Taylor's book is studded with great insights, and written with the lucidity of a chat over coffee. I have interrupted the story of the switch from the porous self to the buffered self to dip into the book at more random places today. This stood out, given my recent thinking about matters papal:
The secular age is schizophrenic, or better, deeply cross-pressured. People seem at a safe distance from religion; and yet they are very moved to know that there are dedicated believers, like Mother Teresa. The unbelieving world, well used to disliking Pius XII, was bowled over by John XXIII. A Pope just had to sound like a Christian, and many immemorial resistances melted...It's as though many people who don't want to follow want nevertheless to hear the message of Christ, want it to be proclaimed out there. The paradox was evident in the response to the late Pope. Many people were inspired by John Paul's public perpatetic preaching, about love, about world peace, about international economic justice. They are thrilled that these things are being said. But even many Catholics among his admireres didn't feel that they must follow his all his moral injunctions... (p. 727)
What does this mean for a diocese at mission, like the Sydney diocese?
1 comment:
If the Pope is saying interesting things, people listen. In a rock-star sound-bite culture, the papal visit to Sydney in the middle of next year for World Youth Day is sure is get headlines and significant media attention. My suggestion is that rather than focusing on the differences between Prots and RCs during that time, capitalise on the interest in what the bishop of Rome is actually saying and build on it. Rather than setting ourselves up as the opposition, find the good things and repeat them, teach them, connect using them. Oh, and I'm disappointed that we seem to have missed the opportunity to offer Anglican households in which to billet some of the thousands of young people coming to the city.
Post a Comment