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'True dialogue' is rooted in respect
Read the article / show / issue that provoked me to write a letter and my response below that or go straight to my response
Date Posted on this Site
July 24, 2007
Publication
Hamilton Spectator
Publication Date
July 16, 2007
Published Content
Re: 'Pope attracts firestorm of criticism' (July 11)
I am dismayed and disappointed, but not surprised, that "God's Rottweiler", as Cardinal Ratzinger was widely known before he became Pope Benedict XVI, is in attack mode again, denying that millions upon millions of Protestant and Orthodox followers can be considered as part of the church, for which he would claim exclusive authority.
This is no surprise from a man whose very leadership is informed by a narrowness of vision based upon conservative tradition and a hierarchical world view, and who, as prelate for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for 25 years, led a contemporary inquisition aimed at rooting out dissenters and reformers from within the Catholic tradition.
I am dismayed and disappointed that, in contrast to the generous and hopeful spirit of the Second Vatican Council, this Pope seems bent upon driving a wedge between people of faith: be it those who -- Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox alike -- call themselves followers of Jesus; or be it followers of the Jewish and Muslim faiths as he has previously done. One has to wonder and be concerned as to what his motivation must be.
As someone who celebrates my relations with persons of many faiths, and who in particular counts many Catholic folk as family, friends, neighbours and colleagues, I know that true dialogue is rooted in respect and acknowledgment that we are all children of the one God.
Dialogue is not to be one-sided, but involves two or more persons. Inflammatory rhetoric is not and will never be suited to ecumenical dialogue.
Matton is the pastor at Binbrook United Church
My Response Letter
I find it ironic that Rev. Robert Matton of Binbrook United Church states in his letter to the Spectator that "inflammatory rhetoric is not and will never be suited to ecumenical dialogue", yet he begins his letter by calling Pope Benedict "God's Rottweiler", a man in "attack mode" whose "very leadership is informed by a narrowness of vision based upon conservative tradition and a hierarchical world view".
Despite the obvious contradiction between thought and action, Rev. Matton is correct when he writes that dialogue is rooted in respect. What he doesn't acknowledge is that there can be no respect without honesty. Catholics and protestants cannot dialogue when one or both fail to advance the truth of their beliefs. In allowing this recent clarification, the Holy Father is confirming the truth of the Catholic faith. Let us hope it can be a new, fresh basis for dialogue.
Jason Gennaro
Was my response published?
Yes