Cardinal ways in to long standing debate about the theological work of Christopher West.
By Anthony Barich
CARDINAL Justin Rigali, the Archbishop of Philadelphia, has declared his unwavering support for controversial Theology of the Body (TOB) speaker Christopher West who has been lambasted by prominent theologians in the United States.
West came under fire after agreeing to an interview with American ABC’s Nightline program which West says quoted him out of context, especially about Pope John Paul II – who wrote TOB – and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner being his “two heroes”.
After ABC’s story aired on May 7, a debate emerged even among those who saw through the program’s exaggerations about West’s approach to the late Pope’s teachings on TOB.
Several prominent theologians lined up to both back and criticise the work of West, who has been presenting the Church’s teachings on sexuality for over a decade, including one trip to Perth when The Record hosted a sell-out event at the Catholic Education Office for three straight nights.
Cardinal Rigali, Chair of the Episcopal Advisory Board for the Theology of the Body Institute that West founded, and the local Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where the Institute is located, sent a letter of support to West on September 17 with Bishop Kevin Roades of Harrisburg, saying that West’s work is essential to help heal a “sexually wounded culture”.
“In light of recent discussions, we are happy to state our full confidence in Christopher, who continues to show great responsibility and openness in listening carefully to various observations and reflections on his work and in taking them into account,” the prelates said, adding that West and his Institute are in communication with them.
“We sincerely hope that Christopher will continue his much needed work in the Church. He does so with our enthusiastic encouragement. It is also our hope that more and more men and women – priests, deacons, religious and laity alike – will avail themselves of the valuable training and resources offered by the Theology of the Body Institute.
“We are convinced that John Paul II’s Theology of the Body is a treasure for the Church, indeed a gift of the Holy Spirit for our time. Yet, its scholarly language needs to be “translated” into more accessible categories if the average person is to benefit from it.
“To do this is the specific mission of the Theology of the Body Institute, and we believe that Christopher West, the Institute’s popular lecturer and spokesman, has been given a particular charism to carry out this mission.
“With great skill as a presenter, with keen insight as a thinker, and with profound reverence for the mystery of human sexuality, he has been able to reach thousands in our sexually wounded culture with the Gospel of salvation in Christ.”
Peter Rosengren, editor of The Record, which is understood to be the only Catholic newspaper in Australia to carry West’s column, also backed the controversial speaker.
“Hundreds of thousands around the world and a growing number of people, especially the young, are coming back to the Church as a result of West’s work, including in the Archdiocese of Perth,” Mr Rosengren said.
West’s work is also used by Perth’s Catholic True Love Waits movement, which has also held packed-out workshops using West’s work that has led to conversions.
Chief among West’s critics was David Schindler, Professor of Theology and Dean of the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America and a former teacher of West’s at the JPII Institute, who said that under West, Theology of the Body gets “reduced to a theology of sex”.
While he said he agrees with those who defend West’s intention of fidelity to the Church, Schindler said he has experienced a “great number” who are uneasy with West’s work, which he said “in many ways misrepresents the thought of John Paul II”.
Janet Smith, Chair of Life Ethics at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, was one of West’s main backers. Though conceding West’s methods are unorthodox, Smith said he has found success in reaching out to a modern culture many in the Church find uncomfortable doing. She also said that many negative comments about West seemed to be based on hearsay.