Transcript Document
Today
What prevents dialogue?
Why is having dialogue important?
Footnote on the Vatican & dialogue What are the key issues that call for open and free dialogue?
How can you set up dialogue in the parish?
Principles to follow in dialogue settings PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Given all this…
What do you think prevents dialogue?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
My son is under a doctor's care and should not take P.E. today. Please
execute
him.
Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was sick and
I had her shot
.
Please excuse Roland from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday he fell out of a tree and
misplaced
his hip.
Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday.
other?
He had diarrhea and his boots leak.
Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose
vowels
.
Please excuse Jimmy for being.
It was his father's fault
.
Can we talk?
We have always had divisions in the Church Acts 2 is not all there is know about the early Church Acts 2:43 and following: All who believed were together and had all things in common… …ate their food with glad & generous hearts …with the goodwill of all the people PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
The early church
Romans 14:1-8 and following 10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister?
Romans 15:1-7 7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Dispute over Jew vs Gentile PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Challenges to dialogue
But today, our culture is polarized In ways more acute than in the past Modern communication really makes division much more obvious It accelerates it!
Media “stars” dominate radio, TV & internet Why? Because it sells!
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Challenges to dialogue
People tend to gather in like-minded groups Liberals & Conservatives Old-timers & New-comers Young & Old Pro-this or pro-that Gun control, immigration, or whatever PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Challenges to dialogue
We take complex issues with multiple perspectives and turn them into something you can put into a slogan (or bumper sticker).
We want clear cut answers. But it’s rarely that simple.
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Challenges to dialogue
We reach solid conclusions And can’t imagine why everyone else does not agree with us Isn’t it obvious that we’re right?
That we have the truth and they don’t?
We often hold positions that conflict e.g: we’re pro-life but support war-making PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Challenges to dialogue
We demonize those with whom we may disagree We judge one another’s motives rather harshly We use pejorative terms to describe those in another camp Not very helpful, is it?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Given all this…
Why is dialogue important?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Why Dialogue – reason #1
It gives people a voice Especially those who feel they’re outside the church or excluded from it It opens a door To help people feel there is hope they might be understood PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Pope John XXIII
A guest in his office… Expressed his grief that so many people of good will the church no longer loved them that it rejected and condemned them Then showing his guest the crucifix his table, he said with emotion: on PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Pope John XXIII
“But I must be like Christ.
I open wide my arms to embrace them.
I love them and I am their father.
I am always ready to welcome them.” Facing his guest he said, “All that the Gospel requires of us has not yet been understood.” PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Some people feel unloved
Many people feel that the church no longer loves and supports them That it has rejected or condemned them for choices they have made Who do you think feels most excluded or outside the church?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Why Dialogue – reason #2
It helps people form their conscience Today’s choices can be complex People face difficult situations
What are the toughest moral choices people face?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Conscience
The church calls on us all to be deliberate in forming our consciences Dialogue can help us sort out complex questions The witness of others helps shape our own personal response to tricky life questions Modern men and women often feel hopeless in the face of world events Talking together helps us PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Declaration on religious freedom
Everybody has the duty, and consequently the right to seek the truth in religious matters so that, through the use of appropriate means they may form prudent judgments of conscience which are sincere and true. #3 PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Church in the World #16
Deep within our conscience, we discover a law which we have not laid upon ourselves but which we must obey.
It’s voice, ever calling us to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in our hearts at the right moment.
For we have in our hearts a law inscribed by God.
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Church in the World #16
Our dignity rests in observing this law, and by it we will be judged.
Our conscience is our most secret core, and our sanctuary.
There we are alone with God whose voice echoes in our depths.
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Why Dialogue – reason #3
Dialogue is how we come to understand what God wants of us The truth emerges as we talk Vatican II was based in dialogue Without it, there would have been no council PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
The Constitution
on Divine Revelation
(#8) The tradition that comes from the apostles makes progress in the church, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
There is a growth in insight into the realities and words that are being passed on.
This comes about through the contemplation and study of believers who ponder these things in their hearts. (cf Luke 2:19 and 51) It comes from the intimate sense of spiritual realities which they experience.
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Continued
And it comes from the preaching of those who, on succeeding to the office of bishop, have received the sure charism of truth. Also Lumen Gentium #12 – the prophetic office.
Ray Lucker ► PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Why Dialogue – reason #4
It helps people embrace faith Talking about our faith leads to deeper understanding and acceptance People of good will disagree about things Dialogue helps us reach “common ground” It helps us speak with one another and learn from each other PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Is this true?
The faithful today: Their acceptance of church teaching less on obedience to their pastors & more on understanding and conviction. PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
The doctrine of
Reception
Reception was practiced by the early church Dialogue leads to the wide-spread positive reception of Doctrinal truths Disciplinary matters Church law Custom and ritual & even persons assigned to leadership roles PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Pause A footnote from the Vatican
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Gianfranco Ravasi
President of the Pontifical Council For Culture
Cardinal Ravasi
Engaging Catholics, non-believers, and others in open & free dialogue The Courtyard of the Gentiles “When Catholics are well-formed in their faith they have nothing to fear from listening to opposing views.” “It's a shaky or fundamentalist grasp of faith that sparks suspicion or fear of the other.” PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
The Paris dialogue
March 2011 UNESCO, l'Institut de France, the Sorbonne Pope Benedict gave an address People may not be part of any religion But they long for a new world of peace and security One reason for non-belief is precisely the lack of integrity found in the lives of Christians Let us build bridges with one another, he said PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Given all this…
What are the key issues for dialogue?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Questions for dialogue
Secularism The church gets pushed out In favor of more secular pursuits Many people pick and choose In order to construct a workable spirituality to sustain them Authority figures have less influence The question here: What do we have to offer modern men and women?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Questions for dialogue
Ecumenical households Large % of marriages “Faith is lived at home or it’s not lived at all” The Church confronted with having to either welcome non-Catholic spouses – or not Implications for religious ed & sacraments The question here: How can we reach out to the ecumenical homes in our parish?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Questions for dialogue
Humanae Vitae in 1968 Undermines papal authority Causing average, well-meaning Catholics to disobey The question: What help and guidance can we offer one another as we tackle this in our lives?
Women’s movement Not there during Vatican II The question might be: How can we include women more fully in our local church?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Questions for dialogue
Global Environmental Crisis Not on the Council’s radar Can the church to interact with society to solve this problem?
for the sake of humanity on a par with the threat of war The question might be: As Christians, what is our response?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Questions for dialogue
The rich-poor disparity It’s getting wider We have more money than ever And the poor are more vulnerable Question: How much money can a Christian have before it becomes sinful?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Questions for dialogue
Gay and Lesbian Catholics Increasing evidence that it is deeply rooted in personal identity and not a choice Scriptural roots of church teaching are seen as too “literal” Question: What can we offer these folks in terms of their unions?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Questions for dialogue
Structure of the parish itself Many are too large to be effective Current approach tends to focus on parish rather than on households Current plan emerged in 4 th C Not addressed by the Council Even though it was on their minds Question: How can we return to the small community experience?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Questions for dialogue
Levels of engagement Parishioners with parish People are just absent while still seeing themselves as Catholic How can we re-engage those who are absent?
Divorced Catholics Accounts for large % of absent ones Coming pastoral crisis: boomers coming home to die How can we reach out to this huge group?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Questions for dialogue
Tridentine resurgence For some folks, this is the ONLY church They want to pray in Latin They believe this is the “authentic church” How can we make room for all in the Catholic community?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Questions for dialogue
The Place of the Eucharist More central than ever in Catholic theology It is the “source & summit” of our lives Constitution on Liturgy #10 The reduced # of priests makes it less available How can we keep the Eucharist central in Catholic life?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Given all this…
How can you organize for dialogue?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Parish forums
Create a “parish forum” in which people can enter into dialogue One parish calls this: The Signs of the Times Topics which this parish has dealt include Wealth & money Birth control (really, conception management) Supporting public officials who don’t follow all of Catholic teaching Gay marriage Re-marriage as Christians and what it means in terms of the community PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Parish Forum
Other possible resources:
Warm welcome and refreshments
eFormat only
A single leader for the event Give the Catholic teaching This leader changed from topic to topic
Ven a la Mesa
Growing Faith can help here
eFormat or Print
You do probably need some kind of resource Talk in small groups to name questions & concerns Present the questions & concerns to the large group PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Parish Forum
Each small group then tackles one big question Name the Catholic principles Set workable norms Suggest concrete actions to get started Present this to the large group Move to prayer Ignatian – praying in one’s own words about the topic being treated Close with a social event PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Listening covenant
Begin by each sharing his or her story of being Catholic Some norms: Confidentiality No interrupting or criticizing Everyone gets a chance to speak No tirades, judgments, or attacks Keep the conversation on this: How are we called to deeper faithfulness?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
What are the principles for dialogue?
(See the handout, please) PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
First & foremost
Let there be unity in what is essential, freedom is what is non-essential, and charity in everything.
Ad Petri Cathedram (29 June 1959 #513) Gaudium et Spes #92 We can only dialogue if we first love each other PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Second, and very important
God is with us Divine providence is leading us Back to Romans 14 and 15 Everyone belongs to us because they belong to Christ (even those with whom we disagree) Christ is the principle In him, we unite PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
A couple of principles
Conversion is the first step We must all be in Christ Or we risk becoming a club, arguing over rules Love your “enemies” It really must be unconditional love Beyond that, be sisters & brothers in Christ The outcome will be greater understanding But not necessarily agreement PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
A couple of principles
Don’t judge the motives of others Most people act out of love for the church Charity is the first rule Don’t label people or groups Don’t demonize one another Everything must be thoroughly Catholic We do not remake our theology by ourselves There must be a consensus of the faithful PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
From John XXIII’s speech
“We demonstrate the validity of our teaching rather than condemning others.” Speak of faith with confidence But walk with those who disagree “We prefer to use the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity” We leave judgments of worthiness to God PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center
Vatican II
The ties which unite the faithful are stronger than those which divide them.
Gaudium et Spes 92 Let us seek that which unites us rather than that which divides us.
Unity is our aim above all else.
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center