Poland and the impossible (the summer episode one)

In front of the priory with some of the other TMS friends

This is my first summer since leaving for Rome. As part of the tradition of many years I have not returned home, but instead spent it in Europe. The first part was a return trip to Poland. I had previously been in Poland for the days around New Years. This visit was much different -- instead of cold and snow; it was warm and sunny -- instead of only a few days staying in an infamous and semi-moral youth hostel; this stay was three weeks in the comfortable and beautiful Dominican priory in the heart of the old town of Krakow.

Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity (the Domincan Priory Church), Krakow in Poland

This was not a vaction though, but a seminar. It was more academic than I thought it would be, but I has really been a cause of much reflection over the past few weeks. It was called the Tertio Millennio Seminar on the Free Society. The main topic was the encyclical letter of John Paul II, Centesimu Annus. This was a three-week discussion on the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. This was not just a series of lectures, but an encounter. The participants are all young people -- graduate students and young professionals -- half are from America and the other half are from the former communist countries of Eastern Europe. This brings a very different perspective on many of the topics we were talking about -- family, Church-state relations, human rights, the Christian reflection on the economy and political change.

One of the many fine dinners out: Center is Lorraine Kroll (always full of giggles) and right is Dr. Hittinger -- philosopher of law extra-ordinaire

There are two aspects of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church that I realized during this seminar that were unexpected. The first was how robust and central the teachings are. This is not a filmsy after though of Catholic theology -- but really a growing and solid core of many of the issues that the Church has is addressing at this moment as She exercises Her Prophetic Office. Do you want to know what the Church teaches on gay marriage and why? This is a question that the helps to answer. Do you want to know how Catholic thought on the dignity of life and the commitment to a culture of life informs your political decisions? The social doctrine helps Catholic of good will discern this. Do you want to know why the Church instists on the autonomy of Her schools -- and way it is much more than just a "Catholic issue," but one that directly effects the freedom of every citizen -- not just the Catholic citizens? The social doctrine helps to make sense out of this.

It has value not just for Catholics, but presents a robust reflection on society that benefits all of society. This is why the social encyclical of John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, is addressed "to all men and women of good-will." This doctrine is a synthesis of the classical thought, such as Aristotle and modern thought, all in the light of the Gospel. So it can speak to all men and women, even if they are not Catholic, even if they are not Christian.

The cloister was filled with beautiful Italo-Polish works of art, such as these Dominicans

This leads into the second aspect -- and that is the "Christian amensia" of Western, especially European society. George Weigel in the book, The Cube and the Cathedral, places much significance on how the European constitution ignores the Christian heritage of Europe and its contribution to the current Western World (which includes us). As it currently states -- the two main contributions have been the classical thought and the Enlightenment. This is problematic since it skips 1.200 years of European history -- as if nothing happened. But something did happen. It was during this period that the very concept of A PERSON developed, and also the concept of HUMAN DIGNITY. These two concepts are the foundation of further political thought on HUMAN RIGHTS and also for DEMOCRACY. So the question develops -- Can Europe (and hence the U.S.) maintain its commitments to human dignity and human rights if it ignores the contributions of Christian thought, and the voice of the Catholic Church today? Looking at the steady erosion of religious rights, and even the freedom of speech in Europe today -- the answer seems to be NO. Looking at how Christian clergy can be between in the streets of London, and there is not serious follow-up by the secular authorities -- the answer seems to be NO. Looking at how ecclesial communities are being told that they must comply with policies and partices to go directly against their religious convictions or they must shut down their missions -- the answer seems to be NO.

This is the Marian heart of Poland, the Black Madonna of Jaz Gora

I was very ignorant of what the Social Doctrine of the Church before the Tertio Millennio Seminar. I think this is the case of with most Catholics, most Christians, and most everyone else. If they have any exposure to it, it is probably under the loose and much abused term "social justice." This is a shame. It is this body of thought where the Church shows that it is not remote to the world, but cares very deeply for the world. It is here where many of our moral convictions that seems arbitrary or even discraminatory -- it is here that they come to light as a compelling, pastoral, and ultimately loving response to the hurting world.

Our fearless leader and seminar director, George Weigel, leading us on his JPII "death-march"

There can be no doubt that European and American societies are facing immediate and drastic problems. I can see this very clearly walking through any European city -- they are not reproducing themselves. In thirty years the processes of nature -- namely death -- will reduce Europe to a mere shadow of her self. The structures of family, civic society, and public moral reasoning are falling apart. For example in Italy most children do not know the world for brother, sister, cousin, aunt, uncle -- from first hand experience. This is shocking in a country once known for its large families. Has the "secular experiement" that violently broke out on July 14, 1789 failed? It looks like it has. This was the conclusion of Henri de Lubac in his analysis of the crisis of the two World Wars in The Drama of Atheistic Humanism. The Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church provides a viable -- not just viable, but life-giving, alternative to the modern creed of secular-humanism. In fact secularity is not a real humanism at all, since it requires a person to deny a variety of spectrums of the human experience -- the spiritual, moral, religious, and transcendental dimensions of human life. Is a world that has been pruned of these aspects a world worth living in?

One of the best parts of Poland is the food -- such as this well-hidden but very good lunch place

The time in Poland was not all studying though. There was plenty of time for a lot of fun. Krakov is a great city. It is a student's city -- due to the the large Jagiellonia University. So it offers that young optimistic ambience. It is also a very Catholic city. The communists refered to Krakov as the "black city" since at one time almost a third of its population consisted of priests, nuns, monks, friars, or other consecrated persons. It is the heart of Catholicism in the most Catholic country in the world.

It is still a living faith -- it has not become a museum piece as the Faith has become in the rest of Europe. Look at the university Mass at the Dominican basilica. Even though lectures are not in session at about 6:45 PM on Sunday you will see a young man setting up some microphones to the side of the altar, as he is doing this the students start trickling in. By the time Mass has started at 7:00 PM there are over 3.500 students filling the Church. The pews are full, so they are in the choir stalls, sitting on the confessionals, filling the side chapels, and I have been told when lectures are in session it spills out into the street. Why do they come? They come because they are feed here. Their devotion bears witness to a deep faith that their parents have passed on to them. They are attentive to the Word and open to the Mystery. They are committed. This was my most appreciated sight.

In addition is the delicious Polish food. Perogi and golki -- two of my favorite things.

Rafting in the mountains -- "the heavens are telling the glory of God..."