Jesuit says congregation trying to decide how to respond to pope
CWNews pegs it right with this headline: Pope prods Jesuits on loyalty to Church
It's in reference to some points the Holy Father made when they were in the process of electing their new Father General, later said to be Adolfo Nicolas.
Included in the discussion, he said, was the need to respond to the letter Pope Benedict sent to the outgoing superior general, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, praising the Jesuits' contributions to evangelization and urging them to reaffirm their fidelity to contested points of church doctrine, particularly regarding sexual morality and relations with other religions. Father Smolira said the pope's "expression of confidence and trust" in the Jesuits "requires a responsible and enthusiastic response."The congregation delegates "have taken a considerable amount of time to read and reflect among ourselves and to decide how best to respond to that letter," he said.
How should the Jesuits respond? With humble obedience.
Perhaps they could follow the lead of our Blessed Mother when the Angel Gabriel appeared to her: Fiat mihi secundum Verbum tuum ("Be it unto me according to thy Word.")
In all seriousness, we need to pray for the Jesuits. We need more men cut from the cloth of Fr. John Hardon, SJ, Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, and Fr. Kenneth Baker, SJ.
In God, all things are possible - even an orthodox comeback for the order founded by St. Ignatius. It is good Fr. Nicolas wants to serve the poor. However, this will be far more effective if they are steadfast in all that their founder, St. Ignatius taught them. Perhaps they might take the next month and revisit those things before they respond to the Holy Father.
Te Deum Laudamus! Home
