Authority in the church and the Schillebeeckx case

The writings of Catholic theologian Edward Schillebeeckx (b. 1914) from Belgium have aroused great controversy within the Catholic church. In this volume, Leonard Swidler (who has also edited the collection, Kung in conflict) and Piet Fransen have collected (mostly symathetic) essays discussing a variety of issues in the controversy. The book begins with an essay from Schillebeeckx, "The Magisterium and Ideology." Other chapters include Fransen with "Criticisms of Some basic Theological Notions in Matters of Church Authority," theologian Piet Schoonenberg writes on "The Theologian's Calling, Freedom, and Constraint," papal biographer Peter Hebblethwaite writes on "Human Rights in the Church," Swidler writes on "The Rule of the People of God, or Consensus Fidelium," there is a concluding chapter on the actual documents in the Schillebeeckx case, and much more. In his opening essay, Schillebeeckx argues that "There certainly are authority and leadership in the Church, but there really cannot be a HIERARCHY in the Church.... Any authority which does not free human beings, is not Christian authority." In Schoonenberg's essay, he writes, "The theologian, therefore, has to ask which way---and perhaps which byways---lie between the New Testament and the councils." The concluding essay summarizes Schillebeeckx's intent in his most controversial book Jesus, which "was to show Christians and non-Christians alike that the confession of salvation coming from God in Jesus is not an accidental superstructure without any base in reality, but an understandable reaction to the life and death and person of Jesus.... Schillebeeckx hoped to provide a historical guide which could help marginal Christians and non-Christians in their encounter with Jesus and with the confession of the Church." This book will be of considerable interest to people interested in Catholic theology and related controversies, the life of Jesus, and academic freedom.