Customer Reviews

Vatican Council II

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This book was first published about thirty years ago. Every seminarian had to have a copy of this book when it was first published. It was and still is, in my opinion, the best presentation of interior workings of a Church Council. It is a light enjoyable read giving insights into the politics of the Council and introducing all the major characters, including Pope John XXIII. For the person who wants a brief introduction to the development of the various documents of the Council this book is an excellent start... A must read for those who want to see what happens behind the closed doors of an Ecumenical Council.

This book is simply a classic, written by a man who was present in Rome throughout the council and had unparalleled connections. The liberal/conservative story of the Council, like it or not, is the true story of the Council, and Rynne was right that at the time the liberals won the day. Of course they did. Otherwise, how explain the strength of the later Curia-driven backlash and the restorationism that has afflicted the Church for the last 25 years? Subsequent attempts to present it differently skew the truth. This is the truth about the Council, even if it doesn't say the last word about its subsequent fortunes. And it is damn well written!

A shrewd, candid, wonderfully written insider's account of what actually happened at the Second Vatican Council, the decisive turning point in the history of modern Catholicism. The original version of these stories appeared as a series in "The New Yorker," and brought smiles to the faces and hope to the hearts of thoughtful Catholics all over the country and beyond. The desperate, dishonest, and sneering comments by industrious Catholic rightists, still huffing and puffing about the 1960s, the decade of Vatican II, the Civil Rights movement, the Catholic Peace movement, the efforts to re-energize movements to care about poor people, to secure the rights of women, and to take responsibility for the endangered natural environment, tell you all you will ever need to know about their version of Jesus' "Love one another...." This particular sect of reactionary Catholics has been spewing contempt on democratic values since the late 18th century, while cozzying up to a long line of corrupt aristocrats, fascists, megalomaniacs, and cynical thugs. Being honest about history is the path with heart for Catholics today. Just telling the truth will re-activate the long-stalled renewal of our church. Trust Paul Lakeland, a distinguished Catholic theologian, and trust what the Holy Spirit is accomplishing even in these sad and painful times. And meanwhile--enjoy this terrific, heartening book.

Rynne offered the world a liberal fantasy of what 'the spirit of the Council' was all about. Acording to him, the council was pastoral, but not dogmatic. How then to explain those dogmatic constitutions on the church and on relevation, with all those troublesome endorsements of Trent and Vatican I? According to him, the council was about openess, freedom, and tolerance. But the Council's claim of the Catholic Church to be the true Church founded by Christ and of the duty for all Catholics to assent to the teaching of the magisterium on faith and morals somehow gets lost.

The book has interest as a relic of mid '60's liberal dreams. But for those of us who have given up our love beads and our sandalwood incense, it's all a bit embarrassing.

For a better take on the Council, read Wiltgen's The Rhine Flows into the Tiber.

I got a copy Xavier Rynne book that non-catholic friend picked up at a Garage sale for around $ .50. Established Church doctrine is criticized in a variety places throughout this post-modern text, including the Petrine text.Thats about what it is worth. Mr. Hans Kung is quoted with relish everywhere, but after 40 years of "the next Pope who will change everything" mentality from the Geritol Generation, look whose sitting on the Papal throne - Benedict XVI (Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger). It truly amazing how the Catholicism of reviewer above bears closer resemblance to Democratic Party Plamks than anything the scriptures bear witness too. The reviewer above who admonished the rest of us to take the word of a distinguished theologian Paul Lakeland who supports Women's ordination and dissents from just about every moral teaching of the Church on Sexual morality should perhaps study up on John Paul II's statement Ordinatio Sacerdotalis.

Xavier Rynne is back with his liberal cartoon of the Council. The Curia wear the black hats; people with German and French accents wear the white hats. Vater Rynne confuses what the Council actually said with what he wished it had said.

For a better grip on the Council, read John Paul II, one of the great heroes and interpreters of the real Council.