WASHINGTON, D.C., DEC. 10, 2007 (Zenit.org).- U.S. bishops are drawing attention to "pervading ambiguities and equivocations that could easily confuse or mislead the faithful" in a book by a chairman at Georgetown University's theology department.
Father Peter Phan's "Being Religious Interreligiously: Asian Perspectives on Interfaith Dialogue" was considered in a statement released today from the bishops' Committee on Doctrine. The prelates said that the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith asked the U.S. conference to review the book.
"The way the book addresses some theological issues," the bishops wrote, "raises serious concerns." Though the author was asked to respond to the issues in his book, the bishops said he "did not provide the needed clarifications."
They added that "since the ambiguities in the book concern matters that are central to the faith, the Committee on Doctrine decided to issue a statement that would both identify problematic aspects of the book and provide a positive restatement of Catholic teaching on the relevant points."
3 points
The bishops drew attention to three "areas of concern" in the book, though they affirmed that the volume had further problems. The prelates discussed Father Phan's treatment of "Jesus Christ as the unique and universal savior of all humankind"; "the salvific significance of non-Christian religions"; and "the Church as the unique and universal instrument of salvation."
"In the Church's teaching, Jesus is not merely preeminent among many savior figures. As the son of God incarnate, Jesus reveals to humanity the fullness of divine truth," the bishops recalled. "Moreover, Jesus Christ, as the Son of God incarnate, is God the Father's definitive and universal means of salvation. Only Jesus' sacrificial death makes possible the forgiveness of sins and the reconciliation of sinful humanity with God."
The seven signatories of the statement noted that "the book as a whole is based on the idea that religious pluralism is indeed a positively-willed part of the divine plan, the reader is led to conclude that there is some kind of moral obligation for the Church to refrain from calling people to conversion to Christ and to membership in his Church."
But, they affirmed, "This call for an end to Christian mission is in conflict with the Church's commission, given to her by Christ himself."
The prelates explained that Father Phan's book "argues that the claim for [the Church's] uniqueness and universality 'should be abandoned altogether.' [...] the reasons that are in fact given for abandonment of the claim for the uniqueness and universality of the Church all concern the same issue: the humanness of the Church and her historical entanglement with sin and injustice."
However, the bishops recalled, the Church "is not simply an institution like other institutions. It is true that the Church is composed of human beings and, in this sense, she is a human institution. However, Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, in accordance with his Father's will, instituted the Church through his life, death and resurrection. [...] Thus, the Church is also a divine institution."
"Because the Church is the universal sacrament of salvation, whatever grace is offered to individuals in whatever various circumstances, including non-Christians, must be seen in relationship to the Church, for she is always united to Jesus Christ, the source of all grace and holiness," the prelates wrote.
Misleading
The statement from the bishops' Committee on Doctrine concluded, " While 'Being Religious Interreligiously' addresses a number of issues that are crucial in the life of the contemporary Church, it contains certain pervading ambiguities and equivocations that could easily confuse or mislead the faithful, as well as statements that, unless properly clarified, are not in accord with Catholic teaching.
"Therefore," they wrote, "we bishops as teachers of the faith are obliged to take action that will help ensure that the singularity of Jesus and the Church be perceived in all clarity and the universal salvific significance of what he has accomplished be acknowledged in the fullness of truth."
