Solidarity

In your July 13 editorial ("Dialogue?"), the editors applauded Daniel Finn's presidential address to the Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) that called for dialogue within our ideologically fractured church. The price of such dialogue was "fewer public statements that defend theologians against ecclesiastical power."

But why is our church wracked by divisions? Remember that Pope Paul VI secretly dismissed the findings of his own birth-control commission when writing Humanae vitae and then purged any dissenting priests or theologians. Cardinal Franjo Seper, in like fashion, secretly suppressed the unwelcome findings turned in by the Pontifical Biblical Commission when he issued the 1976 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith document opposing the ordination of women (Inter insigniores). This document was found to be biblically, theologically, and pastorally flawed by eight out of ten Catholic theologians publishing on the topic. Unwilling to acknowledge this, the Vatican again resorted to iron-fisted policies. In response, the CTSA wisely shielded theologians by allowing them to stand under the protection of the collective vote of the society.

John Paul II championed the Solidarity movement for its ability to oppose collectively an oppressive government in his homeland. When the Vatican wall of secrecy and coercive power is torn down, then and only then can the CTSA safely become the center of dialogue that the editors so admire.

AARON MILAVEC

Cincinnati, Ohio

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