Speaking the Truth in Love: The Catechism and the New Evangelization ed. by Petroc Willey and Scott Sollom (review)

This is a monumental book that salutes what it considers a monumental moment, the 1992 publication of The Catechism of the Catholic Church. In twenty-five highly footnoted articles, catechetical scholars contribute essays on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Catechism's publication. It is not clear that all the articles come from the same source, but it is clear that many were written around a scholarly celebration of this anniversary held at a conference in Steubenville, OH, at the Franciscan University. Eight of the authors expressly associate themselves with the Franciscan University.

Most of the articles assume a particular version of the world whose narrative goes like this: after the Second Vatican Council, both theology and catechesis went to pot, leading to at least a lapse of sound theology if not to outright questioning of doctrine. Archbishop Buechlein's report to the USCCB detailing, in 1979, the theological lapses of catechesis at that time (insufficient attention to the Trinity, insufficient emphasis on the centrality of Christ, weak ecclesiology, etc.) is cited three times in this volume; its most detailed presentation comes from Archbishop Leonard Blair (p.282). But, thank God, in the midst of this chaos, a synod of bishops met in 1985 which recommended the assembly of a catechism so the Church "would be able to articulate coherently and persuasively" (p. 480) the four pillars of Catholic faith. Throughout the book a reader sees references to "turmoil" (p. 104), "errors of the modern mind" (p. 128), bishops who resisted the catechism and even a footnote that refers to "a small circle of self-proclaimed experts" who "caused the destruction of catechesis in the United States. Gabriel Moran, Fr. Gerald Sloyan, and Richard McBrien were also named (p. 182)"; we even find hints of accusation of heresy (p. 190). What could address the "upheavals" that followed the Second Vatican Council (p. 279)? What could work to re-evangelize the Church (p. 331)? What can resolve the theological confusion caused by the conflict between the Concilium approach, on the one hand, and the Communio approach on the other (p. 346)? The authors applaud the Catechism for putting a stop to this post Vatican II mess.

The book, then, sees The Catechism of the Catholic Church, as a major correction to a dark period of theology and catechesis. The emphasis of most of the articles revolves around the notion of a deposit of faith: the solid, and unquestionable, body of traditional Catholic teaching that must be upheld, explored, and mined for just about any catechetical need. Frequent mention is made of St. John Paul's apostolic constitution Fidei Depositum (1992) a title that aptly captures how all these authors see the Catechism: a way to ensure that the deposit of faith will not be diminished or distorted. Most of the articles feel defensive or belabored as the authors continue to find in the Catechism an answer or approach to just about every contemporary problem.

The first part of the book, "Foundations for Renewal," exhibits great confidence in the ability of the Catechism to form a solid theological basis for Christology, spirituality, salvation history, philosophy, and orthodoxy. Some of these essays are formidable. Andrew Beards, addressing sacramental theology, begins with reference to the sacramental theologian, Louie-Marie Chauvet, but spends most of the article on the inadequacies of Martin Heidegger to provide a solid philosophical underpinning for sacramental presence, using Bernard Lonergan to critique Heidegger. When one is finished with this extensive tour, Chauvet seems almost an afterthought. Typically, St. Thomas Aquinas is the reigning hero of these solid philosophical foundations; one finds the almost-standard Thomist dismissal of William of Okham in a later essay (p. 405). Does not all intellectual and cultural confusion spring from the same nasty fountain of Nominalism? The classical, Catholic, arguments and approaches of the earlier twentieth century are...