Küng on Infallibility: A Review Article

KONG ON INFALLIBILITY: A REVIEW ARTICLE EVEN PRIOR TO its American publication, various news releases had already informed prospective readers that Kling's new book on infallibillity ~ is "provocative." (p. 14) However advantageous this may prove to be for the publishers, it may prejudice some readers from giving the book a fair reading: those of traditionalistic temperament may express their consternation in finding cherished ideas questioned, while others of avant garde attitude may mine ample ammunition for campaigns against the institutional church. Regretably, Kling's style-despite his stated intention of being " constructive" and his recent affirmation of loyalty 2-is frequently more stentorian than scholarly and must bear considerable responsibility for any subsequent polemics. Theologians, however, have the task of examining Kling's data and arguments to focus on the more salient theological issues. Presumably, Kling would not want his inquiry-his posing of the question of infallibility -handled otherwise. (p. 221) At the outset, Kling's "candid preface" (pp. 11-30) manifests disenchantment with the progress of post-conciliar renewal. While granting that " the Council offered a splendid program for a renewed Church of the future," (p. 18) Kling feels that the "pope, curia, and many bishops, in spite of the unavoidable changes which have taken place, continue to carry on in a largely preconciliar way." (p. 12) As a result, aggiornamento " has come to a standstill " (p. 11) and resulted in disappointment, enervation, defeatism, and hopelessness among Church members. (p. 27) Specific instances are found in the lack of Church guidance in certain neuralgic problem areas (p. 19) coupled with the lack of realism in official directives. (pp. 24ff.) The bete noire in Kling's scenario is the Roman system, "the sole absolutist system that has survived the French Revolution." (p. 28) While there is undoubtedly substance in Kling's charges, one cannot help wondering if they have been placed in proper perspective. If, for example, one grants that renewal is not moving rapidly enough to please 1 Infallible? An Inquiry. Translated by Edward Quinn. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1971. Pp. ~6~. $5.95. References to this work will be given in parentheses in the text. 2 H. Kling, "Why I Am Staying in the Church," America 124/11 (March ~0, 1971), ~81-~83. 501 502 JOHN T. FORD some, must one not also say that renewal is moving too quickly to please others or that renewal is moving too fast for some to keep pace? At this point, one might question whether a particular group is doing its best to make necessary changes or to accomodate to unavoidable changes. What is, speculatively considered, an ideal change must be balanced by the limitations of what can realistically be done in a given set of circumstances .3 Nor is it really surprising, however undesirable or even unconscionable, that people continue in familiar patterns while giving lip-service to change. As a case in point, the diminished cooperation between theologians and bishops (p. ~7) might be considered symptomatic, not of ill-will but of divergent reactions to the prospect of change. If many proponents of renewal are adept at proposing changes, administrators are more likely to be concerned about the practical implementation and effects of proposed changes. An impasse may easily be reached when theoreticians become resentful if their recommendations are not followed, while administrators experience perplexity in understanding proposals or feel anxiety about expediting them. A basic policy for would-be change-agents is to secure the cooperation of the people involved, particularly the leaders, not !:0 alienate them. While strident ~riticism is currently fashionable, one cannot help but wonder whether constructive critique might not be more effective. Humanae Vitae Humanae Vitae, the most recent of "numerous and indisputable,. errors of the ecclesiastical teaching office, (p. 82) presents Kling with an occasion for examining the whole question of Church teaching. Prescinding from the issue of contraception, the " neuralgic point " is that the Pope sided with the minority on the papal commission on the basis that the prohibition of contraception " had always or at least for half a century before the Council been taught unanimously by the ordinary teaching office of the pope and bishops, it belongs to the...