Bishop of Fort Wayne/South Bend says dialogue is important
By COLLEEN McCARTHY
Washington Correspondent
WASHINGTON
Despite concerns that juridical elements in Ex Corde Ecclesiae will create a wider divide between bishops and theologians, Bishop John D'Arcy of the Fort Wayne/South Bend diocese said the document should increase dialogue between the two.
"Bishops need theologians and theologians need bishops," D'Arcy said Wednesday. "There is a need for continued dialogue and reciprocity in the relationship."
Throughout the nine-year period during which the U.S. Catholic Church has looked at Ex Corde, D'Arcy said he has maintained dialogue with college and university presidents, boards of trustees and theology faculty of the academic institutions in his diocese.
"I have had extensive dialogue with the presidents of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's," said D'Arcy. "The question has arisen that perhaps there is not enough dialogue between bishops and theologians but I have been privileged to have much dialogue with professor John Cavadini, head of the Notre Dame theology department, and I hold him in the highest esteem."
D'Arcy said he was in favor of the mandate and didn't believe it would limit academic freedom, a concern of many in Catholic higher education. He was concerned, however, that floor debate on Wednesday morning focused too much on the mandate. He said he had "anxiety that the mandate is seen as an end, but it is really a means."
"I highly endorse the goal of the mandate," he said. "It uses the word `reciprocity' in the document because that is what is essential. Both bishops and theologians serve the word of God, but in different capacities. This is why we need continued conversation."
There is a need throughout the process of implementing the mandate to protect the freedom of inquiry in academics while also protecting pastoral freedom, D'Arcy said.
"Sometimes we make academic freedom without parameters as in the secular world, but the Catholic Church does have parameters and as Catholic colleges and universities, these parameters apply," he said.
D'Arcy said the process for a professor receiving a mandate will not be a witch hunt or intensive inquiry or questioning.
"The committee has gentled this significantly," he said. "The document just says that the professor should be teaching in communion with the Church."
D'Arcy said he disagreed with Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland's comment that passing Ex Corde would lead to increased tensions between theologians and the Church heirarchy and a "pastoral disaster."
"I wouldn't phrase it that way," D'Arcy said, referring to Weakland's comments made during the floor debate on Ex Corde. "I think there is a lot of work to do with theologians but with most theologians and bishops, the relationship is respectful. I hope this step will bring us to more communion, not less."
D'Arcy emphasized that throughout the implementation process of Ex Corde and discussion of how to implement the mandate, he plans to remain responsive to college and university faculty.
"I will try to have conversation with theologians and explain to them, listen to them, and dialogue with men like that and women like we have who love the church," he said. "The link between bishops and theologians depends on mutual respect and friendship and both have to undersand that to make the relationship work."
All News Stories for Thursday, November 18, 1999
