VATICAN STRIPS CURRAN OF STATUS AS CATHOLIC THEOLOGIAN

NEW YORK (RNS ) — For the first time, the Vatican has stripped an American theologian of the right to teach theology in a Church university.

After a seven-year investigation, the Holy See issued a decision that effectively ousts the Rev. Charles Curran, a prominent liberal theologian, from his post at the Catholic University of America.

The Vatican's Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said on August 18 that Father Curran's writings on sexual ethics were at odds with the teachings of the Catholic hierarchy. The Congregation revoked the priest's authorization to teach as a Catholic theologian.

The move against Father Curran, a popular lecturer at the Vatican-chartered university in Washington, was also the first of three decisions expected on American theologians under review by the Church hierarchy. The American bishops were expected to announce soon whether the Rev. Michael Buckley would be permitted to assume the post of doctrinal adviser to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Conference named the Jesuit to the post in May, but announced later it was reviewing the appointment after complaints by some bishops about his signing of a 1977 statement questioning the Vatican's opposition to women's ordination.

Similarly, bishops who sit on the Board of Trustees of Catholic University have held up the tenure application of the Rev. James Provost, a leading canon lawyer at the school. The bishops reacted to questions raised by the Vatican about Father Provost's views on such matters as the role of women and the laity.

In a letter made public by Archbishop James Hickey of Washington, who serves as Chancellor of the University, the Vatican Congregation informed Father Curran, 52, that he was "not suitable nor eligible to teach Catholic theology" because of his dissent from the Magisterium of the Church.

The letter, signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation, cited Father Curran's positions on issues such as artificial contraception, premarital sex, homosexuality, masturbation, euthanasia, abortion and divorce and remarriage. Father Curran has generally argued that the Church's opposition to these practices should not be absolute.

Cardinal Ratzinger said in his letter, dated July 25, that the Congregation had based its inquiry "exclusively on your published works and on your personal responses to its observations. In effect, then," the prelate said, "your own works have been your 'accusers' and they alone."

Father Curran, who had reportedly been in contact with Rome on the matter since 1979, announced in March that Cardinal Ratzinger had given him two months to retract his positions. He said at the time that he would not retract, declaring, "It is unjust to single me out for disciplinary action of any type when so many other Catholic theologians hold the same positions."

At a news conference on August 20, Father Curran said he may seek reversal of the Vatican decision through American courts. He said he and his lawyers were examining several options, including an appeal under statutes of the Catholic University of America and a civil lawsuit.

The priest, uncertain about what specific steps he will take, spoke two days after the decision of the Vatican was made public.

The move by the Vatican drew sharp criticism from leading American Catholic theologians, some of whom said the discipline would have a chilling effect on Catholic theological scholarship in the United States.

The Rev. Richard McBrien, head of Notre Dame's theology department, said the action against Father Curran will severely damage the reputation of Catholic higher education, and drive the best young Catholic scholars away from Church institutions. "Under this papal administration," the prominent theologian said, "Catholic institutions cannot possibly provide a home for free scholarship." Father McBrien added that despite the censure, "Charlie Curran will still be recognized as one of the leading Catholic theologians. His stature among theologians is undiminished."

U.S. BISHOPS, IN FOLLOWING ROME, ABANDON OWN GUIDELINES ON DISSENT

NEW YORK (RNS) — American Catholic bishops are falling quickly in line with the Vatican's censure of a leading liberal theologian, to the point of renouncing their own guidelines permitting dissent from Church teachings.

A harder line taken by American prelates follows the announcement on August 18 that the Vatican had stripped the Rev. Charles Curran of his authorization to teach theology at a Vatican-chartered institution.

At a news conference held the following day, Archbishop James Mickey of Washington, D.C., Chancellor of Catholic University, declared in response to questions that the bishops are no longer following the "norms" on dissent which they issued in 1968.

Essentially, the guidelines, drawn up in the midst of a debate over Pope Paul VI's decree prohibiting artificial contraception, allowed for "responsible" dissent. Contained in a pastoral letter, "Human Life in Our Day," the criteria included proper regard for the gravity of the issues addressed and respect for Church authority.

Supporters of Father Curran, whose dissent involved his views that such practices as birth control and premarital sex are sometimes morally permissible, say the priest's writings fall within the bishops' guidelines.

Archbishop Hickey, however, said the bishops themselves see their guidelines as wrong. "We've seen that these norms, as applied to public dissent, are simply unworkable," said the Archbishop, who added that the Vatican has now decreed that there is "no right to public dissent."

The prelate said he fully supports the move by Rome. Other bishops, including one who had publicly defended Father Curran last March, joined in the praise [of Rome].

Earlier, in an unusual show of dissent by a prelate, Bishop Mathew Clark of Rochester, N.Y., in whose diocese Father Curran is ordained, declared in a four-page statement that those who criticize Father Curran "do not understand the theological enterprise." He went further to voice discomfort with the fact that the Vatican had largely side-stepped the American bishops in its seven-year investigation into Father Curran's opinions.

However, on the day Archbishop Hickey announced that Father Curran was no longer a Catholic theologian, Bishop Clark issued a statement saying he accepted the decision "as the final word on the matter" and urged others to accept it in a similar spirit.

Bishop James Malone, President of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, said those who disagree with Church teachings "cannot reasonably expect" to hold a post which requires them to communicate those teachings. He expressed hope that the decision on Father Curran would not lead to "prolonged confusion and bitterness."

Archbishop James T.E. McCarrick of Newark, N.J. whose predecessor was embarrassed by a Vatican decision to force removal of his seal of approval from a popular catechetical text, rallied behind Cardinal Ratzinger. Of Father Curran, he said simply, "He is wrong." Other bishops with liberal reputations, including Archbishop James Kelly of Louisville, Ky., were silent on the action.

Russell Shaw, a spokesman for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, played down the significance of Archbishop Hickey's remarks that the bishops' 1968 norms are no longer workable. He said the prelate "was just describing a de facto situation that exists" and that the guidelines for a long time have been seen as not useful.

Mr. Shaw explained that the bishops could not envision at the time they issued the norms the extent of diversion from official Church teachings that would follow. At his news conference, Archbishop Hickey said that scandal and wrong teachings by theologians have resulted from the norms.

CATHOLIC GROUPS VOICE SUPPORT OF VATICAN ACTION AGAINST SCHOLARS

NEW YORK (RNS) — A conservative Catholic group, spurred by recent criticism of Vatican action against theologians, has released the results of a survey which shows that 1,400 scholars in the Catholic academic community are supportive of Pope John Paul II.

In a related development, the Mariological Society of America has passed a resolution which declares its "firm support" for the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Msgr. George A. Kelly of St. John's University in Jamaica, New York, President of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, announced the results of a survey which he labeled "almost indecent" since it is the Magisterium who "determine what Catholic theology is, and what makes for a Catholic university."

"The Fellowship became involved reluctantly in this head count by the barrage of press releases from the Charles Currans, the Theodore Hesburghs and Co. suggesting that the Holy See lacked academic support in the United States. Their assumptions are just not true," said Msgr. Kelly.

The scholars have professed themselves "in agreement with the recent efforts of John Paul II to restore authenticity to Catholic theology and to reclaim colleges which call themselves Catholic for service to the intellectual and religious mission of the Church."

Msgr. Kelly who, in April 1986, called for the removal of the Rev. Charles Curran from his teaching post for being a "leader of the pack" of dissenting theologians, said he found dissenters in his survey as well. "The mail also contained discouraging news about the passivity of many faculties who stand aloof waiting to see who wins before they choose sides, members who think the argument between Curran and Rome is on the order of differences between Democrats and Republicans" he said. 'Then, of course, letters recount tales of teachers of theology who no longer believe in the Magisterium of the Church. This dark side to the contemporary world of Catholic higher education is livened by the beacons of blaring light in the still existing citadels of faith."

The Fellowship of Catholic Scholars was established twenty-five years ago to defend the teaching of the Catholic Church in Catholic universities and colleges. In addition to being its president, Msgr. Kelly is also professor of contemporary Catholic problems at St. John's, and consultant to the Vatican Sacred Congregation for the Clergy.

The Mariological Society of America recently released the text of a resolution passed at its 37th National Convention held in Tampa, Florida, May 28-29 which affirmed that the Holy See has the "ultimate responsibility to oversee the teaching of Catholic doctrine at all levels."

The resolution declared its "firm support for the efforts of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to ensure the authenticity of the teaching given in Catholic theological faculties."

JESUIT RESIGNS FROM ORDER RATHER THAN ABANDON HIS SURVEY OF BISHOPS

NEW YORK (RNS) — A Los Angeles priest has resigned from the Jesuit Order rather than obey orders to halt a survey of American Catholic bishops on the issues of priestly celibacy and ordination of women.

Rev. Terrance Sweeney, 41, had been ordered by the Society of Jesus in California to either put a stop to the survey or leave his Order. He signed papers on August 15th at Loyola Marymount University at Los Angeles resigning from the Order.

A nationally known priest who has won five Emmy awards for his work on film and television projects, Father Sweeney told a Los Angeles religion writer, Russell Chandler, that he decided against submitting to "authority destructive of the very foundations of the Church and religious and academic freedom" He said the disciplinary action originated with the Vatican.

The Rev. Robert Caro, rector of the community where Father Sweeney lived for more than a decade, confirmed the resignation in a telephone interview with Religious News Service. The rector said the Jesuit Province had found Father Sweeney's study "amateurish" and "lacking of any scientific credibility." He said the results of the study were unknown to the Province and "not the issue."

Results of the survey were released to the Los Angeles Times on August 25th.

According to the release, nearly one-fourth of the U.S. Catholic bishops who responded would allow priests to marry, and nearly one-fifth would approve of allowing married and resigned priests to return to active ministry.

The poll received 145 replies from the nation's 312 Catholic bishops. It found that nearly thirty percent of the bishops would approve of ordaining women as deacons, but less than eight percent would approve of women in the priesthood.

Father Sweeney had been a Jesuit for nearly twenty-four years at the time of his resignation. He said his superiors initially had encouraged him to pursue the survey but that he ran into problems after Archbishop Roger Mahony of Los Angeles told him that Archbishop Pio Laghi, the pope's delegate to the United States, had inquired about the work.

The actions against Father Sweeney were sharply criticized by the Rev. Andrew Greeley, the Chicago priest who is both a sociologist and novelist, and by Dean R. Hoge. a Presbyterian who is a professor of sociology at Catholic University in Washington.

"It's a return to the Inquisition…it's the last gasp of a dying order," Father Greeley said. "I deplore the destruction of evidence. It's like burning books."

MOST AMERICAN CATHOLICS UPHOLD THE RIGHT TO DISAGREE WITH THE POPE

NEW YORK (RNS) — American Catholics believe by an overwhelming margin of 79 to 13 percent that they can disagree with the pope on birth control, divorce and abortion and still remain good Catholics, according to a New York Times/CBS Poll conducted last November and released in August.

The poll also found that American Catholics favor use of artificial birth control by a 68 to 24 percent margin and remarriage of divorced Catholics by a 73 to 19 percent edge. The pope opposes both artificial contraception and remarriage of divorced Catholics.

Only 26 percent favored legalized abortion, but 55 percent favor allowing abortion in cases of rape or incest. The Church holds that abortion is wrong in all cases.

Among other findings: