Reflections on historic moments in time

It is a measure of how far we have come in the Church -- and how far this Pope has brought the entire world -- that such critiques skipped over the astonishing fact that a papal apology existed at all. Such an event would not have even been dreamed of in centuries gone by, but it seems so natural for this pontiff (who has issued dozens of apologies over the past 20 years) that this truly history-making moment -- a first in 20 centuries -- was not only taken for granted but also taken as an invitation for criticism.

To some in religious circles, John Paul didn't go far enough. To some in the media, he wasn't specific enough. Some Catholics charged that his failure to provide a list of amends made his apology hollow. Other Catholics thought his action betrayed weakness, rather than strength; why should we apologize, they asked, when we've been persecuted and martyred, too?

At the risk of giving a future pope something else to apologize for, we wonder how many of the critics have ever even considered apologizing publicly for the failures of their institutions, much less went ahead and did it. If we asked for a transcript of a TV network's public "mea culpa" for broadcasting decades of trash, for example, we would have a long wait at the fax machine. If we wanted to see a journalist's list of "I'm sorries" for his or her misinterpretations, rash judgments and outright errors, we wouldn't hold our breaths until the e-mail arrived.

On the other hand, many people in other denominations and religions could show us their own public expressions of sorrow; indeed, part of the progress in ecumenical and interfaith relationships has been the willingness of believers at all levels to confess, forgive and be forgiven. Indeed, it should not be forgotten that 14 years ago this month, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard pioneered in this effort at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany when he led a Palm Sunday service of reconciliation with the Jewish community, widely assumed to be the first event of its kind in the world.

It's easy, looking back in time, to see precisely when crucial moments occurred that changed history forever. One occurred on March 12. We should do more than notice it, however; we should imitate it.

(03-23-00)