Collegiality

Liberal bishops talk about the dangers of bishop-bashing even as some of them engage in it themselves, as evident in this National Catholic Reporter story.

Seeking to please his audience of dissenting theologians at a Catholic Theological Society of America meeting, San Jose Bishop Patrick McGrath took a shot at his fellow bishops, according to the story: “‘There was a time when the church’s best theologians were bishops.’ He paused and then added, ‘But that was a long time ago.'”

“His audience burst into laughter. McGrath then praised one of Johnson’s books, Truly Our Sister: A Theology of Mary in the Communion of Saints, reading a passage from it while emphasizing his personal respect for Johnson,” the story continues, referring to Sister Johnson, whose book Quest for the Living God has been criticized by the doctrinal committee of the USCCB. “By the time he finished his welcoming address, the theologians were on their feet offering a lengthy standing ovation.”

 


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