"Hope is the oxygen of the soul. Many today are afflicted with fear and hopelessness and find it difficult to breathe in the church. How do we find air to breathe in the Church again?" In a reflection he called "a tale of two Churches," author/theologian Anthony Padovano invited reform-minded CTAers to remember the fortress Church of the Counter-Reformation (1517 to 1962), and how vastly it differed from the pilgrim Church of the Catholic Renewal set in motion when John XXIII convened Vatican II. Knowing the difference, we can breathe hope and freedom. "Air is a striking image of grace," he said.

The Counter-Reformation Church surrounded itself with massive walls of pride and certitude. The structures were effective because they generated an illusion of perfection. Padovano stated, "The church sanitized history, idealized the papacy, demonized other Christians, the world, and all its enemies. It marginalized the laity, subordinated women, exalted in practice law over gospel and created an aristocracy built on celibacy and clericalism." Likening the Church's system to the Temple in Jerusalem, he said, "Only here in this one temple with Rome's endorsement could sacrifice be offered. God had never been better served than by us in our temple church." The Roman Catholic church had become almost a second incarnation of God. When John XXIII opened the windows for fresh air to enter, what started as a ceremonial, polite council escalated to revolution. "The strength of the resistance to reform is a sign of how deep and successful the challenge has been," said Padovano. "Fear leads people to destroy what seems to be assaulting them. That's why Jesus was crucified. He took away the temple and redefined power, sex, ministry, history and Scripture."

In order to cope while we wait for the renewed Church to emerge, Padovano said, "We must abandon the Temple and the papacy as the substance of our hope. The restorationist agenda is exhausted. It requires high levels of theological ignorance and pastoral insensitivity. In the meantime, we stress three values: our connections or faith, our need to belong, and our right to communion." In closing comments he declared, "We trivialize the Incarnation when we make God into a church system, a temple, or a code of law. To find God in human hearts and see God in human faces requires much more faith."