Now is the time for a few acts of ecclesial bravery

National Catholic Reporter, March 31, 1995

Time to recognize an act of ecclesial bravery.

On March 12, Italian Cardinal Carlo Martini of Milan, Italy, in a London British Broadcasting Corp. interview, warmed our fear-frozen church climate by speaking honestly to the faithful (NCR, March 24). That his reasonable words on church life made news reveals how cold and arid our ecclesial landscape has become

Here is a bishop viewed as a possible future pope speaking freely, taking risks. He had entered treacherous church territory: discussing issues of celibacy, divorce and remarriage, women and birth control. If Martini harbors secret. ambition, caution would have kept him away. Instead, Martini spoke personal conviction. In the interview, the Milan cardinal said:

* The church should be open to allowing married Latin-rite priests in places where the cultural situation would allow it.

* It should study the possibilities of ordaining women as deacons.

* It should study allowing communion for some divorced Catholics in subsequent marriages not approved by the church.

* The church doctrine on artificial contraception is "much more open to the understanding of every situation than it is thought ordinarily."

This distances him somewhat from Rome.

Martini's comments were not the usual mandatory celibacy discourses we hear from church prelates. His comments grew out of real situations, not abstract principles. What about Eucharist-starved nations?

Martini's comments follow Pope John Paul 11's declaration last May that no one is even to discuss women and the ordained ministry.

They follow a Vatican reiteration last October that divorced Catholics in marriages not recognized by the church must never receive communion -- unless they abstain from sex.

And the comments come just weeks before a major Vatican encyclical that is going to cry even more loudly for observance of church teaching on birth control, if that is possible.

Martini reminded the faithful that priestly celibacy is a "historical decision which could be changed." He added: "But I don't think it will be wise to change the decision but to adapt it to the situation of different people." What's that if not a yes-but-no to mandatory celibacy?

Then the cardinal said that "in a synod some years ago it was decided to study further the question of women deacons. Therefore, I would be glad if this could be studied and maybe brought to a good conclusion."

And as for communion for divorced Catholics in invalid marriages, Martini said it is "a very serious problem. This problem comes up again and again, and this is a sign that we are not at ease with this problem. We want to give the best possible solution in each case. There has been development in the last 20 to 30 years, and therefore it shall continue."

The cardinal's remarks shook conservatives and led the Vatican to request a "clarification." On March 15 Martini explained, saying some of his thoughts had been misrepresented, but did not yield. The cardinal defended the "unquestioned evangelical value of celibacy for the kingdom of God" while noting that the Latin-rite church already makes "reasonable "exceptions" to the rule for "the good of souls or special circumstances."

Recent examples, he said, include ordination of married men who converted to Catholicism after being ministers in other churches. Priestly celibacy, he added, "even though it is not unchangeable, is destined to last, and even the adaptations of this practice, as in the exceptions mentioned above, will always be within the policy of sustaining and promoting in the church the presence and expansion of evangelical charisms." No one doubts it.

Martini's remarks recall similar statements made in recent years by Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland. Both men, addressing church needs, have shown courage by speaking honestly. And from the heart.

Yes, Catholicism is alive; wounded a bit, but alive. It is a Catholicism that celebrates unity and diversity in discourse and theology. Morality and church. discipline grow out of these -- and here the church transforms itself as it reflects on scripture, revelation and nature and the needs of all the people of God.

What the church needs now are three or four dozen more moderate archbishops around the world who are willing to say what they actually think about these issues. This is the time their voices can give hope. And honesty often takes courage.

Following this pontificate there will be many who speak with newfound courage. Many will offer pastoral encouragement. Good. But where are they now? What is needed is nothing more radical than honest and open talk. Nothing else reaches the faithful.