Posted on 01/19/2008 2:59:46 PM PST by NYer
I believe Cicero's above posted link is to a different Jesuit, Fr. Robert Kennedy, not Fr. Nicolas. Cicero, was there a particular reason why you posted a link to him when the discussion is on Fr. Nicolas?
What was it in the article that gives you this impression?
I hope I’m wrong, but I’ve been reading the Spanish press this morning and the liberals are ecstatic. They believe Fr. Nicolas is the spiritual heir of Arrupe and will “take on the Vatican.” He is apparently less abrasive in his manner, which is why he has been able to maintain a low profile for so long, but now Spanish commentators are saying he was considered the most “progressive” candidate the Jesuits could have chosen.
Judging from what he has written, he is a syncretist, one-world-religion type of guy, like many clergy in the Asian church, and of course socially left-wing, although without being into armed revolution like his Latin American “liberation theology” Jesuit peers. We shall see, but it certainly doesn’t look good right now.
The information I had wasn’t from the link on Kennedy, but from a different blog. I’ve also been reading the Spanish press and a couple of Spanish blogs that I follow, and this information is in those sources. Very depressing. I really hope he’s been misunderstood, but it doesn’t seem that way.
I don’t know what’s going to become of the Jesuits. It will be interesting to see how Rome reacts, because they have already had to discipline various Asian theologians(an Indian Jesuit, I believe) for syncretism.
Thanks for the clarification. That's a great endorsement for learning another language :-)
I don’t know what’s going to become of the Jesuits.
The problem of modernism is not unique to the Jesuits. It seems to be testing the endurance of many older religious orders like the Dominicans and Franciscans. We can only pray that our Lord will raise up a leader in their ranks to turn them around.
That was Coleus’s link, not mine. So I’m not sure what it was about.
Maybe that brings us back to square one, that this guy is said to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor. Hopefully that’s because he was in the same province, and not because he’s on the same wavelength.
I think Japan is a tough place to be. The Jesuits have a long history there, but the Japanese have never taken to it, with rare exceptions. That’s OK as long as the Jesuits in question don’t give in to the prevailing culture they find in Japan.
I’m an admirer of the Samurai way, and there’s a lot of things I like about Japan, but they have a real problem with what you might call a deep absence of religion.
Would you mind posting a link to those Spanish blogs?
8 years of Jesuit education here.
i had a FR post about roshi kennedy and jim rob removed the thread 6 month’s later after someone complained by e mail to jim rob. i was never told the thread was deleted or what was said in the e mail, so, when i see a jesuit thread, the roshi is posted.
Catholic Zen Retreats, Jersey City, NJ, conducted by a Jesuit Priest
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1399243/posts
No problem, I think just a bit of confusion about it.
Jesuitical bumpus ad summum
My favorite is La Cigüeña de la Torre. This means The Stork in the Tower and refers to the fact that Spanish churches always have at least one resident stork in their bell-towers, hanging over the edge and watching everything that’s going on and making loud indignant noises about it.
http://blogs.periodistadigital.com/laciguena.php
He thinks that Nicolas will probably not take on the Pope overtly, but will simply continue the policies of Arrupe and his less agressive follower, Kolvenbach, which are those that have led to the slow decline of the order and will probably lead to its extinction.
It was probably fairly appropriate in this case. I’m not feeling very positive about Nicolas, who seems to be the usual “European gone native” syncretist. When you read what he says, you could be reading a Unitarian or any other non-Christian theist (who also, obviously, regards himself as God’s gift to Asia - these people are all wildly conceited).
OK< thanks, you answered my question. I had hopes.
Appears the Jesuits still need prayers.
My sentiments exactly!
My experiences with a Jesuit missionary where in Northern Ontario where Father Hawkins ministered to all and brought the Catholic Faith to many. Those that were not called to be priests and missionaries, put their Catholic Faith into action as just and moral citizens. Father Hawkins was not a social worker and I don’t believe that the Jesuits, or any priests should be either.
From what I have read of the early Church, social working was a problem that they had to turn over to committees. It got in the way of preaching the gospel.
I pray that the Jesuits get back to their primary work in the fashion of Ignatius.
In addition to the Father Generals 6 hopes may I add 2 more.
Can we:
Stop promoting ways of thought that do not line up with Church teaching,
Can we:
Stop being so damn communist
>> I hope I’m wrong, but I’ve been reading the Spanish press this morning and the liberals are ecstatic. They believe Fr. Nicolas is the spiritual heir of Arrupe and will “take on the Vatican.” <<
Than he is simply irrelevant. Which is sad. The only question is whether someone had been chosen who could rescue the Jesuits from the brink of extinction. In this case, there are almost no distinctions among bland, profoundly hostile, or anything less than heroic. No-one will care what a few thousand dying octogenarian limpwrists. And as much as I have known some wonderful Jesuits, that’s what their order will be typified by.
Sadly, that’s true. But I’ve been thinking about it, and actually I see this as much more dangerous to the Church as a whole, not just to the Jesuits. Fr Nicolas appears to be a full-blown syncretist, which is one of the things to which the Pope is most opposed. I think what he’s going to do, essentially, is use this position to set himself up as having a contrasting “vision” to that of the Pope. But he will do it in a careful way and try to avoid outright clashes.
The more I read about him, the less I like him. I hope I’m wrong and just being an alarmist.
>> I think what he’s going to do, essentially, is use this position to set himself up as having a contrasting “vision” to that of the Pope.<<
95% of the American priesthood already spouts that “contrasting vision” 24/7.
ping
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.