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 Prayer and Fasting and Vatican II |
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A very important book, What Went
Wrong with Vatican II by Professor Ralph McInerny, distinguished professor
of Philosophy at Notre Dame University has something to tell Courage
members. First, he details the extent of dissent within the Church on
matters of Faith and Morals, pointing out that the dissenters on Humanae
Vitae, as well as on other issues, attempted to reduce the debate to a
discussion of which side provided the better arguments, the dissenting
theologians, or those defending the position of Humanae Vitae. Making the
Church's teaching a matter of debate lead many Catholics to fall away from
the practice of the Faith.
In response to this crisis of Faith, the Vatican issued the Catechism of the Catholic Church; teachers of Theology were required to make a public Confession of Faith; and the Holy Father issued a letter, Tuendam Fidem, which, among other things, changed certain articles of the 1983 Code of Canon Law which had been interpreted as justifying dissent. McInerny, however, asks whether this will be enough, and replies that it will not be. While the Faith must be explained and defended, something more is necessary, because the main problem with dissent is a matter of the will and heart. The heart of the dissenter must be converted by prayer and fasting. True, the dissenter must repent, and humbly turn back to Christ and the Church. McInerny adds that Our Lady of Fatima asks all of us to come to a life of Penance. Perhaps, then, the fault for what went wrong with Vatican II, writes McInerny, rests " not only in our bishops and theologians, but in ourselves. It may be that the renewal John XXIII hoped he would effect will only finally be experienced by following the message of Our Lady of Fatima". He concludes "prayer and fasting will drive out the demon of dissent and fill the church once more with the great hope and optimism of Vatican II. " Members of Courage would do well to apply McInerny's insights to discussions with persons with same-sex attraction who are living outside of Church teaching, realizing that more than arguments are necessary. The two big obstacles to conversion of heart, however, are: pride of intellect and fear of change. Many persons with same-sex attractions are in love with their own opinion that homosexual activity is moral. They refuse to submit to the teaching authority of the Catholic Church on this question. Mixed with pride, is the fear of change. One is comfortable with the homosexual lifestyle, and fears what the future would be without the companionship of others in the same lifestyle. Would it not be a good idea for Courage members to engage in prayer and fasting, especially during Lent, for the conversion of other persons with same-sex attractions who have wandered far away from their Father's house? Fr. John Harvey OSFS
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