This week saw the English publication of Hans Kung’s book ‘Can we save the Catholic Church?
Now in his mid-eighties, a prophetic voice in the Church during and
since the Vatican Council, Kung continues his critical analysis of the
Church he has been faithful to all his life.
This latest book, one in a
long line of publications over the years by Kung, is incisive and sharp,
as is so much of his writing.
It is also a very accessible read. He
examines, over a text running to some 350 pages, the historical
background detail that precedes our present circumstances.
Much of his criticism surrounds the absolutist-centralist position of
the papacy and the evident need for the collegiality propounded by the
Council to become a reality.
He refers to Karl Rahner’s interview
published in 1990, “Faith in a Wintry Season”, published some
six years after his death in ‘84.
In this interview Rahner described the
Church as having fallen in to a “Wintry Season”, an apt description of
the early years of John Paul II and in the years that followed his
pontificate and that of Benedict, the gradual wind-back of the vision
that sparkled in expectancy with the conclusion of the Council,
continued apace.
Kung later refers to his own Open Letter to the Bishops published in 2010. He received not a single response to his statement of concern. He writes “Not only was there no positive reaction, but also no negative reaction, only complete and utter silence”.
Had Kung become so much of an outcast that no one dare comment for fear
of association?
Read his letter again and you will appreciate the words
of someone deeply concerned with the integrity of the Church. In the
last interview given by Cardinal Martini, and published posthumously, he
spoke of the Church being 200 years behind times. Why can’t we listen
to prophets whilst they are still alive?
This latest critique by Hans Kung is at times a painful read, for he
honestly confronts the Church as it is and yet lays out a future that
continues the Gospel mission of the Church if only we recognise our
present reality and respond to it.
The English edition of this book was
published by William Collins on October 10th, a year to the day since
the gathering at Heythrop College that established “A Call for Action”
here in the UK (www.acalltoaction.org.uk).
Over the period of months since that meeting, ACTA has established
itself as a concerned group within the Church in the UK and support
continues to grow. With the inspirational hope engendered in the Church
by Francis, maybe we are now entering a period of real dialogue and that
a pilgrim Church will thrive in a new landscape.
Kung’s book is a serious and valued contribution to our current
discussions. This publication deserves a wide audience in the English
speaking world.
A most significant and charitable action towards Kung
would be for Francis to restore Kung’s credentials as a Catholic Teacher
who, throughout these difficult years has remained a priest in good
standing.
The restoration of Teilhard de Chardin only came after his
death.
It would be a pity if history were to repeat itself.