Theologians
Theologians began to create problems from both ends of the philosophical spectre. On the ultra-conservative end was American Jesuit Leonard Feeney, who taught, that Protestants and other non-Catholics are on their way to hell, because, extra ecclesiam nulla salus, there is no salvation outside of he Church. This old teaching with numerous cavats always recognized that baptism is common to all Christians. Feeney overlooked that aspect and was not only silenced, he was excommunicated under Pope Pius XII for his interpretation of Catholic doctrine.
In Europe, Catholic theology tried to go different roads, which did not all lead to Rome. History was rediscovered, including the history of dogma, opening the door to theological relativism. The Cardinal of Paris, Suhard asked, if the historically conditioned theological language of Thomas Aquinas is really the only permitted form of expressing one truth. Pope Pius XII first in 1950, in Humani Generis warned against adopting of philosophies, which today are modern, tomorrow hopelessly old-fashioned. Defending traditional Thomism, Pope Pius asked for its reform and further improvement rather than rejection, which would lead to positivism and relativism in theology. In the following years, the Sacred Congregation began to review critical theologians, issuing condemnations or threats of condemnations, which generated within the Church a sense of narrowness and distrust. Mainly French and German theologians were affected. Theologians like Henri de Lubac, Yves Congar and Karl Rahner were reprimanded or temporarily silenced. Pius was not personally involved in this development, and may have tried to change course: In his last speech to honour Pope Benedict XIV, to be delivered to the Roman Curia in October 1958, he was to announce a revision of the review processes of the Church, increasing the rights of individuals and protecting them from secret investigations. Several years later, this reform was carried out by his successors.
Read more about this topic: Late Years Of Pope Pius XII, Pope Pius XII and Appointments
Famous quotes containing the word theologians:
“We need not be theologians to see that we have shifted responsibility for making the world interesting from God to the newspaperman.”
—Daniel J. Boorstin (b. 1914)
“I don’t like Switzerland; it has produced nothing but theologians and waiters.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
“Wordsworth’s particular grace, his charisma, as theologians say, has been granted in equal measure to so very few men since time was—to Plato and who else?
The crucial thing is never what we do, but always what we do right after that. What matters is always the next step!”
—Robert Musil (1880–1942)