Friday, February 08, 2008

Theologian Remakes the Catholic Faith from Scratch. But the Church Says "No"

From Chiesa:
He is Vito Mancuso, in a highly successful book that has been recommended by cardinal Martini. In it, there is no longer any sin or redemption, but instead man saves himself. After months of silence, a double "stop right there"' from the Vatican authorities. Here are the complete texts...
by Sandro Magister

Some excerpts:

ROMA, February 8, 2008 – On the same day at the beginning of this February, "L'Osservatore Romano" and "La Civiltà Cattolica" – the official newspaper of the Holy See, and the magazine reviewed line by line by the Vatican secretariat of state – have blasted a book that has become a publishing, theological, and ecclesial event. In Italy, but not only here.

The book is "L'anima e il suo destino [The soul and its destiny]," by Vito Mancuso. The two assaults were issued simultaneously by the two authoritative publications on February 2, the feast of the presentation of Jesus.
[...]
..in "L'Osservatore Romano" of February 2nd, it is the archbishop-theologian [Bruno]Forte himself who deeply criticizes Mancuso's latest book.

His conclusion is straightforward: "This is not Christian theology, but 'gnosis', the presumption of saving oneself on one's own."

But the many readers who have bought "L'anima e il suo destino" find at the opening of the volume a preface by another archbishop of widespread fame, the Jesuit cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, who vigorously recommends the book in spite of the fact and that he sees in it ideas "that are not always consistent with traditional, and sometimes official, Church teaching."
[...]
Martini does not say what the points are that deviate from Catholic doctrine.

But these points are, instead, set out in black and white in "L'Osservatore Romano " and "La Civiltà Cattolica." According to the latter magazine, "about a dozen" dogmas are either "denied" or "emptied of meaning" in the book. And they are all of the highest importance.

Bruno Forte is no less critical in "L'Osservatore." He sees demolished the ideas of original sin, the resurrection of Christ, the eternity of hell, the salvation that comes from God. The thesis of the book is that man is sufficient for himself and is saved by himself, in the light of his reason alone.

Mancuso, who claims to be a Catholic, is aware of the earthquake that he has caused. But his stated purpose is precisely that of "refounding" the Christian faith. In an article published on January 22 in the newspaper "il Foglio," he also rejected the dogma of creation and the doctrine of "Humanae Vitae" on contraception....


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