The Search for God: the Catholic Intellectual and Spiritual Tradition

Wertin began the event, which consisted of 30 people, with a brief prayer and asked us to identify ourselves and describe our inspiration for attendance. Some responded that the recent outside opposition to SJA's use of speakers and support of their GLBT community aroused reexamining the content of Vatican II. One identified herself as one of the "searchers", referring to the title of the discussion. Many voiced concerns because they feel that changes in Vatican II are being virtually ignored in conservative Catholic churches. One couple had just joined the Catholic Church while some folk's curiosity was piqued by attending the first session led by SJA Peace & Justice Coordinator Julie Madden.

With all the conservative opposition we face at SJA, Wertin often is asked why we at St. Joan's stay in the Catholic Church. He answered by recalling Benedictine Nun Joan Chittister's similar response of the same question with the story of the oyster and a grain of sand. This grain of sand, while clinging to the oyster will remain a constant source of irritation, but at the same time will work with the mother organism to create a beautiful pearl.

Wertin indeed stressed the importance of preserving our Catholic heritage. He proclaimed, "there would not be a St. Joan's if it wasn't for the Catholic Church's teachings." As timely as ever, Wertin feels that we need to reclaim our Catholic heritage by examining the profound changes that took place with Vatican II Council. The origins of this event trace back to 1959 when Pope John XXIII stated he wanted to open the windows of the Church with a pastoral council that would reach out to the people. Vatican I occurred in 1871 when a council wanted to consolidate the church. One has to go back 400 years to see any real impact of change before Vatican I, when the Council of Trent was established to put up a wall because of the Protestant Reformation.

Pope John XXIII initiated Vatican II that took place between 1961-65 in four sessions with over 2000 bishops approving 16 documents. Because the Church was in danger of losing its relevance, real dialogue was demanded from the people and its clergy. After graduating from St. John's, Wertin attended seminary studies in Rome while this historic event took place. He lived at the North American College of the Gregorian University in Rome. Wertin was clearly influenced by many of his professors who were progressive thinkers. Though most of his friends back then became conservative Bishops, Wertin quipped, "my studies in Rome were not successful because they didn't take."

This council met with stimulating sessions Monday - Thursdays from 8 AM until Noon then met for lunch, choosing a different language each day to converse in. Wertin would sit in the gallery on the side in observance. In the early meetings, one document questioned the openness of dialogue over a particular bureaucratic procedure. The topic was challenged and the people won. Today the language written in those documents comes off terribly sexist, as if it were written by the Queen of England, but the changes made for a profound improvement with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

The first change motioned that the Mass be presented in English language as opposed to Latin. The second change insisted the altar be turned around so the presider would face the congregation. Previously, the priest would preach symbolically towards God with his back to the people, that in reality, was towards the tabernacle, an ornamental receptacle for the reserved Eucharist. The third change called for participation of the people. Another change involved the document on Revelation as well as a document on the nature of the church where the people have more of voice. In reality it was a top-down structure where only the hierarchy ruled. Now the Laity would be allowed to voice concerns and bishops now had a role in collegiality.

The Vatican II Council obviously didn't happen overnight. Ground work had been done for a couple of generations. Jesuit Priest John Courtney Murray contributed significantly by emphasizing the integration of religious liberty. If you disagreed with authority, you were in error. Murray introduced an act of pluralism within the Church. The Church in the modern world would not be allowed to ignore the rest of society but insist that lay people be called to make a difference and work for a more just society. Also the role of the scripture should be interpreted not literally, but metaphorically, where we can examine Revelation as responsible and viable.

Vatican II created four core elements in the Catholic Heritage of Tradition:

1. The Catholic Church has always respected the role of reason when practicing our faith.
2. The Sacramental Principle allows that the divine is to be found in the human.
3. Role of scripture with Tradition insists that the Spirit does not stop working with its people.The Spirit works in and through the voice of the people. We have to say, "We are the Church. You have to listen to us."
4. The role of the Individual is to remember that we too are part of the big umbrella theory. There is room for plurality. It's a big messy family where everyone is welcome.

When asked about the turmoil of selecting a new Pope, Wertin responded, "Rome wants to adapt Roman heritage to cultures of the world but cardinals from Asia, India and Africa are frustrated. These people want to preserve individual cultures. This is an exciting possibility." Wertin believes that the conservative charges against our church at St. Joan's "have this incredible ability to be selective." They preach about moral values regarding bedroom issues, Gays, and abortion but remain indifferent to the moral values of allowing war and an unjust health care system and ignoring the desperate needs of the poverty stricken. Wertin feels we should not worry about the shame of original sin where one resides in a perpetual state of guilt but rather worry about the sins of violence, greed, addiction and selfishness.

Wertin said, "we have to be respectful with the slowness of the Church moving ahead." We're shifting away from the old paradigm to an emerging paradigm that takes into consideration that the bible is not a divine product but a human response.

Michael Reinbold, a continuing web reporter, freelances as a writer and banquet caterer. A passionate believer in SJA's mission of social justice and collaborative ministry, Michael is an SJA Choir member, mass reader, Team Oz AIDS rider and Grace House volunteer cook. With an extensive background in theater, photography and fundraising, he relishes all aspects of the arts, staying fit and inspiring and working with people.

Wertin was asked what he feels speaks to kids today. He responded, "Hope. Kids do not want to go to a church where they are told they're guilty. Mainstream kids raised on a pluralistic society like St. Joan's will provide hope." Mainstream religion wants to push security, not risk. In our troubled times, people— especially conservatives—want "certainty". Jesus brought insecurity because he stood up for the oppressed and the poor. He took risks. Wertin concluded, "believe the Spirit within you. You have to live with a little bit of ambiguity in your life."

Peg LaSota comes from a photography background. She now works in the digital world, computer instruction, and with "videography" and the restoration of family films. She is enthusiastic about capturing family memories and preserving them digitally. Along with that, her time is spent with her family and her love for learning Spanish, piano, recorder.....and of course singing with the choir!