[Oe List ...] Matt Fox and the pope

[Jim Baumbach]

Thanks Jann for alerting us to the thoughts of Matthew Fox toward the 
new Pope.  I, too, shared the utter frustration of watching another 
radical fundamentalist taking a world leadership role as Cardinal 
Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI.  Then it occurred to me that radical 
reactionism such as shown in Fox's questions (which were in my mind as 
well) would build such a barrier to any effective dialogue that only 
defensiveness and hatred would be perpetuated.  Instead, I saw the 
opportunity for another "road to Damascus" type miracle.

Despite the controversial actions of Cardinal Ratzinger during John 
Paul's term, perhaps the only people truly capable of bringing about a 
transformation among the "fundamentalists on the other side" are those 
with the credentials respected by them.  I have used the phrase 
"fundamentalists on the other side" to remind myself that I am also a 
fundamentalist who believes his side is the right one and that the 
others must change.

 From my understanding, the Catholic church has many issues to deal with 
and how they are handled is very important.  From the Pope's perspective 
how would these be handled in a manner that would be effective in our 
world today?

For example:

1. How should the growing religious fundamentalism of the church in the 
southern hemisphere be balanced and reconciled with the growing 
secularity of the church in the northern hemisphere? 

2. What should be done with the crisis of leadership in the church?  
Despite the early precedences, more recent tradition has established the 
male-only priesthood and celibacy of the priesthood, should these be 
changed?  If yes, how to make these changes?  When?  Where? If no, what 
consequences would this have on the world?

3. What role should women have in the leadership of the church?  Why?

3. Consider the issues of sexuality: How to help the church deal with 
homosexuality in a Christ-like manner? How to deal with pedophilic 
priests?  Why?

4. And the politics of our world...How to survive and reunify humanity 
amid the hatreds and adverse diversity? How to influence the waring 
factions of the world and bring them into productive dialogue?  How to 
embrace all of the humanity of this planet?  Why?

These are the questions I would like to ask Pope Benedict XVI.  Of 
course, it would not be done in an air of confrontation but without 
expecting him to have all the answers or even answers that I want him to 
give.

Jim Baumbach.

LAURELCG at aol.com wrote:

>I'm forwarding a couple of responses to Matthew Fox's 22 questions.  They 
>were on the D.Min list serve today, from current students in the program.  The 
>first is from a recent convert to Roman Catholicism; she has found the church 
>quite meaningful to her.  Below that is a letter from Jim Garrison, who 
>succeeded Fox as the president of the University of Creation Spirituality, and changed 
>the name to Wisdom University. 
>
>I don't know what happened to the NPR interview.  Will let you know if I hear.
>
>Blessings,
>Jann McGuire
>
>
>
>In the spirit of constructive comment/conscience, would recommend 
>
>Matt's 22 questions be compared to the original petitions presented 
>
>by Martin Luther against the church, and written in a similar manner.
>
>
>While the drama might be important and significant, this could also 
>
>backfire.  Especially, if it is not handled in such a manner as to 
>
>promote truly open dialog.  As currently designed, it will put the 
>
>Vatican on an immediate, reactionary, defense.  Does UCS/WU believe 
>
>that by personally attacking Ratzinger (the new Pope), open dialog 
>
>will happen?  At a minimum, separate the accusations personally 
>
>against Ratzinger, from those issues with the RC church as a whole.  
>
>
>Where reform is called for, state it in "visionary, desired 
>
>outcomes", rather than it's present form -- condemning and critizing.
>
>e.g. 
>
>1.  We believe in a church where all are welcome and affirmed as 
>
>original blessings from God our Creator.
>
>2.  We believe God is both male and female, adult and child, 
>
>indivisible from all created beings.
>
>
>I once heard that the real cause for Martin Luther breaking from 
>
>the "Mother Church", was that Rome sent a group of experts to debate 
>
>with Martin Luther and "to publically prove him wrong".   If Rome 
>
>had instead taken the approach of reconcilliation, and addressed 
>
>Luther's orginal petitions/call for reformation, then perhaps the 
>
>Christian church would have remained "one, holy, universal" church.  
>
>Would it not be a novel approach for UCS/WU be the leaders for 
>
>church reformation in "peace, compassion, wisdom, and love" as 
>
>opposed to criticism, condemning and media drama?
>
>
>UCS/WU teaches "we are all one", and that we are all connected 
>
>through "sacred unity".  It would be refreshing to see whether or 
>
>not UCS/WU could approach this new drama in a spirit of 
>
>reconcilliation (without compromising what UCS/WU teaches), as 
>
>opposed to creating a new confrontation and media drama based on a 
>
>polarization of views.  Why go to war with the vatican?  Violence is 
>
>not the solution to disputes.  Would a constructive approach be more 
>
>appropriate than a condemning approach?  Can UCS/WU embody what it 
>
>teaches? 
>
>
>my thoughts.  Janis Burns Buyarski
>
>I would also suggest reframing the issue as fundamentalism in particular, 
>rather than the Catholic church in general. When I look beneath Matt's anger 
>toward Ratzinger, perhaps appropriately directed at him though it may be, I 
>see 
>the deeper issue of fundamentalism. 
>
>
>Dear Students and Alumni,
>
>
>There are many exciting things happening to which I would like to 
>
>draw to your attention.  
>
>
>We are developing an extraordinary and provocative strategy for Matt, 
>
>given the fact that his nemesis Josef Ratzinger is now Pope.  Matt is 
>
>wring a letter to Ratzinger challenging him to make good on his 
>
>assertion in his first mass after his installation on April 24th  
>
>to "listen to the whole church" by meeting first with all those he 
>
>expelled or silenced while he was Head of the Congregation of the 
>
>Doctrine of the Faith. As you know, scores of other leading 
>
>theologians and priests besides Matt were silenced or expelled by 
>
>Ratzinger in the squelching of dissent while he was Head of the 
>
>Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, including Hans Kung, a 
>
>German theologian, and Leonardo Boeff, a Brazilian Jesuit.   All of 
>
>them are being invited to co-sign Fox's letter.  
>
>
>Additionally, Matt is preparing a manifesto called "The New 
>
>Reformation:  Toward a Mature Christianity," in which he proclaims 
>
>that we are in fact confronted with two churches: one dominated by 
>
>the image of the punitive father, personified by the long and harsh 
>
>career of Ratzinger himself and his long suppression of internal 
>
>dissent, rejection of other religions, and protection of pedophile 
>
>priests; and the other expressed by the feminine spirit of Wisdom and 
>
>personified by a compassionate mother/father god of justice and 
>
>compassion.  It is time for the church to choose whom it will 
>
>follow:  an angry exclusionary god or the loving open path of 
>
>wisdom.  
>
>
>To dramatize his letter and his Proclamation, Matthew will be 
>
>preaching a sermon on Pentacost Sunday May 15 in Germany near 
>
>Frankfurt. He will proclaim the need for a new reformation and 
>
>expound the choices before the church, while inviting the Pope to 
>
>meet with him and others who like him were silenced or expelled.   He 
>
>will then travel to Wittenberg, where Martin Luther nailed his ninety-
>
>five theses at the Cathedral in 1517, and nail his Proclamation on 
>
>the same church doors.  From Wittenberg, he will travel to Rome where 
>
>at the gates of St. Peter's Cathedral he will challenge Ratzinger to 
>
>a debate about the future of Christianity at this moment of 
>
>historical crisis and opportunity. 
>
>
>Isn't this totally cool?
>
>
>A related development all of you should know about is our launch of a 
>
>new Center for the Study of Religious Fundamentalism. Check out our 
>
>website at www.wisdomuniversity.org for further details.  The reason 
>
>this is important is twofold:  first, Matt needs assistance urgently 
>
>to research some aspects of what the fundamentalists are saying and 
>
>doing for his "New Reformation" piece.  Secondly, we are looking for 
>
>interns who would be willing to donate some time to do research I 
>
>would like to begin immediately on the fundamentalists for a 
>
>coalition of groups we are participating in as a result of a visit to 
>
>Washington last week.  
>
>
>If there is anyone interested in researching the money flows between 
>
>groups identified with the Christina Right and also the relationships 
>
>between American groups and other right wing fundamentalist groups in 
>
>Europe and the Middle East, please contact me directly.  I would be 
>
>happy to talk with your professors about having the work count for a 
>
>paper or dissertation. 
>
>
>That's all for now.  All very exciting, including the fact that 
>
>seventeen of you have signed up for the Pilgrimage with Andrew and 
>
>Apela in September.  We have room for a dozen more, so spread the 
>
>word.
>
>
>Always a pleasure,
>
>
>Jim
>
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