By Father Methodius Telnack, O.C.S.O.

(This is the sixth in a six-part series.)

The pastoral letter which is being prepared by the National Council of Catholic Bishops has received an extraordinary amount of attention from all quarters. This attention as reported in the media indicates several things – fear in Washington from an administration which has tolerated no criticism of its policies without heavy-handed retaliation; (we have already seen an attempt to influence the actual composition of the pastoral letter by intimidation from the highest office in the land); antagonism from the vested interests of the military-industrial complex, together with the suggestion that the bishops do not have the military expertise to address the issues of war and peace today; hope that the Church in the U.S. will finally speak out in protest of an intolerable situation from those who conscientiously object to living under the imminent threat of the annihilation of the human race; and skepticism from those who are persuaded that the Church is bankrupt in any case and has nothing to say of importance to the real world in which we live.

Signing a document which is apt to inspire all these reactions once it is published is an act of considerable courage on the part of the American hierarchy. We have none the less come to expect this kind of courage from our bishops. More and more they have willingly presented themselves as servants to be held accountable by the Church and they have time and time again taken firm, and in some instances, unpopular stands on the moral issues of our time.

The role of our bishops as teachers is one of the most important areas of service which they provide. Most of us Catholics do not have the time or the resources at our disposal to adequately build a corpus of knowledge and information on which to base very important moral judgments. We live and act, I think, in an ignorance which we are hardly able to surmount. An ignorance, let it be noted, which politicians prize highly. Obfuscation is the stock in trade of those who wish to promote the interests of their lobbies. (The current EPA investigation reveals a case in point). The NCCB has in its membership those who have devoted themselves to the study of the question of war and peace in this age of nuclear arms. And every bishop has at his disposition experts whom he may use as consultors. Clarification is the project of the pastoral letter. Clarification of the issues involved in war and peace today, and clarification of the application of moral principles to these issues.

I am concerned that nothing has come of the proposal to found a peace academy. Four years the Benedictines ran, somewhat anamalously, “military academies.” Why do we not have “peace academies” drawing on the centuries old tradition of Benedictine peace? Certainly Catholic universities could have departments devoted to the study of peace and to the preparation of men and women who will work to effectively translate into public life the moral teaching of the pastoral letter. New positions must be found to replace the positions which are inadequate to the present political-military scene. The doctrine of a just war is outdated by the atomic bomb. Practical alternatives must be produced and these depend on a world forum.

The United Nations is the world organization to which Pope Paul VI addressed the words: “The edifice which you have constructed must never fail; it must be perfected and made equal to the needs which world history will present.” I am concerned that there is not more outspoken support of the U.N. in the Catholic press which must also monitor especially the policies of our country’s delegation and encourage those policies consistent with sound moral judgment. But it must also combat vigorously those ideologues and organizations in our midst whose efforts under the banner of patriotism and Americanism are turned toward the destruction of the U.N.

My third concern is: “Is it reasonable to hope for peace and nuclear disarmament?” What good can possibly come from all this effort on the part of our bishops to produce the pastoral letter? I have learned over the years not to limit my expectations – all things are possible with God. For the past 26 years I have been making stained glass windows. Not long ago one of my confreres suggested I was immortalizing myself in stained glass. I laughed at the thought. I might consider immortalizing myself in bronze or marble, but glass? Glass is a most fragile material – it breaks. But it is its very fragility which makes it precious. I am frequently amazed at the caution visitors to our glass shop exercise when they are shown around, especially when they are shown how glass can be manipulated and turned into a work of art. I think there is an analogy to be drawn here. The loving care for life which the bishops show in their letter is an example which can – I believe will – produce this caution which it recommends. I have faith in the word. The printed word can be the living Word, creating and renewing. Who is the cause of our hope.

(Father Methodius is a member of the Trappist community in Conyers.)