Two correspondents chose to send me articles on the final interview of the recently deceased Cardinal Martini of Milan.
One article was from the National Catholic Reporter and the other from a West Coast newspaper. The cardinal famously remarked that the church is “tired” and “200 years behind the times.” His Eminence longed for inspiring people like Archbishop Romero from Central America and yearned for heroes from “outside the institution” and apart from the administration who could try “new things.”
The Milanese cardinal offered a triple outline for renewal. He first listed conversion, calling for the church to “recognize its errors and follow a radical path of change, beginning with the pope and the bishops.” His Eminence viewed the sexual molestation scandals to be primary evidence that the church needs a radical self-examination on all levels – both by those sinning and by those ignoring sin. Second, the Italian prelate called for a renewed appreciation of the Bible, the word of God absorbed into the heart of the believer, a heart that first listens to God’s word and then shares that listening with those who need it. Guidance by the clergy and directives from the hierarchy can support but they cannot supplant a spiritual life especially nourished by Scripture. The third tool of healing is the sacraments. The sacraments are not to be held over the heads of believers as a form of discipline but should become a solace to all in their weakness. The sacraments are to be taken to the people more than they are to be withheld from them. Here especially, in words as reported by the media, the reflections of the cardinal challenge the present practice of the church regarding marriage, divorce and remarriage.
His Eminence rightly observes that those in irregular unions “need special protection.” The Cardinal salutes happy and enduring marriages but he laments that present church discipline alienates those in a failed marriage or in an attempted remarriage. The aging Milanese archbishop grieves, “A woman, for instance, is abandoned by her husband and finds a new companion, who takes care of her and her three children. This second love succeeds. If this family is discriminated against, not only is the mother cut out from the church but also her children. If the parents feel like they're outside the church, and don't feel its support, the church will lose the future generation.” Then the cardinal boldly states, “The question of whether the divorced can receive Communion ought to be turned around.”
The interview with the late cardinal of Milan, as reported in the English-speaking press, highlights three non-controvertible and non-controversial suggestions: Conversion from predictable answers to provocative actions would be most beneficial; a renewed, soulful appreciation of Scripture must become more central to Catholic practice; an awareness of the sacraments as food for pilgrims on the journey toward perfection rather than as a reward for those who are arriving at perfection is truly pastoral. His Eminence generically, and perhaps somewhat sheepishly, concludes, “In any event, the faith is the foundation of the church.”
Cardinal Martini’s decidedly pastoral inclination obviously found great favor with the liberal media both within and without the church. Who can gainsay the revitalization of church life, the recovery of Scripture and the rejuvenation of the sacraments? Sadly his Eminence, or those taking notes, understands this Catholic resurgence as taking place apart from the machinery of established church life (indeed the church establishment is the very source of the problem according to his Eminence). He muses that outsiders are needed to inspire the church. He suggests that the Bible might be valid enough by itself apart from church interpretation. He implies that the sacraments merely provide individual consolation rather than celebrate and implant community beliefs and ideals.
Liberal Protestantism has been heeding similar advice for decades, yet the Protestant cathedrals of London, Berlin, Stockholm and Geneva are just as empty as the Catholic cathedral in Milan. The first step in a truly Catholic renewal is faith in the church itself as God’s instrument of salvation in our midst.
Pope Benedict commences the Year of Faith 2012 next week. Let’s hope the media pay equally close attention to his message and his program for ecclesial renewal.
