The end of Catholics’ ‘grand narrative’?
The Economist’s Erasmus blog raised a topical question: “In the Europe of 2017, can there be such a thing as a Catholic political leader?”
After all, the blog pointed out, “Europe’s transnational institutions”, including what became the EU, “were deeply Catholic in inspiration. Devout statesmen such as Robert Schuman of France, Italy’s Alcide De Gasperi and Konrad Adenauer of Germany laid the groundwork for a new continental order … Politicians who had resisted fascism, in the name of their Catholic faith, were seen as well-placed to oppose the new menace of atheist communism, and the movement known as Christian Democracy took shape.”
Today, however, Catholicism is less likely to provide leaders with a “grand narrative”, a complete philosophy. François Fillon had challenged French assumptions by being open about his Catholicism, but he had had to say that he would not try to change abortion and gay marriage laws.
Similarly, “Spain’s centre-right prime minister Mariano Rajoy strongly contested his country’s gay marriage legislation when he was in opposition; but on taking power he said he would leave the matter to the judiciary.” Catholic politicians can no longer “let the faith fill their entire intellectual horizon. And if they did, it might be added, that wouldn’t be an electoral winner.”
Liturgy fit for kings – or for communities
Two bloggers debated the liturgical changes of the past 50 years. For Fr Anthony Ruff of PrayTell, Vatican II’s signal achievement was in approving “a major paradigm shift – from liturgy as Carolingian clerical drama to liturgy as act of all the people”. Since Vatican II, the liturgy was enacted by “the entire community”.
At New Liturgical Movement, Peter Kwasniewski picked up on the word “Carolingian”, which refers to a monarchical court. This might be an advantage, Kwasniewski argued, since “Christ is our King, the Lord of heaven and earth.” In a democratic age, it was all too easy to forget the Bible’s imagery of kingship. “In short, to conduct the liturgy so that it appears to be less courtly, less regal, less splendid, less hieratic,” makes “it less truthful, less heavenly, less real.”
The unifying force of the March for Life
At First Things, Kevin Gallagher described what it was like to participate in this year’s March for Life. Gallagher observed that “every possible political and ideological element” seemed to come together to defend the “sacred character” of the pro-life witness.
“At the March for Life, no efforts were made to police the ideology of the marchers. Feminists for Life, some stalwart Democrats for Life, and a pregnant woman carrying the quixotic poster: ‘End Abortion: Abolish Capitalism’ walked side by side with the ‘Make America Great Again’ caps and monarchists.”
✣Meanwhile…
✣ London already plays host to an astonishing variety of religious traditions. It gained a new one last week, with the consecration of the first Belarusian Catholic church outside Belarus. Archbishop Mennini, the papal nuncio, was present at the consecration of the new church in Belsize Park. It is London’s first all-wooden church since the Great Fire of 1666.
Mikalaj Packajeu, chair of the Association of Belarusians in Great Britain, said the church is “saturated in Belarusian historical and cultural symbolism” and “also firmly embedded in UK architectural innovation”.
✣ A group of 12 nuns have shot to fame in Latin America after forming a pop group called Siervas (“Servants”). Their hit single, Confía en Dios (Trust in God), has more than 600,000 views on YouTube and has been a hit in Latin America. The music is pop-rock, with clarinet, violin and keyboard parts. The group’s members are from all over the world, and have toured Chile, Ecuador, and Colombia, and are now working on their second album.
One member, Sister Cindy, told Rome Reports: “The music can transmit the message of the faith. That’s what’s important to us. And to reach a greater group of people, we use lots of diverse instruments and diverse genres.”
✣The week in quotations
This is an extremely complex situation, extremely fluid, and by no means finished Matthew Festing, former Grand Master of the Order of Malta The Tablet
Freedom of religion is … under threat all round us Donald Trump National Prayer Breakfast
A prophetic word for the Church today Rt Rev Richard Chartres, outgoing Anglican Bishop of London, on the work of Jean Vanier Valedictory sermon
In expectation of gazing at the Lord Pope Francis on how Christians should live General audience
✣Statistic of the week
7% Proportion of priests in Australia accused of abuse since 1950 Source: Royal Commission
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