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6/1/1967 - Two Catholic Innovating Elites by Thomas G. Sanders

NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN ITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS TGS I June Two Catholic Innovating Elites Mr Richard H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs adison Avenue New York New York 10017 Dear Mr Nolte Almost every tourist comes City takes short Cuernavaca discover beauty Montezuma Cortes hundreds retired Americans their second there Few however realize significance Cuernavaca center controversy innovation Latin American Catholicism The traveler enters Cuernavaca cathedral might theft striking interior design differs sharply unvarying baroque sacharine decorations nearly every other exican church The cathedral stripped statues candles flowers glitter uncover simple primitive paintings unknown sixteenth century depicted among other things Spanish christianization lexico A large simple stone altar dominates interior decorations symbols distinctly modern taste If should remain Sunday would shaken presuppositions about exican Catholiism A mariachi violins guitars drums plays music The mariachis recall Western movies those udily dressed musicians sombreros Group singing ariachi music peace bestowed nearest neighbor participation reading Scripture presenting offering create deeply touching sense community Presiding strange simple woven Cuernavaca Dr Sergio Arceo Bishop M usually delivers several short homilies various points The music informality bishop genial eloquence effectively recapture atmosphere Church simpler community Chr istians gathered celebrate faith receive paternal exhortation their bish0o On June bishop homilies because painful Never before I heavily burden which service respons bility impose rophetic office bishop Dr define three necessities entailed bishop espect libert individmal express himself conscience testify defend traditions transmitted hurch recognize limited culture should judge hastily innovations undertaken responsible thoughtful Catholics In consistency previous difficultf Eo bishop since tolerance conquered defensive instincts He urged flock understand support strange developments Catholicism occurring their diecese Th problem Bisho Mndez while unique Mexico common other parts atholic world Bishop Mndez progressive inovator trying implement spirit Vatican Council diocese spirit beyond anticipated limitS especially turbulent Latin America Thus bishop Cuernavaca openness attracted extremely unconventional Catholic institutiOns diocese compelled interpret Deople Mexican public legitimacy spirit As pastor wealthy conservative innovating traditional avant garde Bishop Mndez personally share points associated these institutions In homily expressed concern innovations might substitute could avoid recognizing could widen horizons respect possibilities Christian dynamism world today making heart Catholic universal While there genuinely radical bishops Latin America chiefly Brazil pastoral progressive bishop different important function renovation Church relevance society allowing advanced groups function under jurisdiotion As living symbol ecclesiastical structure oastor shades opinion bishoD cannot share frequent estrangement conflict Church Catholic elites exDlore untested modern world Nor commit hinqself radical social political options ecause progress though Bishop MndeZ assumes innovatiu Catholics discover chart reams human exper eventualy integrated Church June first Bishop Mndez uncomfortable Latin American oceses cotld erate controversial institutions Benedictine Monastery St Mary Resurrection Intercultsral Center Documentation While different 6omposition interest leastthree common concerns openness advanced odern thinking conviction Catholics superiority Catholics tical innovating approach ministry These concerns point issue greater significance Church Latin America namely relationship Catholicism clture The Monastery St Mary Resurrection founded Cuernevaca Belgian Don Gregoire Lemercier Though innoVat Benedictine community lived undistinguished apparently unsuccessful existence until Don Gregoire became deeply interested psychoanalysis In January Don Gregoire began first sessions intensive psychotherapy I number other monks joined TGS I experience Psychoanalysis impact American culture vocabulary adopted terminology Catholic Church avoided making definitive statement psychoanalytic theory practice The sssociation psychoanalysis Freud presents obvious obstacle Freud views origin function religion conflict Christian teaching reelation insistence fundamentally sexual character forces challenges Catholic emphasis discipline cases repression sexuality In asence orohibition sychoanalysis Catholics includin priests received treatment become odifications Freudiau theory diverging schools nalysis field sufficiently flexible Catholic could esfully relate their religious convictions insights behavior erapeutic benefits psychoanalysis Nany Conscientious Catholics mental problems requiring attention inclined evertheless choose Catholic Tious analysts assumption faith remain intact Ne counte mption clear secular Freudian analysts might destroy their religious convic tions Within traditional Catholic visioD religious monastery would place psychiatrist Despite ample evidence cotrar eople persist believing praer moore devotion God solve anxieties temptations A ctine monas close community based mutual worshiP would surely Drovide context which could religious answer problems The commitment _onastery St Resurrection secular Cstholic susDect treatment startling But Catholic analysts Freudians woman seemed tempt faith During years onasterv underwent visitations Be edctie Vatican orities abbot Don Gregoire trial dvring period Critics em9haszed large number monks withdrew monastic while defenders pointed total excessive strict order Benedictines Don Gregoire became vigorous defender psychoanalysis lobbied Churc statement In example wrote article French newpaper Le__ ond_e directed assembled bishops Vatican Council arguing Council facing realistically impact shapers modern thought Darwin Marx neglecting third Freud In published another article CI_F R gports_ assessing experiment after years revealing adventurous seientific spirit which colleagues undertood analysis He imsisted momastic commumity sychamalysis share commom focus memtal spiritus exoressions humam In other discilimes probed heimner depths psychosnaysis established science imvestigatimg curing mired accordimg certai presuppostioms methods Bemedictime moaster sDiritual traditions motivatiom immer loical comtext joimt scruimy experiment Referrim results advanced psychoamalytic experience realized protectiom Church Lemercier predicted would beyond limited imterest competemce Benedictine Confration beoome commom patrimomy interested The fimdimgs elomg amalysts temdencies those under guise iterested religious problems humanity Contrary pectations critics Lemercier therapeutic experience destroy faith parti cipants Navy realize result therapy should marry least leave monastic Those remained contended benefited needed therapy first place Like professional group monastery included serious psychological problems others minimal therapy helped under stand frankly their motivations problems Such confrontation seemed consistent liberty affirmed Christianity Noreover analysis developed monks changed attitude toward sense responsibility previously apparent In instances uncovered hidden literary musical artistic talents The community served useful providing support individuals undergoing therapy Instead facing unveil ambiguiti alone analysand could companionship others struggling similar experience As Christian community dedicated monastic confronted implications psychology theology forthe communiarian celibate As Don Gregoire pointed The prior monastery another explicit perform He present monks analysis Christian thought psychoanalytic slant This religious complement analysis monks undergoing The experiment restricted monks until monastery established within itself Psychoanalytic Center Emmaus which accepted regardless religious philosophical conviction wished submit psychoanalytic treatment pleasant communal setting Like mbnks members Emmaus Center their reatment working hours traditional Benedictine activities making cheese artistic religious articles In spirit ecumenism spused Vatican II psychoanalysis provided common human expeience based frank feelings recognition prior conditioming around which diverse ideas might gather communication From beginning Catholic circles looked unfavor experiment Nonastery Don Gregoire TGS I twice Church authorities Rome forbidden return exico prohibition violated could undergo operation On after secret hearing before special court final appeal composed three elderly cardinals Don Gregoire symbolically punished disobeying previous decision being retreat eight monastery Rome significant however tribunal judgment against which interpreted profound intention reject psychoanalysis means personal formation Since decision published Lemercier forbidden divulge contents considerable mystery surrounds Various Catholic sources indicated tribunal forbade require analysis monastic training which never defend theory psychoanalysis though denied Whatever decision Lemercier announced June press would respect To surprised Catholic world revealed along three monks would request release their monastic cease their sacerdotal functions If Church would allow psycho analysis communit under aegis experiment would continue outside Church The monastery which autonomous Benedictihe system would change Family Emmaus doors include women married people The unifying element faith Pascal infinitely We united common confidence technical means psychoanalysis which already exper imented years Don Gregoire insisted decision retaliation against tribunal judgment result reflection period It based three obligations monasticism Church world Commitment monastic ideal twentieth century implies development structures freedom expression which individuals communal unmarried according their consciences His devotion Church respect decision however erroneous seemed The broader Church however after Vatican II supports ecumenical gesture opening community Catholics Finally obligation world associates Emmaus Center seeking psychiatric condemned Church Because Family Emmaus would ecumenical yenture Lemercier considered inappropriate director continue function priest The Family Emmaus might hoped establish relations Curia future wryly remarked through Secretariat Non Believers which organism better prepared understand ecumenical community The public widely misinterpreted incident defection exico City responsible Excelsior headlined Prior Lemercier Leaves Priesthood leaving reader through Don Gregoire lengthy statement discover TGS I motivation intent The monks St Mary Resurrection decided respon sible Christians acting consistlwith themes widely accepted Catholicism today legitimacy moder secular knowledge techniques humanism revision traditional structures exercising ministry The decisi Curia painful reflective Catholics regard psychoanalysis legitimate science important contributions human understanding The experience association religious psychiatrists colleagues Emmaus Center persuaded Catholics would learn other If attempt becone relevant world sSumbled restrictions Roman Curia monks acting responsibly served world unfettered those restrctions Bishop Mndez Arceo statement June effectively validated their decision conscience The monks choose psychoanalysis Christianity being devoted Christianity terms psychoanalysis chose outside bonds Church assumption Church would modernize AlthoUgh Catholicism Cuernavaca focused June Don Gregoire Lemercier actions fully recovered incident notoriety In faraway Boston January His Eminence Richard Cardinal Cushing thrie descended chancery denounce young named Illich before hundreds Catholics attending meeting Latin America The individual under attack Msgr Ivan Illich director Intercultural Center Documentation Cuernavaca He written article called The Seamy Side Charity Jesuit magazine Ameri which raised serious questions about enterprise close Cardinal CMshing heart American missionary activities Latin America The Intercultural Cnter Documentation usually considered synonymous Illich place dialogue benefits thought iverse individuals through various periods Nor should undersstimate influence several Illich worker Ceslaus Hoinacki young Americ Dominican experience Latin America Alejandro Del Coro Argentine Jesuit years organizing urban dwellers action groups Victor Nazario Puerto Rican whose caustic humorous views delight conversation Over entire Center nevertheless looms Illich Tall black trating nervous facial movements large expressiv hands Illich dominates situation appearance vigor arguments A discussion Illich inevitably becomes presentation Illich followed questions about Illioh opinions A descendent doges Venice native Vienna exudes cosmopolitanism intellectualism linguistic fluency This monsignor proud Jewish ancestry tmrrify charm He seems between desire relate simplest pegson abrupt obvious distaste small TGl Ivan lllich trained Vatican diplomatic service discovered vocation while working te_porai1V New York City church Puerto Rican parishioners To surprise learned priests andswith responsibi Puerto Ricans neither spoke Soanihnor minial understanding culture mentality their parishioners In singlemindedly uncritical manner attempting Puerto Ricans conform Church American Irish American alien Puerto Rican experience lllich apportunity somethig about problem Was appointed rector Catholic University Puerto Rico Ponce Almost immediately established Institute Intercal Communication acquainting American Church personnel Puerto Rican problems In Illich asked leave Puerto Rico bishop Ponce Illich quietly effectively opposed forration Catholic political party bishop favored He already hovever alienated Catholics interest loping effective public rather Catholic schools served Commonwealth school board oreover seeed indifferent connon Catholic preoccupation sexual morality control among Puerto Ricans The conflict Catholic party formation Institute Intercultural Communication illustrate central concern Illich thought relationship Cath olicism culture Illich opposed Catholic party because tI0ought Puerto Rico should organize itself pluralistic secular fashion aimed development modernization without introducing particularistic concerns moralistic values Catholic religious institution The Institute sought distinguish Catholic faith United States Chur could effectively relate perspectives needs Puerto Rican immigrnts The Puerto Rican interlude intensified Illich interest cultural barriers communication between Latin Americans developed world Shortly after leaving Puerto Rico founded CuernaVaca Center whose alone puzzled people Called United States Center Intercultural Formation Nexico Center Intercultural Investigations Intercultural Center ofion CIDOC CIDOC composed excellent library Latin American problem collection documents ideological controversies region various publications program lectures discussions Other institutes exist alongside CIDOC The known language school training Europesms Americans study Latin America The Cuernavaca center teaches Spanish while comparable center teaching Poruguese located PetrSpolis Brazil After years catering religious personnel language school began accept applicants competitive basis In intensity sophisticat school unequaled Latin America In addition language school Center Pastoral Investiga tions Commitment Research Institute Institute Contemporary Latin American Studies affiliated CIDOC TGS On surface Center would hardly suggest contro versial reoutation Seemingly provides information training Latin American luguage culture concept inter cultural viewed conflict harmony expressing itself areas Church policy politics simplistic bridge tween North America Latin America CIDOC prophetic elite grounded rigorous scholarship engaged dissecting criticizing domination North American Church government Latin America In recent iterview Jesi_t is_sion Illich defined Center these enigmatic terms We those experience through rigorous study social structures meaning social character communities create ideologies religions projections themselves Sonimes peole I phantomolo gists study people phantoms The writings Illich focused problems Church interestingly concern integrity Cath olicism through internal criticism spills pointed political social positions For example article Illich aroused Cardinal Cshing criticized American missionary activity grounds It bolstering through finances personnel culture bound Church first collapse Latin American order before recover develop methods support evangelization organization American clergy colonial power lackey chaplain bringing Alliance Progress mentality dominated Communism unable appreciate movem politic_ Left alter radically present structures under stimulation ideologies Illich associates especially questioned manipulation religious symbols political purposes whether conservative defenders status Christian Oemocratic Parties American government crusade against Communism By rejecting solutions Latin America abroad Washington oscow Peking assuming Latin America changedrastically because sheer inadequacy internal tension criticizing pretensions actual conservatism Christian Democracy Center comes secular radical indigenous usually nationalist option As Christians leaders CIDOC lament inclination Catholics commit themselves programs assume continuity evolution existent structure Before Catholic Church which helped nourish feeds system collapses system thoughtful Catholics asiind duals associate themselves unpredictable future The Christian Church should confused present cautious bureaucratic foreign financed structure Christian faith syncretistic culture religion Latin Americans Rather Christianity perspective reality faith which others Those others nevertheless inferior conscientious Christians alienated tradition committed secular values position build Latin America tomorrow TGS I To participate effectively pluralistic secular changed Latin America Catholics adopt following directions From institutionalism bureaucracy community individuals freely faith From privilege prestige poverty equality other groups From guidance priests autonomy From passive mysticism directed history activism faith From maintenanc religious institutions schools promotion effective secular nstitions From identification perspective United States Western Europe identification underdeveloped world From canned programs development radical experiments underdeveloped countries From closed Catholic society values acceptauce pluralistic world From suspicion Catholic perspectives ideologies desire christianize acceptance learning From culture religion faith critical cultures From established church legally culturally Illich suggested recent article Critic revisions Catholic concept priesthood sdirections Reflecting vision Church community believers joined liturgy sacraments proposed present number individuals usually priests employed administrative bureaucratic responsibilities drastica reduced Such activities obscure meaning priesthood The ministry future should exercised priests secular married ordained celebrate sacraments basis The myriad administrative counseling functions dominate working priests disappear layman future advice priest participate parish organizations educational institutions Do Catholics grouo practical today promoting change Latin America The disastrous temptation CIDO Catholics assumption Church program future For CIDOC Latin American masses right acting their initiative interests build society The Church present Latin American oligarchy American government rooted backwardness dependence misery Latin Americ problems above their interests Alienated majority Latin Americau people fundamentally programs prevent revolution participation majority Catholics however participate awakening masses without offering program From subversive suppressed Brazilian Catholicism CIDOC ledars appropriated concept conscientizao I enlarge concept future letters because centrality thinking radical Catholics Latin America From number Brazilian Catholics participated range promotional activities rural areas Uing adult literacy training provoked mentality among Brazil Northeast Middle West community organizations labor unions political action TGS I I0 desire revolutionary change The process taking place called conscientizao awakening consciousness awareness situation causes options change Unlike atrnal associated liberalism progress administered anxious oligarchs Alliance conscientiza6 assumes people awakened better judgment their needs interests established groups foreigners Those stimulate conscientizao people auswers awakehem develop their If CIDOC defends practical responsibility elites within Church adult literacy training involving conscient Such literacy training designed simply reading writing participation It consequences awakening stimulates The American parallel Negro onscientizao obvious gravitated toward radical forms black power The implications conscientiza greater however Latin American society because group awakened majority minority If awakened oppressed masses Latin America could revolutionize their societies sense completo restructuring interests majority instead minority It surprising Brazil today conscientizao subversive dthat themilitary of1964wassuppredbythreups eared consequences popular conscientizaco We partially understand their panic resistance Whites Mississippi county awakening dominantly Negro population Themes these emanating Intercultural Center Documentation outraged Americans Latin Americans Catholics Catholics V seven years sting comes Illich himself whose polemical authoritarian personsity sharDens barbs It secret Catholic circles welcome Illich missionary order agencies concerned Latin America longer their personnel Cuernavsca learn Spanish undergo intercultural formation From shattering conventional Catholic prspectives criticism American foreign olicy assumption social teaching trivial rreevant sympathy guerrilla movements tolerance Latin A_erican mores support student Left hemispheres Cuernavaca simply visitors If conventional frightened avant gsrde haven The Center hosts constaut stream innovators critics archbishops atheists united concerns Church Latin America ideology revolution humanism humsn psyche Because consider themselves future often themselves lonely unaccepted present If articulate their interests Illich probably listen They intturn Illich respect Msgr llich blithely assumes Center TGS I II disappear befor collected documents published books nterpreting transitional period Latin American history which oreover Center provided forum exploring themes change reconstruction articulated leaders thinkers today robably influence tomorrow Latin America Among thousand religious workers already trained Center scattered every Latin Americn country promoting renewed modernized Church neither European American Latin Amer At least significant creat community Christians hopefully situation Both onastery St Mary Resurrect Intercultural Center Documentation represent sociologists elites Christian tradition calls prophets Many North Americans assume Latin American Catholicism backward corrupt expressions elites those I discusse daring their thOught action advanced Catholics United States Any attempt assess Catholic Church Latin America examine these elites similarity traditional Catholicism centuries sanctioned static hierarchical society For Catholics modernization Church society Even limited perspective Vatican Council united aggiornamento modernization Church proposed Pope John XXIII aimed relating Church modern world In groups I described appropriation thought forms proposals innovating concepts ministry dependu On interpretations wGrld which caused problems theory tensions tructure Church These elites tended carry forward modernizing themes Council beyond structure seems willing understand Many Catholics Latin America favor change could spectrum ranging those Vatican II achieved those changes across groups CIDOC monks Cuernavaca think Vatican II preliminary revisions In between further changes place slowly under uidance bishops That elites remain standing within Church though their views highly regarded seems prove tolerance Catholic Church As outsider observing Catholic Church about years I astounded desire capacity innovation those virtually freed prison John XXIII testing their Christian freedom limits We probably glimpsed minimum startling positions espoused Catholics future Can Church accept these critical minorities If cannot Catholic emerge withdrawn Church exercise freedom remains Catholic heart There already these Perhaps instead Church TGS I allow prophets while centuries slowly Th relationship groups economic political social modernization question requires different analysis difficult I wrestle innany letters I simple answers The CatholicChurch undoubtedly absorb interests Don Gregoire monks There evidence officials Church disturbed about Don Gregoi insistence Church stand psychoanalysis psychoanalysis Religious bureaucracies slowly judging phenomena Perhapsthe people CIDOC correct saying Church business taking positions psycho analysis Latin American problems sooner later realize The CIDOC position society politics however important implications Latin American development While dogmatic nevertheless assumes dominant program Latin American development srpresttives blueprint future envision clear directions I behind scholarly objectivity distinguish between Catholics social chauge development think evolution Will achieve these Catholics develop programs consistent process Those think development incorporating segments society political economic processe requires break present system adoption forms social political organization This break usually called revolution violent Various Latin American countries adopted plans develop correspond these attitudes The countries participating lliance Progress represent first Cuba second Quite obviously first Catholic better prepared programs supporting Alliance The weakness position documented Leslie Dwwart Christianity Revolution which shows progressive Catholics motivte S Oommunism Cuba Fidel Castro began Communist other teria helped alleviate their negative judgment regime The result almost total alienation Catholic Church Cuban revolution While assume other Cubes appear Latin Americancountries unexpected radical The common opinion CIDOC relative Lain America deceptive Alliauce probably Can Catholics participate optimistically positively happens Here significance CIDOC position which shared small groups Catholics Latin America becomes clear Sirely Received In New York July i1967