This just came across the email transom. A press release from the corporate and foundation -funded Catholics for Free Choice:

April 19 marks the one-year anniversary of Joseph Ratzinger’s papacy. Pope Benedict XVI has not emerged as a high profile public personality. Efforts to shape the secular world to fit the Vatican’s ideas have been minimal and not garnered much attention. Rather the new Pope has focused more on internal church management and discipline. 

In line with this style of papacy “there is no reason and no indication that Benedict will not as vehemently punish, silence and make difficulties for any theologian, politician or other person within the church that doesn’t tow the line in orthodox ways. Ratzinger was not, when he was the Head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a high profile public individual. He did not scream and yell and write in hysterical tones. He conducted his court in a dignified, powerful manner. He understood that power doesn’t have to say too much—it just does.” [1]

At this, Benedict’s one-year anniversary, Catholics for a Free Choice has reviewed the pope’s 23-year record as head the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).  The resulting report, “Moving Forward by Looking Backward: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s Preparation for the Papacy: How ‘the Vatican’s Enforcer’ ran the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,” raises and answers a number of questions, including: What characterized the theological climate and ecclesial culture during Ratzinger’s 23-year tenure in the CDF? What does this imply for his direction and reign as Pope Benedict XVI?

Amusing. They’re so bumfuzzled by Benedict, they have to go backwards in order to dig up their objections.

Sad. They’re so determined to hate they can’t listen to what the man has to say. Deus Caritas Est, ladies.

The report (available at: http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/topics/reform/documents/2006movingforwardbylookingback.pdf) provides an overview on nearly 100 cases that came before the CDF in his tenure.  These wide ranging cases include attacks on liberation theology in the early 1980s, investigations of theologians, priests and nuns who opined on church positions ranging from the contraception to increased roles for the laity and most recently, the removal of Fr. Thomas Reese from the helm of America magazine (a move that came post Ratzinger’s election as pope).  While excommunication was rare and saved for only the most extreme situations of heresy, apostasy or schism (such as Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre in 1988, Sri Lankan Oblate priest Tissa Balasuriya in 1997, the Danube Seven 2002), CFFC found at least fifty censures (including notifications, silencings, revocation of teaching privileges, forced resignations and so forth) issued under Ratzinger’s watch.  Our research reveals:

·         Under Ratzinger, the CDF brooked little dissent and did its best to discourage inquiry, even of the most legitimate, careful, thoughtful and well-intentioned kind.

·         The CDF’s hard-line approach and lack of imagination, vision and compassion ultimately overlooked the needs and undercut the human dignity of those being served. At a certain points, discipline ceased to be a means of freedom, becoming instead a means of inflexible bondage.

·         Rigid dogmatism—and fealty to the absolute truth underlying it—took precedence over faith as lived daily.

·         While the CDF does follow written procedures, some who have been subjected to its scrutiny have said that the process of investigation is still not entirely transparent, leaving little protection for the accused.

Three practices distinguish the tenor of the CDF’s work during this period and weave their way through the many issues and cases that Ratzinger oversaw there under John Paul II:

1.       Secrecy and its legacies,

2.       Silencing (of dissenting voices), and

3.       Centralization of an assertive magisterial authority.

Judging Benedict XVI on his past actions and pronouncements, CFFC has concluded that this papacy is not likely to rank respect for conscience and freedom of theological inquiry highly and continue to value unthinking obedience as most important.

To download your own copy of the report and to see the Appendix of individuals notified, silenced, excommunicated or otherwise investigated and disciplined/censured by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under Cardinal Ratzinger’s tenure, please go to:

www.catholicsforchoice.org/topics/reform/documents/2006movingforwardbylookingback.pdf

To discuss the report with Frances Kissling or for comment on Benedict XVI’s anniversary, please contact Michelle Ringuette at +1 202 986 6093 or mringuette@catholicsforchoice.org.

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CFFC shapes and advances sexual and reproductive ethics that are based on justice, reflect a commitment to women’s well being and respect and affirm the moral capacity of women and men to make sound decisions about their lives. Through discourse, education and advocacy, CFFC works in the US and internationally to infuse these values into public policy, community life and Catholic social thinking and teaching.

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[1] Frances Kissling quoted in Jane Little, “Under the Rule of Benedict,” BBC Radio 4, 4 April 2006.