Posted on 01/21/2024 5:45:32 PM PST by ebb tide
Let’s pretend.
Let’s pretend that the Pope said this the other night:
We don’t even have to wonder what the reaction would be, do we?
But…that’s just his personal opinion! That’s not the teaching of the Church! Sure, some theologians have held that and there’s plenty within Scripture and Tradition that might support such a view, but that’s not official Church teaching! Is that really appropriate for the Holy Father to say things like that? Is that an appropriate use of his position? Sure, he’s not stating anything ex cathedra or magisterially here, but you know how people are going to take it, right? Was that a prudent use of his position and this platform? To express his personal views like that?
Yeah, I thought so.
But, guess what: you can argue all day that the “personal view” that he actually did express has foundations in Catholic teaching, but so does my alternative. (Maybe even more.)
What’s the lesson, class?
The purpose of this post is not to debate the demographics of Hell.
It’s to talk about what a teacher is about. Especially, you know, the head teacher of a place.
Have you ever been a teacher? Specifically a teacher of religion, teaching the tenets of that religion to young people? What we call a catechist? Even a catechist for adult inquiring Catholics or parents coming to baptism preparation classes?
What’s your job?
Your job is to convey the teachings of the Church. That’s it.
Not to roll in with your opinions, views or even the nuanced, maybe even idiosyncratic way you’ve come to interpret things.
There are plenty of places and contexts to express all of that, and having weird, nuanced takes, continuing to interpret and understand–that’s all a part of Catholic life. It really is.
But, no matter what, and no matter what you happen to think or how you’ve come to cope–you understand that it’s not your job to impose that personal take on the people whom you’ve been charged to teach the basics. Explanations must happen, discussions too, and yes, everyone brings something unique to catechesis (and preaching) but the responsible catechist is always on the alert, careful to not impose and always humbly acknowledging that your take is just that…your take. One person among billions across thousands of years, a body and journey guided by the Holy Spirit.
I once had a colleague who was a middle-aged woman who was a quite wonderful Catholic high school religion teacher, who taught her material in imaginative and engaging ways, was feared and loved–you know, the ideal situation–and taught everything she was supposed to. I was surprised, then, at a party, to hear her say that she found the Church’s arguments in support of a male-only priesthood unconvincing. She then followed this up with something I’ll never forget. “But who am I? Who am I and my opinion, in the context of thousands of years of teaching and just the big picture, and what I say I believe about the truth of Catholicism–as it is, not as I think it should be?”
She kept the balance, and I know that she absolutely never let her views leak into her teaching.
It’s a delicate position, and it can be frustrating, to say the least. Decisions must be made, decisions about humility, selling out, integrity, what have you. It’s the plight of the catechist, the preacher, the pastoral minister, everywhere.
All that is just to say how I look at papal statements of any kind that fall outside that (sometimes ambiguous) fence of magisterial teaching–of this pope or any pope. And in the context of positions and vocations charged with passing on the Faith, and how to manage one’s personal views in that context.
Now, the Pope and Hell.
The subject of Hell–what is it and how and why humans might end up there–is one which has, of course, been discussed a bit throughout Christian history. Jesus mentioned it. Theologians have had ideas. Mystics have had visions.
For the Pope to shrug and say…I just hope there’s no one there….as his final take on the question posed him is irresponsible. Not as an individual Christian, but as the primary teacher of Catholics around the world. Made even more irresponsible by his authority and the popular understanding of the authority of his words, accurate or not.
He could have expressed this hope that he has in a completely different way and context. He could have done that and it would have a far different sense. He could have framed his answer in the context of Jesus’ words on damnation and subsequent theological reflection–admitting that it exists, and maybe trying to make sense of it. To simply say, “I hope no one is there”—is superficial, doesn’t help anyone, and is really an insult to the complexity and layers–and even conflicting views–on the matter, that course through Catholic tradition.
It is all, of course, one more example of the mess we’re in regarding papal teaching authority—and, of course, not a recent mess, either. As well as an example of how Catholic commentary tends to be marked by inconsistency and team loyalty more than intellectual integrity and an honest admission about the actual tensions and variety in the course of Catholic thought.
(Editor’s note: This essay was posted originally, in slightly different form, at “Charlotte was Both” and is reposted here with kind permission of the author.)
Ping
The article prints two different statements:
At the top it indicates the Pope as saying “I like to think of hell as crowded.. I hope it’s a reality.”
In the body of the article, it quotes him as saying:
“I just hope there’s no one there”
Not sure which is the real quote.
The tweet was edited by the author, Amy Welborn, for effect.
The real quote is, ““What I am going to say is not a dogma of faith but my own personal view: I like to think of hell as empty; I hope it is.”
Thank you for the actual quote!
I do not think hell is empty. Not the best statement. He might wish no one goes there, but people choose how they want to live, and God is just.
The pictures don’t show up for me either on Firefox or Chrome.
Amy Welborn is a wonderful, insightful, faithful, thought provoking Catholic author.
This reminds me of the saying, in a more secular context, that if your students know your personal political positions, then you have failed as a teacher.
yes. lol.
if your students know your personal political positions, then you have failed as a teacher.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Unfortunately that is exactly why about 95% of teachers at all levels are disgraceful failures.
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