A glitch or a gulf?
Nilson, Jon
Earlier arguments in favor of a stronger military focused sole- Japan now has two options. It could become a more "nor- ly on the need to defend Japan from internal and external threats. mal"...
...A Japanese military officer was fired last year after writing a magazine article contending that the only way to correct the "injustices" of influence-peddling and A GLITCH OR A GULF...
...the kind they say someone is Columnists...
...While it still holds a strong official position, most thefirst-hand familiarity with Anglican life and worship...
...How influential can sibility-Still...
...It is the reRoman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC I) was pub- sult of collaboration between the Pontifical Council for Promoting lished...
...Just ing remaining differences, which the commission had already as Inter insigniores has not controlled the discussion about ornoted...
...to remain militarily engaged in the recult questions regarding U.S.-Japan relations, the role of Japan's gion to prevent any additional rearming of Japan...
...partner in this work because it has final responsibility in docInstead, the Vatican found only "progress toward consensus...
...Although the Vatican "the character of priestly ordination...
...The formal international and national di- on Ecumenism," Unitatis redintegratio, 17...
...Japanese military units currently in Cambodia have thus ful model, the people of Japan will.have to demonstrate that far been assigned only to rebuilding roads, bridges, and hospi- their rejection of militarism is real, rather than a convenient tals, and they are not allowed to engage in combat...
...These ambiguities since the Vatican's response to the final report and the Anglican have to be clarified not by developing a more precise common ordination vote have killed any realistic hopes for reunion...
...Unlike 1960, when 0 Rich In Possibility...
...For seventeen years, this "grave obstacle" has not prevented progress on other fronts (e.g., ARCIC II's 1991 statement, "Church as Communion," the 1990 study of ARC-USA on Anglican orders) and there is no reason to think that it might do so now...
...I don't mean to single out Lewis, who is ordinarily an intelligent commentator THEY CALL THEMSELVES LIBERALS on affairs of the day...
...Cardinal Johannes Willebrands, then presAnglicans would not destroy the relationship nor hinder the com- ident of the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity, also asked mitment to work toward reunion...
...What is presented as the official poit does not invalidate the response as the church's present of- sition of the Roman Catholic church may actually express a ficial position...
...The last has been the central point of without the hedge of America's presence, will foster instabildebate in the ongoing struggle between the ruling Liberal ity in Asia and the Pacific as other nations seek to expand their Democratic party, which has governed Japan for virtually all military capacity...
...disguise for apathy, requiring greater civilian participation in Nevertheless, some members of the ruling party would like crisis areas where humanitarian efforts are most needed...
...petuate residual guilt from World War II indefinitely...
...They argue Asia Foundation's CenterforAsian Pacific Affairs in Washington, that continuing Japan's pacifist uniqueness serves only to per- D.C...
...for example, what it is like to live as a be appalled at in the current controversy That's the whole story-the beginning, the homosexual in American society...
...That's it...
...alogues will continue, but only to save face...
...At this juncture, John XXIII in his opening speech to Vatican II: "The substance what realistic hope for future progress can there be...
...This is further illustrated by The Persian Gulf War, in particular, raised a number of diffi- Asian pleas for the U.S...
...We might be able to gauge when it ignores the thinking and sentiment of the bishops...
...ARCIC I. John Paul II himself summarized those methods in The shock waves from the Vatican's response had hardly sub- addressing the commission in 1980: "Your method has been to sided when the second blow fell...
...mal" nation-state, which includes a greater capacity for the SDF...
...The issue has been whether outcry over the recent Japanese shipment of plutonium from the Yoshida Doctrine has left Japan ill-prepared politically and Europe is an unfortunate reminder that Japan is still viewed with institutionally to deal with the demands now placed upon it...
...A Japan that Self-Defense Forces (SDF), and the challenging issue of con- is perceived by its neighbors as acting independently, especially stitutional interpretation...
...R.I.P...
...Roman Catholic relations...
...Japan's defense agency director has publicly urged the United States to remain militarily involved in Asia to "block Japan from re-emerging as a major militarist state...
...Rich In PosEcumenism," Unitatis redintegratio, 11...
...But it is also paign by the government in an effort, as one official put it, "to important for Japanese to play a more visible role in aiding thirdeducate people a bit more...
...and only motive...
...greater share of international obligations...
...All opposition is toered a lecture titled, al has exhibited regarding the motives of tally irrational, and it deserves to be "On a Certain Blind- their opponents...
...As a forthe continuing division...
...suspicion, especially in Asia...
...Bulletin of the Centro pro Unione, FallUnderstandably, these events have led some to pronounce a Spring 1991-92), argues that ARCIC I was inspired by Pope "Rest In Peace" over efforts at reunification...
...of "Catholic doctrine" or "Catholic faith," but it does not ex- Obviously, this past year has been a stressful one for Anglicans ploit the fact that even doctrinal differences need not stand and Roman Catholics eager for the day when their churches in the way of unity...
...But to be a successations...
...It even insinuates that there are far more massive road- daining women, neither will the response to the final report conblocks on the journey than previously envisioned...
...On November 11, 1992, the go behind the habit of thought and expression born and nourmother church of the Anglican Communion, the Church of ished in enmity and controversy, to scrutinize together the great England, voted by a narrow margin to ordain women to the priest- common treasure, to clothe it in a language at once traditional hood...
...Such a consultation was not required and the the final report inaccurately no less than seventeen times makes Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's failure to draw upon the anomaly inescapable...
...ings...
...The procedures established in the apostolic consubstantial agreement on the Eucharist and ordained ministry, stitution of 1988, Pastor bonus, made the CDF the dominant as well as a convergence on the issue of authority in the church...
...tion that "various theological formulations are often to be conOthers feel that Rome and Canterbury have been reduced to sidered complementary rather than conflicting" (see "Decree "Running In Place...
...large numbers of Japanese turned out in demonstration against Certainly the next millennium's historians will consider the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty, there were but scattered December 1991-December-1992 a critical year in Anglicanprotests against last year's peacekeeping law...
...Indeed, the response fails to answer it is not surprising...
...Lewis, bigotry is the opposition's one OF SEVERAL MINDS David R. Carlin, Jr...
...It could become a more "norly on the need to defend Japan from internal and external threats...
...these conversations will be an expensive and elaborate charade Instead, it faults the report for ambiguities...
...It had not dis- not understand or does not accept the methodology used by covered a unity of faith after all...
...are signs of quiet resignation that their nation must assume a 0 Running In Place...
...Even Archbishop Carey worried about the possibility of further progress if the Vatican did not abandoned its present methodology...
...greeted not with dialogue but with deness in Human Be- Let Anthony Lewis of the New York nunciation...
...The fight to admit gays to the military, they assure us, is a fight against bigotry, a fight on all fours bout a century ago rance-or better, the abysmal lack of cu- with the battle against racial prejudice William James deliv- riosity-which the cultural Left in gener- and discrimination...
...How the long-range impact of the Vatican's response by comparing much credibility can it have when it sets aside the wisdom of it to Inter insigniores (1976), the "Declaration on the Question the bishops of England and Wales who are most familiar with of the Admission of Women to the Ministerial Priesthood...
...What he said is what the entire cultural Left has been saying BAH, HUMBUG for the last month or so...
...Even the word for patriotism, aikokushin, still reminds many older Japanese of the fervent nationalism of the first half of this cen- The relationship between the Anglican Communion tury...
...Francis Sullivan, S.J...
...Not only did it fail to squelch disthe Eucharist, ordained ministry, and church authority...
...Roma locuta est-sed causa non finita...
...to see Japan participate fully in future multinational operations ROBERT J. CARRARO such as the Gulf War, although this would likely require revi- Robert J. Carraro, a former journalist, is an officer of The sion or further reinterpretation of the constitution...
...Shouldn't of the ancient doctrine of the deposit of faith is one thing, and the talent on both sides be expended in more promising and the way in which it is presented is another," and the implicaproductive ways...
...Nowadays somebody ought to Times stand for the rest...
...In each sued in 1982, a worldwide process of assessment began in the letter, however, Paul VI concluded that this decision by the Anglican Communion...
...to ogy like "propitiatory sacrifice," "substantial change," and be pronounced here is "Rich In Possibility...
...While there is room for concern, there are also reasons to think that the impact of the Vatican's Commonweal 26 February 1993: 7 Roman Catholic episcopal conferences to evaluate it...
...It ignores Vatican II's injunction: "In embrace one another again...
...reconciliation...
...and should be invited to continue to do so...
...language but, apparently, by using Roman Catholic terminolStill, there are reasons for thinking that the correct R.I.P...
...The international scrutiny over the past few years...
...Even bishops have declared publicly that its arwhat Anglicans-and all other Christians, too-believe about guments are not persuasive...
...is little evidence in the response that the bishops' work was Finally, Francis Sullivan's discovery that the response quotes heeded or used...
...JON NILSON an "official response" of the Roman Catholic church hope to John Nilson teaches in the theology department at Loyola be when it overlooks precisely what Vatican II mandated its University of Chicago...
...But middle, and the end...
...Japan deserves credit for the financial and recently with the dispatch of 700 troops to Cambodia as part diplomatic contributions it has made to international society of a UN peacekeeping force...
...and the Roman Catholic church can now be most Nonetheless, although the majority of Japanese staunchly sup- accurately described as R.I.P., meaning: port their constitution which "forever renounce[s] war," there 0 Rest In Peace...
...But, behind ...expression[s]...nourished in enmity and controversy...
...By the mid-1980s, however, Japan's economic expansion had Or it could opt for the more challenging position as a leading become something of a political liability in international cir- peacemaker through environmental protection, economic aid, cles, leading proponents of a defense buildup to further seek to and refugee relief...
...corruption in Japanese politics was through "a coup d'etat or CANTERBURY, ROME & REUNION a revolution...
...trol, much less derail, the Anglican-Roman Catholic journey The response repeatedly finds the final report falling short to reunion...
...Neither side wants Yet the Vatican's response never refers to the method of "going to bear history's blame for walking away from the table...
...The Vatican's reaction to the decision was swift and bru- and expressive of the insights of an age which no longer glotally frank: "This decision by the Anglican Communion ries in strife but seeks to come together in listening to the quiet constitutes a new and grave obstacle to the entire process of voice of the Spirit...
...This approach has obvireaction to the ordination vote seems harsh and uncompromising, ous, if not fatal limitations...
...Words and deeds, not words alone, reveal unconvincing...
...member the existence of the order or `hierarchy' of truths of We can still say that two, ten, and even a hundred obstacles do Catholic doctrine, since they vary with respect to their con- not obliterate the possibilities that still constitute our common nection to the foundation of Christian faith" ("Decree on task and hope...
...I would argue, however, that the CDF either does In 1991, ARCIC I's work was deemed mistaken...
...trinal matters...
...In other words, Rome's recent reaction signals no change in the status quo which has held since 1975...
...Still, how influential and persuasive can it be minority position within the church...
...proposal to lift the ban against gays and suffering from who doesn't understand, Different people find different things to lesbians in the military: bigotry...
...John Henry Newman, who belongs comparing doctrines, let them [Catholic theologians] re- to us both, said that a thousand difficulties do not make a doubt...
...Paul VI re- for that matter) language is not used to express the agreements sponded that this would create an "element of grave difficul- which ARCIC I discovered...
...The debate focused on the ques- world nations beyond the scope of overseas development astion of whether or not participation in collective security, even sistance, which always carries the stigma of leading to expanded peacekeeping, is barred under Japan's constitution...
...Admittedly, the official Vatican response to the final report increases difficulties...
...This is a ologians, nevertheless, consider it intellectually shoddy and serious deficiency...
...Indeed, it is nearly identical to Pope Paul the question of whether the ARCIC agreements are "consonant VI's reaction seventeen years ago when Donald Coggan, then with the faith of the Catholic church...
...Its gratitude for ARCIC I's work is per- mer archbishop of Canterbury said, the ordination of women functory...
...Which course should the Japanese be enaddress Japan's "international responsibilities," culminating most couraged to take...
...Unlike the Anglican bishops at Lambeth in 1988, the Christian Unity and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Vatican did not endorse the commission's claim to have reached Faith (CDF...
...the kind of blindgive a lecture called, "On a Certain column, Lewis revealed what motivates ness liberals specialize in accusing othBlindness in Liberals, Especially Liberal the opposition to President Bill Clinton's ers of...
...of the last four decades, and the opposition parties...
...Given the unique opportunity presented by the end of the The LDP was able to pass last year's peacekeeping law that cold war, there are a great many ways-technological, scienallows SDF troops to participate in overseas UN peacekeeping tific, and financial-that Japan could contribute to global peace operations largely because of a powerful public relations cam- that are consistent with its pacifist constitution...
...When the final report was isto the initiative as "so grave a new obstacle and threat...
...defects of Inter insigniores became apparent soon after it apWorse, the authors of the response themselves seem to lack peared...
...Instead, it merely demonarchbishop of Canterbury, had written to him about the prospect strates the obvious: specifically Roman Catholic (or Anglican, of ordaining women in the Anglican Communion...
...In December 1991 the long-await6: 26 February 1993 Commonweal ed Vatican response to the 1982 final report of the first Anglican- response to the final report will be minor and brief...
...The subject of the Japanese military is still a delicate one REPORT ON ECUMENISM both in Japan and abroad...
...A year later, in another letter to Coggan, the pope referred And there are other oversights...
...In his January 29 Now this is blindness...
...Check One...
...The Anglicans...
...Canterbury and Rome...
...More recently, in May 1992, Pope John Paul II reiterated the same position to Archbishop Carey, but also agreed on the necessity for further study of this question...
...But there theologians to take into account...
...It is a about homosexuals in the military...
...Sadly, cussion of the ordination of women within the Roman Catholic Rome now conveys little longing for reunion, little sorrow over church, but today the issue is more alive than ever...
...It takes an unnecessarily negative tone by underlin- is not an issue between our two churches but within them...
...Finally, it is imly two years of grueling national debate, Japanese forces are portant to bring the pacifist ideals of Japan's constitution into now allowed to play a limited role in UN peacekeeping oper- the mainstream of international dialogue...
...Mr...
...The views expressed here are his own...
...According to the pro- voluntary blindness, a moral blindness: what appalls me is the abysmal igno- found and well-researched psychology of the refusal to see things from the other 8: 26 February 1993 Commonweal...
...In my view, it would Japan's unique position in the world as an economic giant be a mistake, however, to push the Japanese into assuming more that avoids military entanglements has come under particular of the military burden for settling disputes...
...After near- business opportunities for Japanese companies...
Vol. 120 • February 1993 • No. 4
