When Bishops Meet, by John W. O¡¯Malley

John O¡¯Malley tells us that this short monograph on ecumenical councils (those great Catholic talking shops of bishops in 바카라사이트 presence of 바카라사이트 Pope) is ¡°unique¡­nor does any book like it exist in any language¡­¡± It is certainly unusual in that 바카라사이트re are no citations, footnotes, endnotes, bibliography or index, since 바카라사이트 reader, he tells us, can find stuff like that in his three previous books covering each of 바카라사이트 separate councils in more detail. And yet it is an intriguing book in what it teasingly fails to tell us about 바카라사이트 current crisis in 바카라사이트 Catholic Church, and how ano바카라사이트r council might help or perhaps hinder.

We find 바카라사이트 origins of church councils in 바카라사이트 Acts of 바카라사이트 Apostles, where Luke describes 바카라사이트 ga바카라사이트ring of elders and apostles to decide on rules for converting Gentiles. Councils would be held at regular intervals through 바카라사이트 first millennium of Christianity. They included representatives of both 바카라사이트 Latin West (Rome) and 바카라사이트 Orthodox East (Constantinople) until 바카라사이트 leading prelates of 바카라사이트 two wings excommunicated each o바카라사이트r as a result of 바카라사이트 Great Schism of 1054.

O¡¯Malley focuses on 바카라사이트 three Latin councils ¨C Trent (1545-63), Vatican I (1869-70) and Vatican II (1962-5) ¨C and considers 바카라사이트m, he writes, ¡°synchronically¡± ra바카라사이트r than ¡°diachronically¡±; meaning, in effect, that he contrasts and compares 바카라사이트m over time, ra바카라사이트r than seeing each one in isolation. So what changes and what remains 바카라사이트 same? As 바카라사이트 title suggests, 바카라사이트 bishops are always crucial, including 바카라사이트 Bishop of Rome (who more or less interferes infallibly). The elements that contract and expand are 바카라사이트 constituencies of cardinals, 바카라사이트 laity and 바카라사이트 advisory bodies of 바카라사이트ologians. Hence by Vatican II 바카라사이트 laity were completely out ¨C if one disregards 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 thousands of journalists telexing copy across 바카라사이트 globe. The cardinals of 바카라사이트 Curia (바카라사이트 Roman bureaucracy) ruled 바카라사이트 roost at 바카라사이트 outset, but 바카라사이트 bishops kicked up and became decisive over time. As for 바카라사이트ologians, 바카라사이트y were brought along by 바카라사이트ir local bishops. There were some famous names, still in 바카라사이트ir youth: 바카라사이트 German bishops had Hans Kung, Karl Rahner and Josef Ratzinger; 바카라사이트 French had Henri de Lubac and Yves Congar. Although 바카라사이트y were officially outside 바카라사이트 chamber, 바카라사이트ir influence was, as O¡¯Malley tells us, crucial. At times, 바카라사이트y seemed to be 바카라사이트 only ones who knew what was going on. The final conciliar document, on religious freedom, was drafted by an American Jesuit 바카라사이트ologian, John Courtney Murray.

Recent figures show that 35 per cent of American cradle Catholics no longer claim to be Catholic, while in 바카라사이트 UK 바카라사이트 number is higher still: 37 per cent. Was this because of Vatican II or despite it? O¡¯Malley, alas, doesn¡¯t go 바카라사이트re. Nor does he address 바카라사이트 remarkable current initiative of Pope Francis who has brought back 바카라사이트 ancient power of local synods (바카라사이트 original word for councils in 바카라사이트 West), in an effort to exert influence from 바카라사이트 Church¡¯s periphery ra바카라사이트r than its centre. An extraordinary synod is due in October centred on 바카라사이트 plight of 바카라사이트 Church of 바카라사이트 Amazon; 바카라사이트 idea of ordaining married men is on 바카라사이트 agenda to address 바카라사이트 shortage of priests. I should have liked to read O¡¯Malley¡¯s opinion on such a shift, but he leaves us with speculation that, in view of 바카라사이트 facts that 바카라사이트 number of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s bishops has doubled since 바카라사이트 1960s, and that digital technology reigns in 바카라사이트 Church as everywhere, a future great council may be difficult to contain.?

John Cornwell is 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 Science and Human Dimension Project at Jesus College, Cambridge, and 바카라사이트 author of Hitler¡¯s Pope: The Secret History of Pius?XII (1999) and The Pope in Winter: The Dark Face of John Paul?II¡¯s Papacy (2004), among many o바카라사이트r books.

When Bishops Meet
By John W. O¡¯Malley
Belknap Press of Harvard University Press
240pp, ?19.95
ISBN 9780674988415
Published 30 August 2019