Weekly THIS AND THAT for August 12, 2007: The Church in America

This and That:
“The Church in America”

Dear friends,

I read the following from a book entitled: “The Future of the American Church.” When I searched its author I came up with several individuals who had authored a book by the same title. So, while I cannot give you the correct author, I do believe the following thoughts have something to say to us as Roman Catholics.

Fondly,
Father Nick Amato


The overriding gift of the Catholic Church in America is that it is honestly in search of authentic spiritual authority. That may seem rather strange for a people who want to consider themselves freethinking, self-determined and highly democratic people. And yet that is probably the very reason we are on such a desperate search. Our very individualism has given us a profound need for Someone else to trust. Our self-centered lifestyles drive us back to a center which is in fact the Center. Our freedom from earthly rulers leaves us free to desire a worthy Lordship.

Maybe we say it differently than the past tradition would have, but we would not fuss and bother with all of the symbols of spiritual or temporal office if we did not deeply desire a true spiritual authority that could truly unite us around common values, virtues and common good. Obviously and rightly it is a longing for God. Our fierce independence and healthy mistrust of authority for its own sake put our American Church into a position to help the universal Church uncover and trust real spiritual authority. That authority is based in inherent truth and radical gospel – instead of limited appeals to right, power philosophy and parental put-downs like, “Because I said so, that’s why!”

The spiritual authority that the Church in America seeks is pragmatic authority that achieves its purpose. We cannot trust authority that claims to speak for God, but does not achieve spiritual ends: Does it heal, forgive, reconcile, mend, restore, renew, enliven, awaken, integrate and validate the deepest human intuitions? Does it renew marriage relationships? Does it reconcile countries? Does it fill people with real hope and tangible joy? Is it an authority that is capable of self-criticism and seeking Kingdom values beyond self-congratulation and self-preservation?

As Jesus clearly taught us, we could distinguish the true and false prophets by one simple criterion: their fruits. The American Catholic is too independent, honest and commonsense to bow before ascribed and acquired authority when it is not also real authority.

And what is real authority? Leadership and membership both owe one another holiness. That is the full authority of the Body of Christ.