Scholars debate papacy

"The Papacy: Bridge or Obstacle to Unity" was the topic of the Orthodox Catholic Dialogue's annual "People's Dialogue" held at Siena College in Loudonville recently.

John Erickson, professor of canon law and Church history at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, N.Y., and Rev. William McConville, OFM, former president of Siena and current professor of religious studies there, were the presenters.

In reference to papal primacy, Prof. Erickson said, "Dialogue is not just an exchange of ideas; it is an exchange of gifts. Gifts, though, are not always welcomed by the recipient."

Hope for future

Noting that dialogue on papal primacy can either lead to a breakthrough or just be an exchange of ideas, Prof. Erickson said there is hope for unity.

"There is cautious optimism of future change," he said. "How much farther do we have to go? The way may be long and rough."

The optimism he holds is based in Pope John Paul II's encyclical "Et Unum Sint." He said the tone of the document was different from previous statements on other religions. He said other Christians are no longer referred to as aliens. The document also speaks of the need for deep communion and the need for conversation between Roman Catholics and Orthodox.

Orthodox view

Regarding papal primacy, he explained that the Orthodox do not read the Gospel to say that St. Peter was given more duties than the other apostles and therefore don't see the Bishop of Rome as superior to other bishops.

"Orthodox stress the equality of bishops," he said. "What makes one bishop more equal?"

Also, Orthodox don't recognize the Roman Catholic Church as the "mother of all churches," Prof. Erickson said.

Despite these differences, he believes that communion may be possible between the two churches.

Less hopeful

Father McConville wasn't as optimistic. "It seems to me the current understanding of the papacy is an obstacle to full communion with Christian churches," he said.

He began his lecture by pointing out that the wider world has an interest in the papacy. The Arts and Entertainment network (A&E) recently presented what Father McConville called "a spectacular program on the papacy" while "60 Minutes" on CBS did a recent segment on the next pope. Mystery novels have also been set in the Vatican. Also drawing attention to the papacy was the Vatican's most recent statement on the Holocaust.

"The interest in the papacy stems from the current pope," Father McConville said. "His titanic energy has grasped the imagination of the world."

Encyclical

Like Prof. Erickson, Father McConville spoke of "Et Unum Sint" as an encyclical that is moving for several reasons, including the fact that Pope John Paul II writes in his own voice, speaks of past failures and asks for forgiveness.

The document, he said, states that the Church of Christ is not fully constituted in the Catholic Church, but still speaks of papal primacy as being essential to the mission of the Church.

"Despite the use of the terms 'sister churches' and 'brother bishops,' despite the pursuit of unity, despite the Pope's preference for the title 'servant of the servants of God,' I am still very pessimistic," Father McConville said.

Synod example

Father McConville said with the Second Vatican Council, there was expectation that elements in the exercise of papal primacy might have changed. Two areas where this change could have been evidenced were in the occasional synods of bishops and in the selection of bishops.

Each of the 11 synods since 1965 was of modest import, he noted; and in recent years, they have been of lesser significance. "A synod is really the sounding board for the Vatican offices," he said.

There was also an expectation that bishops would be chosen in a different way, an expectation that has not been fulfilled.

Change in the near future may not be realistic. "It took 1,000 years for the primacy that exists today to be shaped," he said. "I'm not sure where the question will lead us in my lifetime."

(10-15-98) [[In-content Ad]]