The Modern Inquisition: Seven Prominent Catholics and Their Struggles with the Vatican

Paul Collins himself was censured by the Church over his book "Papal Power," and in 2001, he resigned from active priestly ministry. Shortly thereafter, he published this book, which details the struggles of six other prominent Catholic theologians or teachers who have been criticized/disciplined by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). But first he details the process by which such accusations are made and reviewed; for example, pointing out that with the exception of the prefect of the CDF (the former Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI), "all officials of the CDF remain strictly anonymous." Collins begins by letting the theologians present a statement of their own background, and their cases. The six are: * Charles Curran, whose teachings on birth control and other sexual matters have been controversial since the 1960s (see Curran Vs. Catholic University: A Study of Authority and Freedom in Conflict, and who lost his positon at Catholic University, and now teaches at a Methodist college. * Tissa Balasuriya, who was both was excommunicated in 1997, then reinstated a year later, over his book Mary and Human Liberation: The Story and the Text. * Jeanine Gramick and Robert Nugent, who were forbidden to carry out their ministry to homosexuals. Building Bridges: Gay & Lesbian Reality and the Catholic Church * Lavinia Byrne, whose book Woman at the Altar: The Ordination of Women in the Roman Catholic Church was banned in 1998, and Cardinal Ratzinger ordered 1,300 copies of the book burned; she has since resigned from her Order, and is now teaching at a Protestant theological school. * Hans Kung, famous Catholic theologian who is no longer to be considered a "Catholic" theologian. (KUNG IN CONFLICT This is a very valuable book/resource for persons interested in the controversies over theology and discipline in the Catholic Church.

This book takes a very balanced approach at criticizing functional issues within the Council for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF). In many passages of the book the author clearly points out that although there may be an issue of contention with certian people that they are still knowledgeable and good. The book begins with a clear and accurate history of the way the CDF came and its predecessors. The book is far more then about theologans who dissented from the church and were penalized, its about the injustice, immorality, and the devious actions surrounding the treatment of these people. The first case of Charles Curran deals with a Catholic theologan who gets into trouble regarding his questioning of 'fallable' teaching, which are those which should be discussed and questioned. All Curran wanted was a clear answer as to what was fallable or infallable and in what ways it was right to explore the fallable teaching of the church. The case of Tissa Balasuriya deals with the problems faced by a Sri Lankan Catholic priest trying to bring and resolve the religion to the peoples of that part of the world. While he worked to bring catholicism to these people, the Church attacked him for his efforts. The case of Gramick and Nugent is about the Church's stance with regard to homosexuals in the religion. Though Gramick and Nugent were hailed for their work to bring that group of people to the religion they were constantly watched and attacked by the CDF. The case of Lavinia Byrne deals with what should be the role of women in the Church. The final two cases of Kung and Collins are the pinnacle of the unjust operation of the CDF. The book is not a vengeful attacked by these theologans,priests,and scholars who are hurt by the accusations and findings of the CDF. The book is a tool to show that the Catholic Church which is supposed to be one of the most just and fair institutions by way of the CDF is the most totalitarian,dictatorial, and devious in the world. All these people are being invistigated unknown to them for however many years. They are informed indirectly through whoever is viewed as their senior in their religious order and they are told to respond to problems in their teachings/writings. Much of the time the CDF has misunderstood, misread, or actively misrepresented what these people are teaching/writing. These theologans then respond normally with 20-60 page documents clarifying their writing, supporting their stance, and exlplaining themselves, or seeking further clarification with what is wrong. Many of the times these people are never responded to by the CDF. They may in 1-5 years get another letter stating they must recant further issues or they may have to fully recantthe offending teaching or face penalty, that is it. This is not the biggest travesty! These theologans are accused by annonymous individuals anywhere in the world of the Church, the are invistigated in secret, by a panel that remains anonymous. Many of