Rite & Reason: Angela Hanley previews this week's launch of a collection of essays to honour Fr Seán Fagan, whose book was condemned by Cardinal Ratzinger.
Take a man who is deeply committed to the gospel, to intellectual honesty and to priesthood as service, with the courage to go where those commitments lead regardless of the consequences.
Take another man who, regardless of the consequences, shuffled paedophiles around his diocese where they repeatedly sexually assaulted children; who drove decent priests to the brink of unprecedented revolt because of his autocratic behaviour, and who was willing to declare his diocese bankrupt rather than face up to the moral obligations resulting from his flawed stewardship.
Question: which man ought to be protected and which ought to be punished? I assume that most right-thinking people would protect the first and severely reprimand the second.
Insert the names Charles E Curran and Cardinal Bernard Law, respectively, for the men above and the story changes dramatically. Curran was declared "unfit" to teach Catholic theology and has had his teaching authority revoked while Cardinal Law was rewarded with a comfortable job in the Vatican and given the public honour of celebrating a memorial Mass for John Paul II.
Take the fundamentals that underpin this attitude and apply them to many other situations in the Catholic Church. It then becomes clear that none of the secular "isms", that so frighten Pope Benedict XVI, are doing as much damage to the church as it is doing to itself.
It is no accident that the more educated and knowledgeable people become in their faith, the less inviting the church becomes as a place to nurture that faith.
The prophetic voice has played a critical role in the Catholic Church throughout its sometimes splendid, but often shameful, history calling it to reflect upon its actions.
In the deeply polarised, theology-starved, centralised church that is the legacy of John Paul II, such prophetic voices are needed now as never before. A modest contribution to the re-awakening of the prophetic consciousness is offered in a collection of essays: Quench not the Spirit: theology and prophecy for the church in the modern world. To honour the moral theologian, Seán Fagan SM, one of Ireland's prophetic voices who understands the cost of prophecy, the editors gathered a diverse group of people to consider the church in the modern world. The articles reflect the diversity of the authors' backgrounds as they turn their attention to many live issues for the church today and offer some new ways at looking at problems, old and new.
Charles Curran's article on a spirituality for church reformers sets out a blueprint for anybody interested in reform which might be radical in that it is rooted in the gospel, but offers realistic hope to those prepared to take up the challenge.
The current polarisation evident in the church seems to be fostering the rise of a disturbing Catholic fundamentalism, the implications of which are met head-on by Gabriel Daly.
Wilfrid Harrington highlights the gospel example of leadership through service. Raphael Gallagher brings a humanitarian touch to the debate on homosexuality in offering a model of Christian identity through four core elements of eucharistic celebration.
The changing concept of marriage and family is examined by Anne Thurston, who takes a pastoral look at the reality of what now constitutes the family unit, which includes second relationships, blended families and same-sex unions.
The plight of Antonio Rosmini and John Henry Newman whose prophetic voices have enriched the church is discussed by Michael Glazier and applied to the crisis in the American church.
Law, justice and morality is examined by Bernard Treacy who says that when the church takes part in public discussion on justice, it must come with "clean hands". If it allows its own investigative procedures to be defective, it cannot but damage its witness to justice. Conscience and decision-making is given comprehensive treatment by Amelia Fleming who looks at the worrying implications of "definitive teaching".
The contentious issue of stem-cell research is closely examined by David Smith, whose arguments offer balance and clarity in this highly emotive aspect of medical/moral ethics. Economist Denis Kelly offers a model to combat poverty that might be criticised as utopian, but is being practised in real life. John Scally suggests what lessons we might take for today from the real Celtic church. Justine McCarthy gives a very frank and personal account of the making of an Irish Catholic journalist.
Probably the single most important contribution is by Seán Fagan on spiritual abuse - "a moral disease that has affected the church for centuries". He looks at the anatomy of church teaching through the lens of authority/influence and power/control, especially in the area of morals, and finds it severely lacking. Spiritual abuse has had a corrosive effect on the church and has caused much damage. He reminds us that "we are created in the image of God and that we are most like God in our freedom".
Angela Hanley is co-editor with David Smith of Quench not the Spirit: theology and prophecy for the church in the modern world, published by Columba Press.