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A Little Wine, a Little Cheese, a
Little Heresy
by Christopher A. Ferrara
 The Boston
Globe reported on May 10, 2001, that Cardinal Bernard F. Law of Boston, who
is considered a leading “conservative” in the American hierarchy, is
“trying to reassure Catholic theologians that he is not out to get them .
. .” To show what a nice guy he is, Cardinal Law held “a conciliatory
meeting with local scholars at which he pledged not to publicize any disputes
with individual professors” over their departures from Catholic doctrine.
The Cardinal even served wine and cheese to soothe the anxieties of this
troubled group of “local scholars.”
Why all the
fuss? Well, it seems the intrepid American hierarchy is preparing to vote next
month on a very controversial proposition: “a plan to require Catholic
theologians teaching at Catholic colleges to pledge, in writing, to teach
‘authentic Catholic doctrine.’” Yes, those courageous American
bishops are finally going to consider imposing a requirement that Catholic
theologians adhere to Catholic doctrine! No wonder those “local
scholars” needed to be soothed at a wine and cheese party. Next, no doubt,
Cardinal Law will dip into the Archdiocesan coffers to pay for psychological
counseling for any “local scholar” who finds he just cannot cope with
even the possibility of a transition to sound Catholic orthodoxy.
The coming vote
in Atlanta is the American hierarchy’s lightning-like response to the
Vatican document Ex Corde Ecclesia, issued a mere eleven years ago,
which requires bishops to insure the Catholic orthodoxy of Catholic
theologians. The American bishops have been fiddling around with this Vatican
command for more than a decade; and, of course, the Vatican does nothing to
enforce it. The Vatican has more pressing matters on its plate, such as
hounding Father Gruner with absurd threats of excommunication and making sure
no one ever mentions the consecration of Russia again.
It is not just
Cardinal Law who is trying to soothe local dissident theologians. The
Globe reports that “Catholic bishops around the country are holding
similar meetings as the nation's prelates prepare to vote next month in Atlanta
. . .” Now, if only the bishops would have wine and cheese parties to
solicit the views and address the concerns of Catholics in the pew who have
been traumatized by the 35 years of sacrilege, scandal and heterodoxy over
which the American hierarchy has presided. Well, one can dream, can’t one?
It is
interesting to note that according to the Globe, the great
“conservative” Cardinal Law “acknowledged concerns over the
proposal, as well as worries over the Vatican's rebukes of theologians . .
.” So, the Cardinal is worried about the Vatican’s recent,
mild rebukes of a few highly conspicuous heretical theologians—none of
whom has actually suffered any serious penalty. With defenders of the Faith
like Cardinal Law, who needs enemies of the Faith?
I have jokingly
told Father Gruner more than once that if only he would introduce a little bit
of heresy into his teaching and preaching, then the Vatican would leave
him alone—just as it leaves alone the legions of heterodox theologians
about which the American bishops will, in the end, do absolutely nothing of any
consequence. Yes, if Father Gruner were a heretic, he’d be attending one
of those wine and cheese parties: a little wine, a little cheese, a little
heresy. But for Father Gruner and other priests like him, there will be no wine
and cheese in the chancery. There will, more likely, be persecution and
ostracization. Such is the price of uncompromising Catholic orthodoxy today.
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