Church must embrace pluralism

The Church today must embrace pluralism in the world and in its own life even as it upholds its unity and claim to universality. There should be more dialogue, consensus-building and wide participation in the life of the Church and more pastoral flexibility for local churches.

Cardinal Walter Kasper spoke these brave and prophetic words just a month ago in a lecture he delivered in Silver Spring, a Washington suburb.

The German Cardinal, who is also president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is well known for his straightforward speeches. This page has referred to several of his speeches in the past.

Kasper is an example of someone who loves the Church and as a result of his love is not afraid to criticise where he believes that criticism is due. Many in Germany, and around the world, were happy when he became head of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. Many Germans felt that following his appointment the German Church was better represented in Rome. The "conservative" Ratzinger was now balanced by the "liberal" Kasper.

It is the wish of many in Malta that the august cardinal will be invited to lecture here on some special occasion. We are reliably informed that there is in the Maltese Church at least one organisation that wishes to invite Cardinal Kasper. We do not know whether their request was cleared or not by the powers that be. On the other hand, while we cannot understand the delay; we cannot believe that such a request can be refused.

In his speech in the United States the former theology professor said that as Vatican Council II addressed pluralism "the very first consideration taken up in debate on this issue concerned a pluralism which is not only possible but even desirable within the Church: the plurality in liturgy, in forms of piety, in theology and in the local churches.

"Moreover, the council took into consideration the pluralism of separate churches and ecclesial communities. This awareness of the pluralism within the Church and among the churches has since then radically changed the shape of Catholicism."

He said the council's Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World also embraced pluralism within society, praising the diversity of human cultures and backing "an independent and free school system" in opposition to the ideological education systems of totalitarian states.

On religious pluralism, "the Council stated that the Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in (non-Christian) religions," he said. "Rather, she speaks with respect about them and seeks dialogue and co-operation with them."

Before the Council, he said, the Church rejected religious freedom on grounds that "only truth, and not error, had the right to exist". In the Council debates, he said, the clearest expression of the principle of religious freedom came in an intervention by Archbishop Karol Wojtyla, who later became Pope John Paul II.

Applying his analysis to the internal life of the Church, he said: "When pluralism is embraced it becomes also a challenge for the life and shape of the Church. She herself will necessarily become more plural in the new situation.

"Of course, there can be no ideological and religious pluralism in the Church as such, for the Church is the community of believers. Faith can only be one," Cardinal Kasper said. "But throughout history there has always been a plurality of styles, forms of piety, rites, theology, etc., and this will increase considerably in the future. It is not a necessary evil and should not be perceived as a sign of weakness; rather, it could be a sign of life and of inner richness.

"The Church," he continued, "should knowingly permit such a plurality and seek to shape it in a constructive way and not try to suppress it through - in any case futile - disciplinary measures... Such pastoral flexibility is possible only if there is a better balance between universal Church norms - doubtlessly necessary on fundamental issues - and the legitimate autonomy of local churches."

We hope that these words of Cardinal Kasper will whet the appetite of many in Malta till it will be possible to dialogue with him face to face over here.