Ratzinger & the persecution of Seattle Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen [View All]

[Sapphire Blue]

Excerpt from the Seattle Times (04-20-05)...

Ryan (the Very Rev. Michael G. Ryan, pastor at St. James Cathedral) recalled the significant role Ratzinger played in the scrutiny of Seattle Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen two decades ago. In 1985, Ratzinger, as head of the Vatican's powerful Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith — essentially the church's guardian of orthodoxy — issued a report disciplining Hunthausen in areas such as ministry to gays and lesbians, divorce, and the role of women in the church.

That report led to Hunthausen being relieved of some of his power and the appointment of an auxiliary bishop. Eventually, the Vatican removed the auxiliary bishop and restored Hunthausen's full authority.

"I'm sure there would be some resentments against Cardinal Ratzinger because of it," Ryan said. "I always wished the Holy See had come up with a better solution to the problems they perceived in Seattle."

<snip>

Louise McAllister, a local member of the progressive Catholic organization Call to Action, said Ratzinger's election was "a big setback for progressive Catholics." That he was chosen so quickly, she said, "says to me that Vatican II is going to be a dim, fading memory."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002246832_popelocal20m.html


Excerpt from the Seattle P-I (04-19-05)...

The Rev. Michael G. Ryan, pastor of the state's largest Catholic church, St. James Cathedral in Seattle, told parishioners that the papal election touched off celebration by some. But he added that for others: "It is not what was hoped for or even wanted. I count myself among that number."

Many Washington Catholics remember the new pope's attentions nearly 20 years ago, when, as head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he upbraided Seattle's archbishop for his liberal views on women, gays and doctrinal issues.

For a time, Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen was relieved of some of his authority and Bishop Donald Wuerl was brought in as coadjutor or assistant. After American bishops, priests, nuns and lay Catholics complained, Hunthausen's full authority was eventually restored and he served as spiritual leader for Western Washington's Catholics until his retirement in 1991.

<snip>

In one of the Vatican's most widely publicized reports, Ratzinger warned him against politicizing the issue of women in the church, use of married ex-priests, marrying divorced people and giving them communion rights, giving communion in ecumenical settings, and granting general absolution of sins to large groups.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/aplocal_story.asp?category=6420&slug=WA+Pope+Wash


Excerpt from religion-online...

In the meantime, Vatican positions and disciplinary actions continue to generate controversy, as any reader of the religious press, or even Time, is quite aware. In addition to clashes over liberation theology, Vatican authorities have continued to uphold official teaching on sexual ethics in general (as in a 1986 statement on homosexuality by Cardinal Ratzinger) and have withstood calls even for an open discussion of women’s ordination or of ending celibacy as a requirement for the priesthood. Despite the pope’s statements on the dignity of women, many see his attitude as overtly patriarchal. The Vatican has subjected Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen of Seattle to a humiliating investigation and at one point took away most of his authority. The firing of moral theologian Charles Curran from the Catholic University of America and the recent announcement of a loyalty oath to be administered to those who teach Catholic theology threaten the academic integrity of Catholic universities and theologians.

http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=863


Excerpt from the National Catholic Reporter (04-16-99)...

His (Ratzinger) record includes:

• Theologians disciplined, such as Fr. Charles Curran, an American moral theologian who advocates a right to public dissent from official church teaching; Fr. Matthew Fox, an American known for his work on creation spirituality; Sr. Ivone Gebara, a Brazilian whose thinking blends liberation theology with environmental concerns; and Fr. Tissa Balasuriya, a Sri Lankan interested in how Christianity can be expressed through Eastern concepts;
• Movements blocked, such as liberation theology and, more recently, religious pluralism (the drive to affirm other religions on their own terms);
• Progressive bishops hobbled, including Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen of Seattle, reproached by Rome for his tolerance of ministry to homosexuals and his involvement in progressive political causes, and Bishop Dom Pedro Casaldáliga of Sao Félix, Brazil, criticized for his political engagement beyond the borders of his own diocese;
• Episcopal conferences brought to heel on issues such as inclusive language and their own teaching authority;
• The borders of infallibility expanded, to include such disparate points as the ban on women’s ordination and the invalidity of ordinations in the Anglican church.

http://www.natcath.com/NCR_Online/archives/041699/041699a.htm


Excerpt from americamagazine.org...

Hunthausen Case

The most extreme intervention in a U.S. archdiocese by the Vatican was in Seattle, where an auxiliary was appointed who was supposed to have final authority over important areas of diocesan life including the tribunal, liturgy, former priests, priestly formation, medical ethics and ministry to homosexuals.

<snip>

The Hunthausen case is worth examining because it shows what concerns Rome has about the American church. In addition, it shows how Roman procedures and American concepts of due process come into conflict.

It all began in May 1983 when Archbishop Laghi approached Archbishop Hunthausen at a meeting of the American bishops in Chicago and told him that the Vatican wanted to have a visitation of Seattle. Hunthausen, not having the slightest idea what a visitation was, said, "Fine, we have all sorts of wonderful things going on in Seattle." Archbishop Hickey of Washington, DC, was appointed visitor.

Later, Hunthausen began to question the visitation when it became clear that its purpose was to evaluate criticisms about his ministry as archbishop. He objected that he was never given any specifics about what was to be investigated so that he could defend himself. In addition, the Vatican wanted the visitation to be secret, but he argued that was impossible. When the fact of the visitation became known, Seattle officials insisted that the leak occurred in Washington, DC.

http://www.americamagazine.org/reese/archbishop/ab-chap8.htm


Another excerpt from americamagazine.org...

Dissatisfied with the Archbishop Hunthausen's governance of the Seattle Archdiocese, the Holy See insisted that he delegate complete and final decision-making authority over five areas of church life to his Rome-appointed auxiliary, the Bishop Donald Wuerl: annulments, clergy formation, resigned priests, liturgy and moral issues dealing with homosexuals and hospitals (see Thomas J. Reese, "The Seattle Way of the Cross," Am., 9/13-20, pp. 111-112).

The Holy See's action caused an uproar in Seattle from the many priests, religious and lay people who believe that the Archbishop is a victim of CUF (Catholics United for the Faith), the Wanderer and other right-wing groups. According to Hunthausen supporters, conservatives were incensed by the Archbishop's antinuclear stands but realized that the Vatican would act only on church issues. His critics therefore dug up every bit of dirt they could find in Seattle, even tape recording homilies and lectures. They then wrote to Rome with their complaints.

The Vatican chronology released October 24 by Archbishop Laghi does in fact mention the large number of complaints the Holy See received from Seattle as one reason for its action, but many in Seattle say that these complaints came from a small, well-organized group.

http://www.americamagazine.org/reese/america/nc8611.htm


Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger's Report Issued on Seattle Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen - September 30, 1985:

http://www.seattlecatholic.com/misc_20040105.html


Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen... some background...


Excerpt from jesusradicals.com...

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle

As followers of Christ, we need to take up our cross in the nuclear age .... Our security as people of faith lies not in demonic weapons which threaten all life on earth. Our security is in a loving, caring God .... A choice has been put before us: anyone who wants to save one's life by nuclear arms will lose it; but anyone who loses one's life by giving up those arms for Jesus' sake, and for the sake of the Gospel of love, will save it .... How can such a process, of taking up the cross of nonviolence, happen in a country where our government seems paralyzed by arms corporations? In a country where many of the citizens, perhaps most of the citizens, are numbed into passivity by the very magnitude and complexity of the issue while being horrified by the prospect of nuclear holocaust? .... We have to refuse to give incense in our day, tax dollars to our nuclear idol .... Form 1040 is the place where the Pentagon enters all of our lives, and asks our unthinking cooperation with the idol of nuclear destruction. I think the teaching of Jesus tells us to render to a nuclear armed Caesar that which Caesar deserves tax resistance. And to begin to render to God alone that complete trust which we now give, through our tax dollars, to a demonic form of power. Some would call what I am urging "civil disobedience." I prefer to see it as obedience to God. (Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen, 1981)

http://www.jesusradicals.com/library/taxes/wartaxes.html


Another excerpt from the Seattle P-I...

When The Most Rev. Raymond Hunthausen led the "Walk in the Light" peace walk to mark the end of the Gulf War in June 1991, it was probably his last high-profile appearance as a peace activist.
Hunthausen, then Archbishop of Seattle, retired later that year. He returned to his native Montana where he lives such a low-profile life he's almost invisible.

<snip>

Is Hunthausen still a peace activist?

"This was a personal matter of conscience for Archbishop Hunthausen," Gallant said.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/four17.shtml


Excerpt from the paulist.org...

Archbishop Hunthausen was the 1992 recipient of the Isaac Hecker Award for encouraging all who work within the Church to expand its commitment to justice and peace.

Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen of Seattle was recognized not only as an activist for peace and nuclear disarmament, but also for his respect for the rights of the poor, women, homosexuals, and other oppressed groups. His visionary leadership was rooted in the teachings of Vatican II and encouraged greater lay participation and leadership in the Church.

http://www.paulist.org/boston/information/hecker/awards.htm


I am still weeping.