PDF Can We Save the Catholic Church? by Hans Kung in History

Review

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Can we start again please?By Anti-ClimaticusCan we start again please?This is a book of contradictions and challenges for anyone who remotely has any attachment to the Catholic Church. Its central contradiction lies in the fact that one the one hand it presents an historically detailed litany of the untruths; corruption and organisational failures of the Church over Millennia. Be it competing popes; the selling of indulgences; yet alone the outrage of systemic child sexual abuse occurring at all levels of its hierarchy. Yet on the other hand Kung writes; at times passionately; about what one can do to save the Church. Central to this contradiction is the fact that for some of us; we did (do?) experience something positive from involvement with the Church and that is the finding of God; experiencing God and the awesomeness of being part of such great; supportive; fun communities. And thus the central question arising in this book is whether or not we can save what we value from the shipwreck which is the institutional framework within which we currently operate.Like it or not; in a world saturated by 24/7media; we are children of the reformation and the enlightenment. Even if you wanted to; you cannot escape what is almost a daily reporting of institutional failure. And at the same time; as a collective we are no longer prepared to put up with; what Kung makes evident to be; the way the Catholic Church has trotted out ideological; unsubstantiated; nonsense as divine truth.In the West; we may not have to save the Church as it is likely to die of old age in the foreseeable future. Our Catholic Schools are filled to overflowing yet less than 5% of these young people will be with the church post-school. As Kung demonstrates; the failure to effectively manage the transition from Vatican II (throwing the baby out with the bath water) lost many. Then humane vitae - what a disaster. If ever the people of God were ever messaging a hierarchy that had no sense of the faithful - this was surely the most resonant message sent thru the Church since the Reformation; with almost uniform rejection of what is propagated as all but infallible teaching.After depressing the reader with awesome detail of the many failings; contradictions and limitations of the Church and its teaching (which; if read in conjunction with Spong's deconstruction of much of the 'truth' of the gospels) one is left seriously wondering as to what is left to deal with here. Yet both writers converge on a central point - and that is their respective experience of Jesus and it is this that moves them forward. Despite all the stuff; there is still a pearl of great value to be enjoyed - but how do we find it or retrieve it?Kung provides quite a detailed list of necessary changes; hopes and aspirations. But to be honest; it left me disheartened. There is a long list of things that just have to be done;. The list includes married clergy; the ordination of women as priests and bishops; cleaning up (out?) the Curia; people electing their own priests and bishops; getting rid of the Vatican bank; people of God taking their place in the college of cardinals; recognising that marriage both recognises the uniting of the natural bond; but that divorce also passages its dissolution. And of course; a broader insight into sexuality more generally. But for me; these are simply the cost of entry; the very basics that we need to do to begin a change process. I both agreed and disagreed with Kung's suggestion that the change process really has to start with us; with us saying enough is enough. We want change; we want equal participation in decision making. We want to be listened to. We have had enough of the nonsense. While on the one hand there is a growing mass of people ready to support such a process; my experience is that we are in a minority. Those of us who speak out are marginalised. Our friends and family agree with much of what we think; but they are not prepared to risk their links with community to assert their concerns.For me Kung misses two three points which are central to change - awareness raising; a point of focus and spirituality.For change to occur we need to undertake systemic awareness raising. What Kung's work adds to the process is a consolidation of material that can we use for consciousness raising. Yes; if we want change; we need to educate our friends and families of the extent to which this game is over. To this end (and on a lighter note) perhaps you would consider using the material in this book for an awareness raising parish trivia night? Just think of the kinds of questions you can have! Which popes were married? Which had the most children? Which died from STDs? Who appointed the greatest number of their relatives as cardinals? Who was the youngest cardinal ever appointed and at what age? How many 20th century religious orders of pontifical right were founded by men who in turn sexually assaulted their young recruits? Name their founders! Which bishop was recently convicted for sexually assaulting their nephew? Name three popes or bishops who were found out for theft; fraud; corruption or murder? Just imagine printing just one of the many insights in Kung's book in the weekly parish bulletin. Imagine the bumper stickers? Perhaps a deck of playing cards - trivial pursuit Roman style? Too much fun to be legal!There needs to be a catalysing event(s) that brings people together to demand change. Now you'd think that the outrage of systemic child sexual abuse would be sufficient to catalyse systemic change. But it hasn't. You would think that documenting the excesses and failures of the institution; at a global level would be sufficient to catalyse systemic change. But it hasn't. I really wonder; what will it take for the people of God to unite to the point of saying enough is enough? And to say we are taking control!And then there is the question of where we find God in all of this and it is something that Kung takes for granted - that beyond the God talk there are ways in which we can still find God in the Church today and if we can't then we need to attend to this as well. Evangelical God talk is not enough Dr Kung. As I look around our parishes; I see a lot of very tired old men who are our priests; they need a rest and we need fresh; energised people. There a few; if any places where our ministers are enabling us to open to the experience of God; who can teach us how to do this; and who can guide us through this process. If they could; they simply don't have time! The (re)birth of meditative movements are a good step in this direction. And again; in bringing such a process forth we need rethink our notion of who it is that will minister to us today.The church can only be saved by the People of God. But in reality many of us do not want to save it; we want to start again. And the challenge for our new pope is this (resonating the finale from Superstar) - can we start again please?3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Catholic Church critic who needs to be listened to!By Cormac BrianI must say I really enjoyed this book. It is highly critical of what Hans Kung describes as the 'closed hierarchical and absolutist church' that seemed to develop following Paul VI and in the Pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI and in the reversion to older ways; the re-admission of the Society of Pius X; the restoration of the Latin Mass; the lack of any action on the possibility of marriage for priests and the lack of a positive role for women; the lack of ecumenical sensitivity to other churches; the poor quality of many Bishops in recent years; the Bank and Child abuse scandals and the whole problem of control and secrecy within the Curia which Francis seems to be intent on tackling. While Kung delights in the election of Pope Francis; he sees the Church being highly sick; losing members in all developed countries and needing a strong re-call to the spirit of Vatican 2 and its openness to the modern world. dialog and ecumenism.Fr Hans Kung has fought long and hard as a still faithful Catholic priest who celebrates mass but who is not allowed to teach as a Catholic theologian. He sent his book to Pope Francis and got a fraternal response and reply and then sent his book to all the Cardinals Pope Francis has asked to help him in re-structuring the Curia and central administration of the Vatican; its various Congregations and bank.There are a few things I would disagree with in his writing. There have many positive writings and initiatives I have valued in the last 50 years of the Church since Vatican 2; such as the wonderful 'Evangelii Nuntiandi' by Pope Paul VI; Pope John Paul's documents leading up to the Millennium and Benedict's skillful theological writing and books. I also would like him to have expanded more on the 'ecumenical rescue' of the church he describes; encouraging the faithful to look at and examine the often excellent Christian work being undertaken by other Christian Churches which could act as a model for Catholic renewal such as the development of the Alpha courses and some of the better Mega Churches who are fulfilling great needs.Hans Kung's picture is often bleak; but I would recommend as a good read as he says things that need to be said and discussed with very serious intent if we are to stop the Catholic church from being moribund and irrelevant to a new generation of people. It is a long read - 300+ pages; but after I finished it I felt I wanted to re-read it and that I had 'lost a friend' who at times in his love and loyalty seems heart-broken by his experiences yet who remains hopeful and desirous to speak his truth in his older years .There are so few critical clear and loyal voices in the Church today. He sees himself as a loyal opposition to the Church and certainly deserves to be heard by a wide audience in these early times of the new Pontificate of Pope Francis. I do hope Pope Francis re-instates him as a Catholic theologian. Bless him!6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A thoughtful; hard hitting essay on what is wrong with the Catholic Church and what can be done about it.By Luv My iPad2Dr. Kung takes us on a intriguing historical journey through the major chapters of the Roman Church. He pulls no punches; arguing very persuasively what is wrong; how it came to be what it is and what needs to be done to save it. He is committed to a catholic (small c); but is unbending in his criticism. He names names. He clearly has a sound and detailed historical knowledge. My only concern is that it can be seen as a strident polemic. And as such ignored by the very people and institutions that need to hear his views. They are quite cogent as well as thought provoking. For those searching for a modernist; forward looking analysis from a distinguished scholar who is not consumed by the jargon that so encumbered then Church; this certainly will clarify much and give you much to think about.