501 Communion, Catholics, and Public Life: Where Do We Go From Here?
Day 501 Friday, July 30th, 2021
Communion, Catholics, and Public Life: Where Do We Go From Here? A Must Watch!
So what about Communion for politicians? So much talk, discussion, hate-filled words and confusion. Right against left, left against right. Hierarchs trying to score points on either side. What's a conscientious person to do, say, think? I found this discussion by hierarchs and conscientious people to be rewarding. I watched it live but they recorded it on YouTube for all to see. Read on dear readers...
In June 2021, U.S. Catholic bishops vigorously debated and then voted to proceed with a document on “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church.” This discussion and decision have generated considerable conflict, confusion, and controversy, especially related to the question of communion for public officials.
About the Initiative sponsored by Georgetown University
The Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life is a unique effort to promote dialogue on Catholic social thought and national and global issues, build bridges across political, religious, and ideological lines, and encourage a new generation of Catholic lay leaders to see their faith as an asset in pursuing the common good.
This Initiative online dialogue with key bishops and lay leaders briefly reviewed what happened and what did not, and then looked ahead to the challenges U.S. bishops and U.S. Catholics face in the months to come. This conversation examined why this matter has affected so many Catholics so strongly, and it explored the choices facing the bishops, public officials, and the U.S. Catholic community as a whole.
Here's the recording of the one-hour discussion which I find to be informative and challenging - and just plain excellent. The participants spoke from their hearts and I loved hearing them grapple with the issues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Kjz8JJyI8
Kim Daniels, co-director of the Initiative and member of the Vatican Dicastery for Communication, moderated the opening conversation and dialogue.
Participants
Archbishop Christophe Pierre Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, opened the dialogue with a conversation on themes drawn from his June presentation to the U.S.bishops. Archbishop Pierre has served as the representative of the Vatican and Pope Francis to the U.S. since 2016 and previously served as the papal nuncio in Mexico, Haiti, and Uganda.
John Carr John Carr is the co-director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University and served as director of the Office of Justice, Peace, and Human Development at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for two decades.
Gretchen Crowe Gretchen Crowe is an award-winning writer and photographer and the editorial director for periodicals at Our Sunday Visitor (OSV). She serves on the editorial board of OSV, which addressed “The bewildering fear of Eucharistic consistency” after the June bishops’ meeting.
Mollie Wilson O’Reilly Mollie Wilson O’Reilly is an editor-at-large and columnist at Commonweal magazine. In the Atlantic, she recently wrote “The Real Threat to American Catholicism,” challenging the decision of the U.S. bishops in June.
Bishop Kevin Rhoades Bishop Kevin Rhoades is the bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, and chair of the USCCB Committee on Doctrine. Bishop Rhoades had a leading role at the June 2021 meeting and will have a leading role in developing and presenting the document on the Eucharist at the November 2021 meeting.
Cardinal Joseph Tobin Cardinal Joseph Tobin is the archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, and has been appointed by Pope Francis to the Congregation for Bishops as well as the Vatican’s highest court. At the June meeting, he urged the bishops not to proceed with their proposed document in this way and at this time.
These bishops and lay leaders with differing roles and perspectives discussed a range of questions including:
What is the current proposal regarding communion for public officials? What is the process for its development, and what actions will follow?
What are its origins and current elements?
What are the USCCB statement’s purposes, limitations, and potential opportunities and dangers?
Why has this process generated ecclesial divisions, pastoral fears, and public controversy?
What are constructive ways forward in the current ecclesial, political, and public context?
Resources
Here's the link to The Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life
View a list of articles, books, podcasts, and other resources for this dialogue.
