Inside
NCR
There is an intriguing sign of
contradiction in the Catholic church at this time.
During a period when the Vatican is desperately trying to bolt
into place what Catholicism is, young Catholic scholars are bursting into print
and debate, saying: Hold it. Maybe this is what it is, was, ought to be and yet
might be.
What the U.S. church is seeing is the early flowering of the
staggering numbers of young Catholics who have committed themselves to the
deepest involvements in the church as theologians, religious studies scholars,
historians and social scientists and observers.
Frankly, we at NCR are fascinated. And it’s
simultaneously fun and serious being challenged by the words and directions of
people like Michelle Lelwica and Tom Beaudoin, with whom we open our new series
on the rising generation of scholars.
Arthur Jones, formerly of Washington and now of Los Angeles, has
been busy in recent months searching the academic world for the new thinkers,
and spending long hours working to bring their thought and interests to a wider
audience. As we settle into the series, we’re taking some liberties with
the word “young,” for now it covers scholars and thinkers anywhere
from their late 20s to early 40s. We’re exploring, too, but mainly
we’re opening yet another conversation in NCR’s pages.
Join in. We’re not sure who’s going to be saying what,
but it’s certainly getting livelier around here as these younger thinkers
tackle the questions of the ages as well as the difficult issues of this
age.
Speaking of joining in, thanks to
you who passed along your comments and musings on the essays in two previous
issues (Jan. 26 and Feb. 2) by the young women on why they are Catholic and on
the cover story on spirituality for the piety-impaired (Feb. 2), the story of
Greg Pierce’s spiritual tips for the workplace. On the matter of why women
stay in the church, the comments have been sobering, challenging and charming.
They’ve also been surprising in the resolve some women have to stay, in
the face of teachings and attitudes they deeply oppose.
Many of you wrote to Pierce and then granted us permission to use
some of those comments. I found the messages inspiring and at the same time
comforting, for they let me know there’s a host of kindred spirits out
there, people in the workplace looking for spirituality that can flourish in
the nitty-gritty of every day life, one that sees God’s presence in life
“whether bidden or unbidden,” as Pierce puts it. On both the matter
of women staying in the church and that of spirituality in the workplace,
we’ll be publishing many of your words in upcoming issues. Thanks for
sending them on to us.
-- Tom Roberts
My e-mail address is troberts@natcath.org
National Catholic Reporter, February 16,
2001
|
