Thomas More news on Beyond Capitalism and Socialism

Thomas More College Faculty Contribute to Book on Catholic Economics

Upcoming lecture at TMC:
February 29, 2008
"Philosophers Turned Green: the Art of Environmental Stewardship," lecture by Matthew Cuddeback, Ph.D.

Something more recent:
Noted Oriental Liturgist Speaks to Thomas More College Community

On January 25, 2008, as part of the College’s Children of Abraham lecture series, the Thomas More College community was treated to a talk by world-renowned theologian and liturgist, the Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Robert F. Taft, S.J.

The event was held at Our Lady of the Cedars Melkite Catholic Church in Manchester, New Hampshire, the home parish of a number of Thomas More students, faculty and staff, and was attended by sundry members of the New England clergy—including one Russian Orthodox priest who drove almost two hours to hear Father Taft speak.

Father Taft’s lecture, “The Catholic Church, the Society of Jesus, and the Challenges of Dialogue with the Orthodox Sister Churches: Perceptions, Realities, Reflections,” offered a sweeping overview of current relations between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. Father Taft candidly explored the sometimes hostile relationship between these communities, and cataloged some of the misdeeds committed by Catholics against Orthodox—and Orthodox against Catholics—which still rankle today. For instance, Father Taft admitted that it is “undeniably true that, at various times in history, especially during the Crusades, the Catholic Church interrupted the life and patrimony of the Christian East.” However, he said, “It is equally true that Orthodox authorities oversaw the oppression and later suppression of the Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine in the 1940s.” Only an honest appraisal of history and the willingness to ask (and to offer) forgiveness can lay the groundwork for unity, Father Taft argued.

While he has belonged to the Society of Jesus for nearly 60 years, Father Taft was willing to offer some critiques of his own order's role in the Christian East. While the Jesuits have done great scholarly and pastoral work to revitalize the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church in Slavic countries, in other places the Jesuits promoted an aggressive westernization of existing Christian churches that alienated their flocks from Rome. For instance, Father Taft noted, when Portuguese Jesuits made contact with the long-isolated Christian community in Ethiopia, they ended up imposing a series of Latin hierarchs, the Gregorian calendar, Western liturgical practices, and European fasting laws on a native church which dated back to the fourth century. Such an imposition, said Taft, would be analogous to “President George Bush getting Billy Graham to appoint a Southern Baptist to head up the Assyrian Church in Iraq.”

Father Taft echoed the heartfelt wish of Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI that union between East and West be advanced. He noted the fact the Vatican has long recognized the validity of Orthodox orders and sacraments, and suggested a number of moves which the Holy See could make unilaterally to foster closer ties between the churches:

• immediate recognition of all Orthodox saints, old and new;
• limitation in the exercise of papal administrative power over local churches, especially in the East, where many Eastern Catholic Churches are led by their own patriarchs;
• an end to Magisterial declarations elevating the celibate over the married priesthood;
• direct permission to Catholic priests to give Holy Communion to members of any Apostolic church (such as Armenian, Greek, or Russian Orthodox).

Father Taft’s lecture offered much food for thought, and invited questions from students and community members, both during the formal Q & A session, and later during the reception that followed the formal portion of the evening’s program.