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Winter
Books Faithful to conscience and tradition
FAITHFUL
DISSENTERS: STORIES OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO LOVED AND CHANGED THE
CHURCH By Robert McClory Orbis Books, 180,
$16 |
By KENNETH E. UNTENER
In this book, Robert McClory gives us a refreshing, focused
approach to faithful dissent. He does this through stories of people whose
courage and fidelity to a higher law helped them to resist lesser, culturally
bound traditions in order to contribute to the broader and longer tradition of
the church. Some of them have since been declared saints of the church.
The 17 women and men whose stories are told in this book are now
dead. They conscientiously resisted teachings of church authorities on issues
that the church has since resolved in their favor. Among them are such
well-known persons as John Courtney Murray, Galileo, Catherine of Siena, John
Henry Newman, Yves Congar, Thomas Aquinas and Hildegard of Bingen, as well as
lesser-known persons such as Mother Guerin, Sor Juana, Theodore of Mopsuestia,
Matteo Ricci and Mary MacKillop.
These varied witnesses span time from the fourth to the 20th
centuries. They stretch across the world from Australia through Europe to the
Americas. They include men and women, clerics, religious, laity from various
walks of life, all of whom showed by their lives that fidelity to a higher law,
together with faithfulness to the church, occupy no specialized niche in the
life of the church. Each person held in common with the others personal
integrity and strength of conscience. They all remained faithful to the church
throughout their lives, in spite of personal suffering at the hands of
authority. Preservers, not destroyers, of tradition, they are remembered for
their contributions to the developing tradition of the church.
The breadth and variety of McClorys choices give compelling
witness to the broad reach of tradition and elasticity, to the Spirit working
with surprising twists and turns in lives of people that inspire us. Each
chapter is complete in itself, relatively short, with content focused securely
on the topic. This makes for enjoyable reading. Look at the table of contents
and start with whatever chapter you like. The writing is investigative, brisk,
concise and entertaining. McClory uses direct quotes from these persons and
from their writings so that we get a flavor of their personalities. He provides
a wealth of information on each one. The introduction and conclusion provide
the principles that their lives expressed.
An observation on the authors use of sources: McClory uses
almost no first sources in his footnotes, even though many of the people about
whom he writes were prolific writers. Instead, he quotes them through secondary
sources. For example, footnotes for the chapter on Murray are almost entirely
from Donald E. Pelottes 1976 book, John Courtney Murray: Theologian in
Conflict, with one additional footnote from Murrays own 1967 article,
Freedom in the Age of Renewal, and another from a 1996 book on
Murray. The chapter on Mary Ward cites only two books, with one reference to a
document of the Second Vatican Council.
But this is meant to be a popular work, not a reference book.
Perhaps it will draw readers to sample first source writings of these
challenging people.
This book gives us a positive, interesting way to read about
dissent in the church. We read of real people who influenced the development of
tradition. They are prophetic people, ahead of their times, whom time
vindicated at great cost to themselves. Murrays contribution to the
Catholic concept of religious freedom is one that strikes close to home.
McClory offers provocative insights on an essential process by
which the churchs tradition unfolds and stays faithful to its roots
through the course of history. His popular style makes reading about the
controversial topic of dissent inspiring. It makes one trust the work of the
Spirit over the long haul, in the church and the world, in peoples lives
and in the communion of saints.
Bishop Kenneth Untener heads the diocese of Saginaw,
Mich.
National Catholic Reporter, November 3,
2000
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