Dismay follows DeMello censure

By KATE BLAIN- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Three local retreat centers reacted to the Vatican ban on the writings of the late Jesuit Rev. Anthony de Mello with surprise and sadness, while a fourth in the midst of a de Mello-centered retreat declined to comment.

The Vatican's declaration, issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, stated that Father De Mello's popular writings are "incompatible with the Christian faith and can cause grave harm."

It requested that the priest's books not be reprinted and that those already in distribution be withdrawn from sale (see The Evangelist, August 27).

Surprised

"I love Tony de Mello!" exclaimed Sister Mary Ellen Curtin, CSJ, co-director of Still Point House of Prayer in Stillwater. "It's totally surprising to me that they would condemn Tony de Mello's work."

A longtime fan of Father de Mello's who attended his retreats several times, Sister Mary Ellen remarked that "knowing Tony, he's laughing uproariously" at the Vatican's pronouncement.

Her own reaction, however, was one of sadness.

"I feel sad that this wonderful person's work would be looked upon as against the faith," she stated, adding that she learned from Father de Mello that "you cannot put God in a box. You cannot define who God is. Tony would say, `Let's make God the best possible human being and go from there.' Would the best possible human being condemn good stories?"

As she spoke to The Evangelist, Sister Mary Ellen said that she could see several of Father de Mello's books sitting on her bookshelves and that she had no intention of removing them.

"Is this the Inquisition or what?" she said. "I question, does [the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith] have a right to say, `This is what you can read'? What's going on in the Congregation is a very scary experience."

Frequent use

Sister Mary Gen Smyth, RSCJ, co-director of Abba House of Prayer in Albany, told The Evangelist that she attended three workshops with Father de Mello in the 1980s. (The priest died in 1987.)

At that time, Father de Mello remarked that his writings might someday be censured by the Vatican; but she added that "I don't find anything wrong with his writings. I was very surprised" to hear the Vatican's announcement.

Several years ago, Abba House used a series of videos by Father de Mello as a resource for those visiting the house of prayer. Sister Mary Gen said that the videos included questions for discussion that proved quite popular with those who used them.

Since then, she said, Abba House has not held any de Mello-centered activities, although it does have some of the author's books available in its library. She commented that despite the Vatican's ban, her opinion of Father de Mello as a good writer will not change, and she has no plans to remove his books from Abba House's library.

"I like reading his books," she stated. "He's funny, too."

Sadness

At the Dominican Spiritual Life Center in Niskayuna, pastoral counselor Sister Jean Kinney, OP, stated that "my gut reaction is sadness, because I certainly use [Father de Mello's] works and have used them in retreats. They had gotten many points across to people of God's great love for us."

Sister Jean particularly remembered a phrase Father de Mello used in one of his videos: "addictions of illusions." She explained that the priest was referring to people being addicted to their illusions rather than the truth; her reaction at the time as a counselor was, "You're right on target!"

While she doubted that the Vatican's ban on his work would stop her from using Father de Mello's writings or "reading his beautiful poetry," Sister Jean said that she was deeply saddened to hear about it.

"`Whatever is needed is provided for us' -- that's what I've gotten from Anthony de Mello," she stated.

Pyramid Life Center, the Albany Diocese's camp in the Adirondack Mountains, was holding a three-day "de Mello-styled retreat and prayer workshop" led by Rev. James Nolan, SJ, at the time the Vatican's statement was issued. Sister Monica Murphy, CSJ, director, declined to comment on the announcement.

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