Thomas Reese, SJ ousted by Vatican as Editor of "America" weekly magazine

[eleny]

I listened to Bernie Ward's weekly "God Talk" show on KGO radio this morning. He has the daily nighttime talk show in San Francisco. The shows are all archived at KGO for 24 hours after the end of a program and also archived by Ben Burch at his whiterosesociety.org web site.

Bernie discussed the Vatican's ousting of Thomas Reese, SJ as Editor of America magazine - a national Catholic weekly. Reese presented a balanced view of issues and was known as a more liberal Catholic Jesuit. Bernie was saying that the weekly was viewed a "loyal opposition" type of Catholic publication. It was not appreciated by Ratzinger when he was the Vatican enforcer.

Here is the web site for the weekly http://www.americamagazine.org/ourstaff.cfm

[RevCheesehead]

1. So, who "owns" the magazine?

Who makes editing decisions? Does the Vatican have that much authority that they can close down an American magazine? This action may signal the very real possibility of a scism, forming the American Catholic Church.

[RevCheesehead]

2. I found a review of his book on the Vatican very interesting

http://xml-na.amznxslt.com/onca/xml3?&dev-t=D1SSWIYLUA3R8B&t=americamag10-20&AsinSearch=0674932617&type=heavy&f=http://www.americamagazine.org/asin-to-html-10-20.xsl

<snip>
The last chapter is the most provocative, where Reese suggests reforms that are both logical and unrealistic: He argues that Vatican administrators should not be allowed to become cardinals, which in papal elections would cause a monumental power shift toward those who are in closer touch with the laity. Reese suggests priests play a major role in selecting bishops, as was the case before the 1800s, in contrast to the current practice in which the pope appoints ultraconservative bishops who can't relate to anyone in their diocese.

According to Reese, the underlying problem is that the Vatican is more interested in doctrinal purity than keeping people in the church. Meanwhile the laity are voting with their feet, gravitating to pastors who ignore papal instructions, or leaving the church altogether.

<snip>

Is this the revenge of the Insiders?

[eleny]

3. Interesting about the selection of bishops he suggests

In times past the bishops had more authority than the cardinals. I mean at the local level. So priests selecting the bishops means that decisions for parishes would remain local if Reese's suggestions had ever been implemented.