out there.
It's largely dependent on the work of others, notably David Armstrong and ... but they've done the research, and I can't think of any gaps, and they doi speak of things that have been in my mind for many years now.
+++
The idea of 'reform Catholicism' emerged in the Renaissance and came to a point in the Second Vatican Council which really set the court in which the two wings of the Church have been fighting it out ever since. On one side we have the Reformers, and on the other we have the Conservatives, and, of course, both camps have their outliers, the Liberals on the one hand and the Traditionalists on the other. To the outsider it gets confusing (and the insiders, too). It's like a binary-star system.
What the Church has, as its foundation, is its intellectual heritage and its liturgical vision.
Ordain married men – and women
Reform Catholic (RC) thinkers are mostly agreed on the question of priestly celibacy – it's unnecessary. Less so on the question of female ordination (an increasing number trending in that direction – to at least a female diaconate).
A female diaconate had a long history in apostolic tradition. The idea that such were 'necessary' only because of a shortage of men, and now there is no shortage, so no need, is nonsense. The first to be told of the Incarnation was a woman, the first to know of the Resurrection was a woman. Women were instrumental in founding the Church.
A more rigorous formation upon clergy
The current shortage means any prospect of a more rigorous training – including psychotherapy – is unlikely. This is why the hierarchy tends to move priests around, rather than outright dismissal for clerical misbehaviour.
To borrow the metaphor, if the priest is 'a doctor of souls', then the training ought to reflect that. We need a clergy that has learned to heal their own wounds, before seeking to present themselves as healers of others. Likewise marriage and parenthood cannot be learned in the seminary. It takes a doctor 7 years. It takes 2 to get a BA in theology ...
Commit to the intellectual movement in the Church
My Course Director once said, "Christianity is Judaism in the light of the Greek Philosophical Tradition". a sound and wise statement. Catholics should be led towards a study of the bible, the liturgy and patristic theology, as well as church history, comparative theology and ecumenical/interfaith dialogue.
Renew the Liturgy
There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the Mass in vernacular language the Novus Ordo), other than rather bland, anodyne and lacklustre translations. The Church should engage poets or lyricists with a deep religious sensibility to the task, and not some kind of bloodless AI translation of Latin and Greek.
Traditional religious 'liturgical' observance across all cultures has the power to move souls – Gregorian, Buddhist, Native American, whatever – learn the lesson.
Commit to synodal governance at local, regional, and universal levels.
If you want people to be human beings, then treat them as such, not as sheep, nor as flocks to be 'corralled' and led by the nose. That means recognition of autonomy, that includes bodily autonomy, and the rights to family planning, and end-of-life determination.
[*]Commit to the development of doctrinal dialogue that speaks to the contemporary world
Patristic theologians like Philo, Clement, and Origen, the Cappadocians, Evagrius Ponticus and Maximus the Confessor, Thomas Aquinas along with Bonaventure (and not Thomas to the exclusion of all else) ... the list of great Catholic thinkers and contributors to science goes on.
Just some thoughts ...
