Am Bishops to Robinson: Keep Out! (Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church) [Open]

WITL ^ | May 16, 2008 | Rocco Palmo

[NYer]

On the eve of his first Stateside appearance, the hammers have begun to fall on Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, the retired Sydney auxiliary whose controversial tome on power, sex and abuse in the church has seen the reserved, strait-laced canonist publicly taken to task for "casting doubt" on the teaching of Christ and the authority of the Magisterium.

In recent weeks, after Robinson wrote courtesy notes to the bishops of the American dioceses where he'd be appearing simply to inform them of his presence, several of the ordinaries reportedly responded by requesting that he cancel his plans. From Rome, the prefect of the Congregation for Bishops Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re followed up by "urging" Robinson not to appear in the US around the same time that the Australian bishops broke their collective silence, issuing their first public comment on the prelate's Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church: Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus a full nine months after the book's explosive debut Down Under last August.

Earlier this week, the question of Robinson's ecclesial status came up as one host-city's presbyteral council was briefed on his impending arrival. Informed that the auxiliary-emeritus -- who retired in 2004 -- continued to enjoy good standing in the eyes of the church, the body was likewise told that "that could change" shortly.

Kept behind closed doors until now, the matter's broken out with the release of a letter in which Cardinal Roger Mahony has forbidden Robinson from "speak[ing] in the archdiocese of Los Angeles," exhorting the bishop entrusted with the Aussie church's successful handling of its abuse crisis to scrap his "entire" American tour, which begins tomorrow night in Philadelphia and runs through 12 June in LA.

In his letter, dated 9 May, Mahony -- head of the nation's largest diocese -- echoed the Australian bishops' "concerns about doctrinal errors and other statements in the book contrary to church teaching" as the rationale behind his move.  

Noting that "Canon 763 makes it clear that the Diocesan Bishop must safeguard the preaching of God's Word and the teachings of the Church in his own Diocese," the cardinal invoked the law to "hereby deny [Robinson] permission to speak in the archdiocese of Los Angeles." 

"As a brother Bishop, I urge you to cancel the entire speaking tour," he added, "and to work closely with your own Bishops' Conference on their investigation.

"I would surely expect you to follow exactly their recommendations in this matter."

Responding to the statement of the Oz bishops and its finding that "doctrinal difficulties remain" between Robinson's views and some declared teachings of the church, the author said earlier today that the body's stance "imposes impossible restrictions on any serious and objective study, and it is where I have broken from the Bishops Conference."

"Sexual abuse is all about power and sex, so it is surely reasonable to ask questions about power and sex in the church," he added.

Back in LA, the lone holdout on last year's record $660 million archdiocesan abuse settlement agreed earlier today to close its cases out of court.

A day after a civil jury began hearing claims of negligence by the local leadership of the Salesians, the order signed off on a $19.5 million deal with 17 survivors, all of whom reported abuse by the same priest.

[Religion Moderator]

Please tag your articles while we are testing the viability of "ecumenic" threads.

[NYer]

Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church
Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus
Bishop Geoffrey Robinson; Foreword by Donald Cozzens

ISBN:978-0-8146-1865-3
Specifics: Paper, 320 pp., 6 x 9
Price: $24.95

Drawing on his own experience in responding to abuse, Bishop Geoffrey Robinson in this explosive work methodically offers a critique of the church’s use and misuse of power, from the pope proclaiming infallibly down to the preacher claiming a divine authority for every word spoken from the pulpit. Going back to the Bible and, above all, to the teaching of Jesus, he presents an approach to sexual morality that is profound, compassionate, and people-centered. He stresses the priority of the hierarchy of holiness over the hierarchy of power.

He offers nothing less than a vision for a church of the third millennium—a church that wants to see in its members the responsibility appropriate to adults rather than the obedience appropriate to children and wants to help all people to grow to become all they are capable of being.

You will love or hate this book but not be able to remain neutral.

Through the story of sexual abuse and the church’s response, I came to the unshakeable belief that within the Catholic Church there absolutely must be profound and enduring change. In particular, there must be change on the two subjects of power and sex.
—From the Introduction

Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, who has degrees in philosophy, theology, and church law, was Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Sydney from 1984 until his retirement in 2004. In 1994 he was elected by the Australian Bishops to the National Committee for professional Standards, coordinating the response of the Catholic Church in Australia to revelations of sexual abuse, and from 1997 until 2003 he was cochairman of this committee.Speaking Engagements

Symposium on Rebuilding the Catholic Church

BISHOP'S SCHEDULE

[tioga]

I missed that post........maybe I can now post on religious threads again. ;^)

[tioga]

Has the Vatican commented on this book? Have you read it?

[ichabod1]

That headline is misleading — makes it sound like it’s about Vicky Gene Robinson.

[FourtySeven]

That’s what I first thought too, when I clicked on it.

[brooklyn dave]

First of all, if this Ozzie bishop doesn’t use RC Church property to hold his talks-—none of the RC Bishops here can do anything about it. He’s not on their church prop-erty. But I would say he definitely needs some publicity. Are the RC bishops here really intent about doing anything regarding pederasts? I think there are a lot more skel-etons in their collective closet that it just gives them the willies when a man like Robinson comes on the scene.

[brooklyn dave]

For a minute that who I thought the post was about.

[marshmallow]

In his letter, dated 9 May, Mahony -- head of the nation's largest diocese -- echoed the Australian bishops' "concerns about doctrinal errors and other statements in the book contrary to church teaching" as the rationale behind his move.

Mahony is laying down the law to a heretic?

Oh boy......somebody pour me a drink....... the room is spinning around me.....

[FourtySeven]

LOL, I did a double take when reading that too!

[buccaneer81]

If Mahony is against him, then Robinson can’t be all bad.

[Andyman]

Make that two!

[buccaneer81]

Flames coming my way, but...I’d rather listen to a supposed “heretic” like Robinson, than a pedophile-protecting, anti-American, illegal alien lover like Mahony.

[Antoninus]

Here's a comment on this book from America magazine from Amazon.com:

"[T]he importance of Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church lies in the fact that a bishop, an ecclesiastical `insider,' has had the courage to challenge the institution of which he was a part and invite serious conversation regarding a broad range of church issues that have too often been declared off-limits by church leadership. If Robinson's book opens the door to more open and responsible theological conversation by members of church leadership regarding the unique demands facing our church today, it will have fulfilled its purpose."

Based on this gushy review in America, which is a Jesuit propaganda rag that *occasionally* conforms to the teachings of the Church, I'm going to assume that this book is more of the usual liberal garbage, making the case for women priests, married priests, and altering the "archaic" teachings of the Church on sex and human life.

Otherwise, all the descriptions I've seen of this book contain no substance at all which is the typical way publishers (and leftists) get people to read books that they ordinarily wouldn't touch with a 10' foot pole. The old "bait and switch".

[marshmallow]

First of all, if this Ozzie bishop doesn’t use RC Church property to hold his talks-—none of the RC Bishops here can do anything about it.

Well that depends what you mean by "do anything about it", Dave. They can't stop him him speaking but then again, they're not trying to stop him speaking. Their response isn't meant to muzzle him. What they are doing is alerting the Catholic faithful to the fact that Robinson's ideas aren't Catholic.

As for pederasts, plenty has been happening with regard to this issue. However, dealing with child molesters does not require the ditching of Catholic doctrine. On the contrary, it was precisely because Church discipline was ignored, that the problem arose.

[Antoninus]

Mahony is laying down the law to a heretic? Oh boy......somebody pour me a drink....... the room is spinning around me.....

Why not? It's part of his MO. He has always been public "legalist" to keep up appearances. Guys like him want the full teaching authority of the Church intact for when one of them takes over...

Also, I'm sure Rog is only too happy to give this guy some extra publicity.

I'm holding out final judgment on this character until someone gives some specifics about the content of his book. To this point, it's nothing but vague platitudes signifying nothing of the kind offered by VOTF.

[frogjerk]

First of all, if this Ozzie bishop doesn’t use RC Church property to hold his talks-—none of the RC Bishops here can do anything about it. He’s not on their church prop-erty.

I think you are wrong. I believe this Bishop would have to get permission from the Diocesan Bishop to preach or instruct anywhere within his diocese.

[frogjerk]

As for pederasts, plenty has been happening with regard to this issue. However, dealing with child molesters does not require the ditching of Catholic doctrine. On the contrary, it was precisely because Church discipline was ignored, that the problem arose.

Amen.

[Antoninus]

As for pederasts, plenty has been happening with regard to this issue. However, dealing with child molesters does not require the ditching of Catholic doctrine. On the contrary, it was precisely because Church discipline was ignored, that the problem arose.

Exactly. I get the impression that this bishop is claiming that Catholic teaching, rather than the purposeful setting aside of Catholic teaching by some rogue bishops, are responsible for the sex abuse problem.

[B-Chan]

He offers nothing less than a vision for a church of the third millennium—a church that wants to see in its members the responsibility appropriate to adults rather than the obedience appropriate to children

"Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 18:3

No sale, Bishop Robinson.

[frogjerk]

Regardless of whatever Bishop Mahoney has done in the past he is doing a good thing here. Let's not forget that. This auxiliary Bishop is trying to spread heresy among the faithful and Mahoney is saying no thanks. Robinson is calling into question the authority of the Magisterium and the Church. Maybe his is upset that he doesn't have the right of succession?

[VidMihi]

First- I have not read the book and know nothing about the man. (I suspect the same is true of others who have posted )
However I fail to see an invitation to “serious conversation” about issues affecting the well being of a Church so loved by some that they are willing to accept the scorn of the self righteous if it will open problems to a discussion of better understanding and possible solutions. Are we so insecure that we cannot be open and honest in our discussions? Must we attack the messenger rather than confront the issues. Can we not hear what he says and then disagree with charity and honesty? Let's be honest - the magisterium, while always worthy of respect and consideration, has not always been right. Study history.

I see nothing wrong with, even though I may not agree with the comment reprinted below. Why are we often so closed minded. Is our faith that weak?

Here's a comment on this book from America magazine from Amazon.com:

“[T]he importance of Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church lies in the fact that a bishop, an ecclesiastical `insider,’ has had the courage to challenge the institution of which he was a part and invite serious conversation regarding a broad range of church issues that have too often been declared off-limits by church leadership. If Robinson's book opens the door to more open and responsible theological conversation by members of church leadership regarding the unique demands facing our church today, it will have fulfilled its purpose.”

[buccaneer81]

Awesome post!

[brooklyn dave]

I will be very blunt. In areas of theology and morality I will listen to what the Church has to say through its encyclicals, but sorry, the bishops are cringing behind their miters as they bellow magisterial authority because they know in America especially their record on sexual abuse among the clergy has been pathetic. Even though efforts have been made to deal with it, most of it has come from pressure from the legal system, not something they took on themselves to correct. To have an insider bishop come and pull the curtains back and shed some sunlight on those dusty skeletons scares them to death. They had no choice when they had to deal with the American courts, but the American courts were not interested in dealing with the root of the problem and the inside culture that sweeps this under the carpet (no matter how small the numbers of guilty priests were or were not). Too much of a “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” mentality has existed from the cardinals on down.

[dangus]

Mahony is a staunch defender of every perversion, heresy, and apostasy nkown to mankind, so I’m guessing Bp Robinson has said unflattering things about Mahony, which Mahony must anticipate will make himself the topic of Q&A sessions.

But, yes, even if it seems odd that Mahony picks this heretic to be upset about, Mahony is the ordinary in his own diocese, and, while he has no civic power to restrain Robinson from coming, it’s Robinson who is acting unseemly if he goes to Los Angeles to preach against the valid objections of Los Angeles’ ordinary.

[dangus]

“Serious conversation” does not include the promotion of ideas which are infallibly false. The NAACP isn’t expected to listen to white supremacists; Jews aren’t expected to listen to Nazis. And, although the scale of the incongruity is in some ways less, neither should Catholics be expected to listen to heretics, especially when those heretics would deceive people into thinking that they represent the truth of the Catholic faith.

[It's me]

How about the option of Mahoney beginning to see the light? Miracles DO happen.

He did say that Pope Benedict’s visit moved him. I was very cynical when I read that but maybe......

[buccaneer81]

How about the option of Mahoney beginning to see the light? Miracles DO happen.

Call me a cynic, but I'll accept it as a miracle when Mahony calls ICE.

[brooklyn dave]

All this seems to me a lot of hair splitting on various aspects of canon law—— a lot of bluster.

[Appleby]

Oh here we go again.

I left the Anglican church because they decided to forego worshipping God and turn their complete attention to worshipping the male sex organ.

I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND MY SUNDAYS WITH MY TEETH CLENCHED, WAITING FOR SOME OUTBURST FROM THE PULPIT ABOUT SEX.

For the love of Almighty God, and I mean that most sincerely, can we not have one single place of refuge from this interminable blabbering about the need to focus all our attention on sex?