Scholars & bishops
Hellwig, Monika K.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION SCHOLARS & BISHOPS DUE PROCESS ON THE DRAWING BOARD Amid the present tensions, polarizations, and anguish of the U.S. church, there is one particularly bright ray of hope:...
...defines key terms used...
...and describes the roles of theologians, acknowledging the possible tension between ecclesial and scholarly demands...
...that it places procedures for resolving doctrinal conflicts between bishops and theologians within the context of a continuous explicit sharing of understanding...
...The fourth stage identifies the implications which the teaching or opinion in question has for the life of the church-again by written exchange between the parties...
...the second part is uncontroversial...
...Doctrinal Responsibilities" is thoroughly in harmony with the theology of the Second Vatican Council...
...In our present situation the first part is theoretically delicate...
...The third stage is the most complex...
...evokes the principle of subsidiarity, by which matters are dealt with on the local level if possible...
...Amid general applause from all sides for the outcome of this long process were some voices expressing reservations...
...The particular genius of this new document, however, is that it distinguishes between the doctrinal and administrative or disciplinary issues...
...Washington, D.C., NCCB, revised edition 1972], and there are published guidelines [Committee on Conciliation and Arbitration...
...voluntary restraint in regard to the forum in which certain opinions should be expressed...
...The problem is that every choice of word or phrase tends to imply the taking of sides in current theological discussions, although this is not intended at all...
...The bishops' Committee on Doctrine, which was then chaired by Archbishop John R. Quinn of San F,rancisco, reviewed the document, but before it could be brought to the full body of bishops, the committee was reorganized, occasioning some delay...
...In 1983 the Joint Committee presented its procedural draft of "Doctrinal Responsibilities" to both the CTSA and the CLSA where it was unanimously approved...
...From this, the committee drafted a proposal for procedures, sending drafts to bishops, canonists, and theologians for comment...
...Part one calls for an assumption of good faith on all sides, given a common dedication to the Gospel...
...Doctrinal Responsibilities" is not the first U.S...
...Unfortunately, the document came up on the agenda when there was no longer a quorum to act upon it and has been sent back to the Committee on Doctrine for review in light of the comments made at the November meeting...
...differences that call for a strong authoritative doctrinal statement but no disciplinary action against any person...
...church, there is one particularly bright ray of hope: the content and progress of the document, "Doctrinal Responsibilities," presented to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops at their general meeting last November...
...When the reorganized committee resumed, now under Bishop Raymond W. Lessard of Savannah, the document was taken up as a"working draft'' of what the committee would present as its own proposal to the general assembly...
...and that it provides manageable practical guidelines for the process of interaction...
...One model for due process has already been approved for use within dioceses [On Due Process...
...Nor is it concerned with issues currently under discussion about the theology of the church's magister-ium...
...the third part is practically sensitive...
...The third part of "Doctrinal Responsibilities" sets out in a practical way a four-stage procedure based on fairness and common sense...
...Eventually, Bishop James R. Hoffman of Toledo, Bishop John F. Kinney of Bismarck, and Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk of Cincinnati joined the committee meetings...
...What seems particularly helpful in this document as proposed, is that it keeps doctrinal dialogue separate from administrative action...
...monika k. hellwig Monika K. Hellwig is professor of theology at Georgetown University and past president of the Catholic Theological Society of America...
...The document is divided into three parts: (1) a description of the context of ecclesial responsibilities...
...Procedures for dealing with disputes will work best in a situation of continuous dialogue and explicit cooperation in which the specifically ecclesial character of the work shapes everyone's understanding...
...Rather, it proposes patterns of collaboration that can be implemented effectively no matter what doctrinal position one takes on these more theoretical ecclesiological questions...
...From extensive work within the committee and a subcommittee came the thirty-nine page document presented to the NCCB last November...
...Obviously, it is important to give equal weight to these three parts because they form a balanced whole...
...ecclesiastical statement to deal with such issues as due process or with the practical conduct of "the doctrinal complementarity" of bishops and theologians...
...It also expresses the spirit of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, offering structures which, though not provided by the Code, are assuredly not forbidden and seem to be favored...
...However, these reservations were based, at least in part, on a misunderstanding of the intent of the document...
...and (perhaps very few) cases for authoritative intervention to prevent public teaching of a given position by a Catholic theologian...
...Two years later, this committee published a consensus statement, along with six research essays on which that consensus was based, dealing with the responsibilities and rights of bishops and theologians, and an evaluation of the then current procedures for due process...
...Washington, D.C., NCCB, 1979...
...What makes this part theoretically delicate is the need for workable definitions of roles and responsibilities which rise above currently controversial positions...
...Meanwhile, the Committee on Doctrine is preparing a larger document on the teaching authority of the church, and another committee, under Bishop Sklba, is planning a document on the teaching authority of the local bishop...
...Then, in September, 1980, a joint Committee on Cooperation between Theologians and the Ecclesiastical Magisterium was established, chaired by Jesuit theologian Leo O'Donovan...
...It allows that there may be doctrinal differences that call for no further action...
...Part three hinges on agreement with the definitions of terms given in part one...
...The document is not concerned to define the respective teaching authorities of bishops and scholars...
...The second stage calls for clarification of meaning, either in direct exchange between the parties or through a facilitator...
...Part two suggests functions already in use in certain situations, so that to extend their use should not be seen as threatening...
...Doctrinal Responsibilities'' originated when the Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) decided to invite the Canon Law Society of America (CLSA) to collaborate on "a proposed set of norms to guide the resolution of difficulties which may arise between theologians and the magisterium in North America...
...Finally, it recognizes that in our day the media will somehow get wind of controversies between bishops and theologians and publish stories about them, which can be turned to the church's advantage, if the church itself makes its own mediation process known and announces the outcome to the press in official formulations...
...It asks that the relationship between the statements under discussion and the Catholic tradition be determined- which requires that the objection be explained in writing and that the response be given in writing, which will normally require consultation with a number of theological experts...
...The first stage insists that a clear statement of the problem be written up by the initiating party, followed by an appropriate gathering of accurate data (the texts of writings, tape recordings of public lectures, etc...
...The document also introduces careful distinctions (concerning the manner, audience, claims, and context of the teaching) as factors to be considered in the exchange...
...and (3) procedures for dealing with disputes...
...2) suggestions of patterns for con-tinuous cooperation when there is no crisis to be resolved...
...For this reason, some further amendments and finishing touches are now being worked out...
...lists some of the traditional roles and tasks of bishops as exercised from earliest Christian times...
Vol. 115 • January 1988 • No. 2
