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PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

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


Given all this…

What do you think prevents dialogue?

EXCUSES, EXC

USES!

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 ofa tree and misplaced his hip.

Please excuse Tommy for being absent yesterday.

He had diarrhea and his boots leak.

Are these two things related to each other?

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


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


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!


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


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.


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


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?


Given all this…

Why is dialogueimportant?


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


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 on his table, he said with emotion:


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.”


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?


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?


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


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


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.


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.


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


The Constitutionon 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.


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 ►


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


Is this true? The faithful today: Their acceptance of church

teaching

less on obedience to their pastors & more on understanding and

conviction.


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


Pause

A footnote from the Vatican

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.”


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


Given all this…

What are the key issues for dialogue?


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?


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?


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?


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?


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?


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?


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 4th C Not addressed by the Council

Even though it was on their minds Question: How can we return to

the small community experience?


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?


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?


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?


Given all this…

How can you organize for dialogue?


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


Parish Forum Warm welcome and refreshments A single leader for the event

This leader changed from topic to topic Give the Catholic teaching

Growing Faith can help here You do probably need some kind of resource

Talk in small groups to name questions & concerns

Present the questions & concerns to the large group

Other possible resources:

Catholic Faith, Life, & Creed

eFormat only

Come to the TableVen a la Mesa

eFormat or Print

Catholic UpdatePrint format only


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


Listening covenant Begin by each sharing his or her story

of being CatholicSome 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?


What are the principles for dialogue?(See the handout, please)


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


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


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

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

A couple of principles


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


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.

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