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Patricius Clevelandensis's avatar

So it begins...

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Dies Illa's avatar

“The 91-year-old cardinal stressed the need to maintain Church unity, which he defined as ‘a firm and profound communion in diversity.’”

Hmmm

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Romain's avatar

Diversity is a feature of communion since the very beginnings of the Church. The question is not diversity or not, but rather : what does diversity refer to?

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Chris O'Neill's avatar

This is a reference to a central idea in JPII / B16’s ecclesiology of communion. It’s a much richer and more precise understanding of “diversity” than what may be celebrated in more progressive circles. It would include and emphasize, for example, the significance and of the sexual difference in the marital union. The union of husband and wife in marriage would rightly be described as “a firm and profound communion in diversity” - a diversity that does not deny, but demands respect for, the difference which is essential to the fruitful union.

By analogy to the family, the union of the Church holds together by a similar fruitful union in difference.

Cardinal Re is spot on here.

Veni Sancte Spiritus!

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Lynda MacFarland's avatar

Prayers for wisdom and humility in all the cardinals’ hearts as they vote for our next Pope. 🙏

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Romain's avatar

Thank you for this detailed report.

As a side note, the Creed wasn't recited but chanted.

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Vee Wissler's avatar

I'm troubled by Re's references and appeals to the usual soft uncritical "universal love" message (which incorporates diversity).

I sense 91 year old Re calls to a kinder gentler, more homogenous world that simply doesn't exist. Social media has multiplied & sharpened differences, inserted wedges fracturing previously accepted consensus about nearly everything, it seems. Cutting to the chase, I hope there is some subtext of recognition and concern about the challenge China and Islam are posing which are difficult to embrace in undefined euphemisms of fraternity and evangelism.

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