Customer Reviews

A Church in Search of Itself: Benedict XVI and the Battle for the Future

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According to author Robert Blair Kaiser, some popes believed the Church belonged to the people; some believed it belonged to God, and many more believed the Church belonged to them.

Today's Roman Catholic Church has changed considerably since the birth of what would be Christianity in the decades following the death of Jesus. Kaiser gives the reader a breezy but informative overview of some of the more defining changes that took place -in thought, dogma, civic and political involvement, and so forth- and how those changes shaped and defined the Church of today, at least as it is viewed by the Roman Curia, several popes, and non-Catholics. He also dwells some time on the influential personalities involved in Vatican II, and how those people envisioned not only themselves, their roles and their times, but also considered the future -not only the future of the Church but of Catholics everywhere and indeed, the world itself. And there is little doubt the participants at Vatican II have had a significant impact on the Church if not recent world history.

Whatever one thinks of Kaiser's observations and conclusions, it is fairly certain that this particular look at the Roman Catholic Church in the early 21st century is one not often afforded or encouraged among Catholic Christians, and depending on one's bias it is easy to see why: The author is a clear partisan, but refreshingly lucid, fluid and engaging in his prose and, perhaps best of all, filled with hope. He is watchful, yes, but also hopeful.

Through the varied lenses of six different Catholic prelates from America to Indonesia, readers are treated to surprisingly frank and intimate perceptions of the Church, the laity, ritual, tradition; the role of the Church in matters of social justice and politics; the role of women in the Church, and exactly what these issues mean to, and how they are interpreted by six influential men from Honduras, the United States, Indonesia, England, Nigeria -and Germany. The candor and insight and even what some may regard as sassiness from these cardinals is bubbling, bracing, provocative, and really quite generous: Inasmuch as Kaiser has given readers this book to consider, these men have generously shared with the author -and the reader- their thoughts and feelings about the most pressing issues on their hearts and minds, offering page-turning commentary about their respective communities and cultures; their relationship with people; their visions of local and global issues as well as with Rome and what, in their opinions, will help continue to grow, heal and further unite the Church during this century.

Robert Blair Kaiser, seen by some as a muckraker spoiling for a schism is, in this reader's opinion, simply offering points of view that are not generally considered or discussed in the open -at least not by Catholics- and whatever one's opinion or vision of the Roman Catholic Church or Pope Benedict XVI, this book is in itself a reason for hope, for celebration of what it means to -as Kaiser puts it- "be Church," truly Catholic, genuinely catholic, purely human and humane in sometimes troubling and remarkable world.

Kaiser's main assertion is that in order to remain whole in the years to come, the Church must conceive of itself and act not as a noun but as an illuminated verb.

After reading this book not only did I feel more hopeful and thoughtful than I had for some time, but I was also smiling.

Kaiser writes an interesting account of his experience of 'insider' Church politics. A very well-written work, Kaiser never leaves you bored. Although I can see that some readers may be turned off by the clear political camp that Kaiser speaks out of, the book is a value in that it presents a perspective that is often not shared in the Catholic Christian circle of writers.

The use of several well-known international prelates as a guide through the chapters is a nice feature that personalizes the stories and the opinions that are subsequently shared.

I particularly found the discussion about the Asian Bishops' Conference's desire to engage Rome in dialogue about the possibility of forming an Asian 'Rite' of sorts (like that of the Melkite, or other Eastern Catholic Churches) very interesting.

Regardless of one's personal ecclesiology and views on Church politics, this book is a must read for those interested in expanding their knowledge of current church happenings, especially in a post-conclave enviroment.

I would recommend this book.

AMAZON.COM
Wednesday, March 22, 2006

I offer this as a reader's experience of Robert Blair Kaiser, A Church In Search Of Itself: Benedict XVI and the Battle for the Future, New York: Knopf, 2006, 261 pp.

E. Paul Kelly
26 Oak Ridge Drive
Standish ME 04084

207.221.2506
epkelly@adelphia.net

+++++


Robert Blair Kaiser, preeminent scholar of the Roman Catholic Church ever since he walked in the garden with Pope John XXIII and covered the Vatican Council for Time magazine in the early 1960s, has written his masterpiece: A Church In Search Of Itself: Benedict XVI and the Battle for the Future.

Sensing intuitively that the only way the ecclesiastical veil could be pierced was to select six Cardinals of the Church, as if they were members of the Board of Directors, Kaiser has told the story of the last illness and death of John Paul II, the Conclave of 2005, the election of Benedict XVI, and interwoven it all with his personal knowledge of Vatican II and the history of the Church's interminable growth over centuries in the exercise of absolute power.

The six cardinals are a symbolic selection of a Church in search of itself. From America, Mahony; Great Britain's Murphy-O'Connor; Honduras' Maradiaga; Arinze from Nigeria; Indonesia's Darmaatmadja, and Ratzinger from Germany, who became Benedict XVI, just about one year ago. Kaiser knew each one personally, traveled extensively to visit with them, and buttressed his research with his own personal connections in Rome and in many dioceses throughout the world, carefully put together and conserved since 1948 when he himself had begun his ten years as a Jesuit. He spent over five years in writing this book, finishing it shortly after the Conclave announced "Habemus papam. We have a pope."

This book, though, is much more than a charming recitation of recent events over the past 45 years, because its concern is contained within the subtitle: Benedict XVI and the Battle for the Future. Kaiser sees that battle as the desire of many Americans to belong to a home-grown church, an indigenous one, rather than one encrusted with two thousand years of ancient Greek philosophy and equally ancient Roman law, culminating in an institution of dogma and discipline and secrecy and absolute control in the hands of a precious few, self-perpetuating by a caste system still rooted in the dark and medieval ages.

Kaiser brilliantly predicts that the battle for the future will be won by `an autochthonous Church, modelled on the ancient Churches of the Middle East -- the Chaldeans, the Maronites, the Melkites, the Armenians, and the Copts, for example, who are Catholics united with Rome, with their own patriarchs, their own liturgies, and their own mostly married clergy." (p. 243)

He is not calling for either schism or heresy, but for a Catholic Church, in the fullest meaning of each word.

This is the book for which many have been waiting in their repeated questions, "But, what can we do to help the Church?" There is a way to save the Church without destroying it. The time is here for Catholics to take back their Church, to help it successfully end its search for itself. That autochthonous Church is the future Church, by the people of God, priest-people and people-people, working and praying together.

It is not just the Catholic Church that needs saving - by its caring members - but many other institutions in turmoil today in our world, and Kaiser's book taps a strongly felt yearning to stand up for our values - and the kind of civil society we want. Besides, it's fascinating reading about the behind-the-scenes maneuvering - even for someone raised Baptist, like me. That old axiom, "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely' kicks in for any institution, from a corporation to a federal agency... to a church.

No one had a better vantage point than Kaiser to write this kind of "inside/outside" book. -Kare from sayitbetter.com

I bought this book for less than $5--and I am glad of it. In "A Church in Search of Itself," former Jesuit Robert Blair Kaiser lays out his case that Vatican II was a revolution for democracy that was undermined by John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Kaiser argues that Vatican II was following the model of the Civil War and later the civil rights movement in America and the efforts of Gandhi in India. It's no surprise then to see Kaiser constantly pushing the works of dissident theologian Hans Kung--who has been in several confrontations with Cardinal Ratzinger, the man who would become Benedict XVI. Still, it is a bit galling to see a quote from Kung praising the book on the back. We would not trust Sarah Palin to offer a fair opinion on Barack Obama. Why should we trust Kung praising a book on Ratzinger?

Kaiser, to his credit, offers some interesting sketches of some of the leading papal candidates and I appreciate the fact that he did not bother to hide his biases. What bothered me about the book was how unprofessional it was. It came off as a work rushed for publication. There are no notes. There are no references--and they are needed. Kaiser makes a number of sweeping claims and does nothing to substantiate them. For example, Kaiser smugly tells us the works of Kung, who many consider the greatest theologian of our age, are far more important and have impacted more Catholics than those of Ratzinger. That's a pretty big generalization--and one he does not back up. Many of the young people who came to Rome to attend the funeral of John Paul II did not have much of an opinion of him one way or the other, Kaiser informs us. Really? To back up that statement, Kaiser produces a quote from one student in Rome at the time.

I kept thinking that Kaiser was more a stenographer than a writer here, repeating back whatever the controversial Kung said on any given topic. I found Kaiser's take on Vatican II a bit off. It was a revolution he argues--it just has not been implemented yet. It reminds me of the pleas of Marxists who insisted their system worked since the Soviet Union did not embrace "true Marxism." With almost 50 years having passed since Vatican II, I think it's fair to say that a lot of the effects of Vatican II did flourish in a popular pope who took the faith to millions of new people and reached out to them. Just as the Pharisees looked for the messiah and missed Him when He arrived, I think Kaiser's harsh views towards John Paul II prevented him from seeing how revolutionary in fact his papacy was.

The 20th century has seen a number of advocates of "revolution" end up in Karl Marx's "dustbin of history." Lenin, Trotsky, the Nazis, the Fascists, the liberation theologians and Peron need to make room for Kaiser and Kung.

The recent report on sex abuse by another bishop ( the late Joseph Sullivan of Baton Rouge) prompted me to go back to Robert Blair Kaiser's book, "A Church in Search of Itself." I figured I would find some insights there on why so many bishops have gotten away with abuse for so long; Sullivan was accused of molesting a boy almost 30 years ago. Amazingly, the church settled an abuse lawsuit involving Sullivan in 2004, long after he died, but the abuse didn't surface until just now. Kaiser asks whether priests and bishops covered up the abuses, like this one, because they didn't want their own private sex lives revealed. For a church that is an absolute monarchy, with little or no accountability, this quite likely is one reason. I found lots of cover-up doing research for my book, "An Irish Tragedy: How sex abuse by Irish priests helped cripple the Catholic church."--It's a story that continues because the church is still an archaic institution that answers only to itself. --Joe Rigert, author

Former Jesuit Robert Blair Kaiser has written an interesting book, but sadly has allowed his biases to undermine his premise that Benedict is the wrong pope. Perhaps he is, but one can hardly be expected to take Kaiser's arguments seriously when they are tainted by obviously prejudical and sometimes factually inaccurate statements. These include: "...Ratzinger, his (JPII's) minister of truth..." "...(JR) sent his whole life behind a desk..." "...a man who did not play Moazart for pleasure but for pain..." "...spent his early teens in Bavaria as a member of the Hitler Youth..." There is even a comment about the dark circles under Ratzinger's eyes and a reference to wolverines.

Kaiser seems to believe that Joseph Ratzinger controlled the outcome, not only of the recent Conclave, but of the US presidential election. Ratzinger is criticized for making positive statements about the possibility of an African pope, for bringing in translators for his colleagues, for encouraging those who did not speak up to do so, and for his moving and clearly deeply felt tribute to the dead pope.

There is much to criticize in the Catholic Church. It is easy to be appalled at the stances sometimes taken by Benedict and the male-dominated Vatican, but writers like John Allen - who is no fan of Benedict's - offer a much more balanced analysis of the situation.

Enjoyed reading Bob Kaiser's book very much. He knows his material and presents it well. Why not, he lived in Rome for years and studied for the Priesthood, before leaving to help make a better church. He was the Times correspondent in Rome for Vatican II.

Kaiser correctly describes himself as a throwback to the 60's. He follows that latitudinarian ideology, but obviously not to its logical conclusion. This is because high school logic is too demanding for the fallen-away Jesuit. To call the views of the Curia 'dated' or backwards, is as the man with the plank in his eye pointing out another's eyelash--Kaiser only looks to the future through is own threadbare past. Some never grow up, and they end up looking like ridiculous old men.

Non-Serviam oddities like Kaiser are not interested in what the documents of Vatican II actually say, they're only interested in what the "Spirit of Vatican II"(TM) intends, which, conveniently, coincides with what they already think.
What sort of objectivity can one expect from this book? Turn to page 68. The "Jesuit turned journaist" makes no effort to hide his disgust for the new pope: At one hyperbolic point, he writes that the then-cardinal has "wolverine rings under his eyes." I suppose Kaiser's nasty remarks about having dark circles around one's eyes,(due to age, infirmity, allergies etc) is supposed to be the best argument for his Jesuit/Marxist vision of real Catholicism.