USCCB Committee on Doctrine and Sister Elizabeth Johnson CSJ

Here is a link to a news item from the USCCB in which the USCCB's Committee on Doctrine reaffirms its critique of "Quest for the Living God" by Sister Elizabeth Johnson CSJ. The Committee's initial statement was back in March 2011. Sister Johnson published a lengthy (38 page) response. The Bishops Commitee has reaffirmed that it "believes that it is its duty to state publicly that on several critical points the book is seriously inadequate as a presentation of the Catholic understanding of God."

This is another example of the Bishops moving away from a disciplinary approach to dealing with dissent. Sister Johnson is still on the faculty at Fordham. Daniel Maguire is still on the theology faculty at Marquette, even though the Committee on Doctrine issued a statement several years ago explaining that the views expressed by Professor Maguire were erroneous and incompatible with Church teaching.

There is a lot to be said in favor of this kindler gentler approach. It is worth recalling, though, that Charles Curran seemed to have been largely forgotten after he left Catholic U and that one wonders whether Richard McBrien would attract as much attention if he taught at Indiana University-South Bend instead of Notre Dame. 

Richard M.