Ratzinger and John Paul II:Lately, they’re not on the same page!

You have to wonder who’s in charge. First Cardinal Ratzinger’s doctrinal office told Belgian Jesuit theologian, Fr. Jacques Dupuis, to halt his work because his book, “Toward a Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism,” which recognized some intrinsic value in non-Christian religions, contained “doctrinal error.” Then last fall Ratzinger issued Dominus Iesus, a devastating declaration that, whatever the good intentions of non-Christian religions, “one cannot contribute to these…a divine origin.” In other words, the Church has got the franchise on salvation and needs no contributions from outsiders. Non-Catholics may attain salvation, but only through the grace of Christ which gives them a mysterious relationship to the Church.

But Dominus Iesus met strong resistance, even from bishops and cardinals, and even within the Vatican. Next Ratzinger then backed off a bit on Dupuis, finding in February that his book contained “ambiguities,” not doctrinal error, as previously charged. After the ordeal of a three-year CDF prosecution, Dupuis accepted this lighter judgment (with great reservation) and returned to his work.

Meanwhile, this January Pope John Paul produced a document of his own, a letter setting the Church’s agenda for the new millennium. Amazingly, the substance and tone of Novo Millennio Ineunte sounds more like Dupuis than Ratzinger, and nothing at all like Dominus Iesus! John Paul called for “a relationship of openness and dialogue with the followers of other religions” — a dialogue that will flourish “in the increased cultural and religious pluralism which is expected to mark the society of the new millennium.” That is precisely what Dupuis argued for in his book and what Ratzinger sees as leading to relativism and indifference. In addition, the pope urged pastors to “listen more widely to the entire people of God” and called for genuine episcopal collegiality, a renewed papacy and a reformed Roman Curia.

We are hearing several voices here, and that appears to be good news. Honest difference of opinion at the top is always preferable to single-note paranoia.