Excerpt from: Called to be Holy - Archbishop Timothy Dolan (OSV, 2005)
The years immediately following the council were climactic times: a lot of good, creative, vibrant, promising movement in the Church, all prompted by the genuine call for reform by the council; but also, unfortunately, a lot of doubt, error, hurt, confusion, and downright silliness. At the height of all this, Bishop Gottwald, a very effective but very plain country pastor who became an auxiliary bishop out of sheer obedience, was thrust into leadership.
One of his many crises was the state of the seminary. One-fourth of the priest faculty left the priesthood, the student body was decimated by departures, and the theology being taught was anything but of the Church. The priests who remained on the faculty announced they wanted to join an ecumenical theolo-gate, since, according to their interpretation of the council, it was useless to teach Catholic theology - since such a thing probably no longer existed.
They demanded the presence of the apostolic administrator at what was really a “campus demonstration” in the early spring of 1968, where they came to present him with their list of demands in front of the obligatory TV cameras.
Into this lion’s den walked Bishop George Gottwald, shy, nervous, wishing he was still an unknown pastor in the Ozark hills of southern Missouri. The leader of the faculty and students informed the bishop that Kenrick Seminary might as well close, since the whole enterprise of priestly formation and Catholic theology was up for grabs. In response, the bishop offered the comment that, even with the legitimate questioning and probing of the council, there were still clear, consistent truths that had to be taught any future priest.
“Hah!” snickered the faculty spokesman. “I dare you to tell me what we can possibly teach our students now that has not changed, that will not change, that can be stated with any amount of conviction at all! I dare you to tell me!”
The bishop’s mouth went dry, he recalls, as all eyes were on him, as the microphones clicked on and cameras whirled for a sound bite, as they waited for him to take the dare! And what did he answer?
“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.”
The Apostles’ Creed! A fundamental formula of faith expressed by the Church from near the beginning. This, my friends, was a man of ‘faith: In the midst of doubt, ridicule, snickering, and confusion, he dared to state that there are certain truths that can always be counted upon because they come from God and not from us!
Loading ...