Response to Steve’s Post on the “New Breed” of Priests

Steve, thanks for pointing out the LA times piece – in response to the piece and to your post, I was wondering, does anyone else find it incredibly reductive to describe faithfulness to the teachings of Pope John Paul II as resistance to the short list of “optional celibacy, women priests, the democratic elections of bishops and greater lay leadership” – and in an affection for somewhat exterior “Latin prayers, special vestments, bells and other traditional touches”?

John Paul II’s own description of the kind of “communion” which should set the tone for relationships between bishops, priests, and the laity, seems to articulate a much more complex (and inviting) vision. Take a look at John Paul II's map for the Church in the new millenium, Novo Millennio Ineunte n.45:

Communion must be cultivated and extended day by day and at every level in the structures of each Church's life. There, relations between Bishops, priests and deacons, between Pastors and the entire People of God, between clergy and Religious, between associations and ecclesial movements must all be clearly characterized by communion. To this end, the structures of participation envisaged by Canon Law, such as the Council of Priests and the Pastoral Council, must be ever more highly valued. These of course are not governed by the rules of parliamentary democracy, because they are consultative rather than deliberative; yet this does not mean that they are less meaningful and relevant. The theology and spirituality of communion encourage a fruitful dialogue between Pastors and faithful: on the one hand uniting them a priori in all that is essential, and on the other leading them to pondered agreement in matters open to discussion. To this end, we need to make our own the ancient pastoral wisdom which, without prejudice to their authority, encouraged Pastors to listen more widely to the entire People of God. Significant is Saint Benedict's reminder to the Abbot of a monastery, inviting him to consult even the youngest members of the community: "By the Lord's inspiration, it is often a younger person who knows what is best". And Saint Paulinus of Nola urges: "Let us listen to what all the faithful say, because in every one of them the Spirit of God breathes".

The LA Times piece also highlights the tension between the new generation (faithful to John Paul II / attracted by his vision for the Church) and an older generation of priests more focused on ecumenism and social justice. Read on, in Novo Millennio Ineuente, about John Paul II's profound commitments to ecumenism, inter-faith dialogue - and at least in my read, social justice... It seems like there's something much more complex going on than the LA times article suggests.