Coyne’s Cosmos

NCR has an interview with Fr. George Coyne, SJ, retired director of the Vatican Observatory. Reading the description of this interview, I recalled a talk Coyne gave in early 2006 in which he defended a deistic understanding of God, in which God set up a universe and then let it go– “He does not intervene,” he said. This was a variation of a 2005 article in The Tablet in which he went on record opposing Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn’s insistence on God’s active role in creation.

I believe God created the heavens and the earth, with intent and design. I believe he created it good, in perfect harmony with him. I believe that some of those beings closest to him fell, and that the leader of that rebellion tempted our first parents, and they, too, chose rebellion, and that this action brought sin and death to our world. I believe that in spite of that, God has remained active in our world, sustaining it, guiding it, and revealing himself to us. I believe the Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, became one of us, died and rose for us, intercedes for us, and will come again. I believe he will cleanse this world by fire, and will recreate it, and there will be a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness will dwell forever.

And I can’t see how any of this fits into Coyne’s Cosmos.

Church Numbers

How do you count who is a member and who isn’t?

The Southern Baptist Convention, with some 16.2 million members on the books, claims to be the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. But the Rev. Thomas Ascol believes the active membership is really a fraction of that.

Ascol, pastor of the 230-member Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Fla., points to a church report showing that only 6 million Southern Baptists attend church on an average Sunday.

“The reality is, the FBI couldn’t find half of those (members) if they had to,” said Ascol, who asserts his own congregation attendance swells to at least 350 every Sunday.

Some churches only count adults, some count babies; some have strict policies to transfer members, others keep people on the books even if they’ve long ago joined another church.

Passing the Buck Plate

Spokane Diocese tries to get people in the pews to pay for sins of priests and bishops.

Update: Dom comments.

Of Human Suffering

Uganda.

Can Friendships Endure Conversions?

David Howard discusses the reversion of Francis Beckwith in the WSJ, and reactions to it.

Responses to Mr. Beckwith’s conversion run the gamut. A small number of evangelicals have reacted as if he committed an act of betrayal. Among many more, including us on the executive committee, the response has been one of cordial disagreement on some critical matters, accompanied by an acknowledgment that we nevertheless have much in common as fellow Christians.

I’ve experienced similar reactions. A small number of Catholics who don’t know me have uttered the most vile condemnations. A small number of Catholics who do know me have done the same (one said it was my fondness for Richard McBrien that did me in!). Some Catholics who know me have registered grief and confusion.

But here is a sampling of other letters I’ve gotten from those Catholics who know me best:

First, I should say that I can’t pretend that your re-conversion to Adventism hasn’t shaken me. I read your blog post this morning, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since. You’ve had a very important place in my faith journey, and I hope that continues; I’ve been having some problems with Catholicism as well, and I’ve been going east as a result. So far, it’s been to the Maronites. My issues are different–mostly, it’s the tendency toward either vacuousness or legalism in the Latin rite. I think I still have a lot to discern.

Certainly, I want to thank you for bringing the light of Christ to so many young adults and college students; but I feel that’s been said by enough people. In any case, I’m sure you know that I appreciate your hard work. I also want to thank you for your honesty and your open pursuit of the truth. You’re a role model to so many of us because you’re not afraid to answer the hard questions. Throughout your blog posts about Catholicism’s history, I’ve been impressed by your insistence that we can’t rely on tracts and half-assed apologetics answers. I haven’t looked further into these issues, and I’m not sure I would come to the same conclusions that you have, but I’m thankful you’ve shown us that an inquisitive faith is essential despite its demands. (If you feel like it, you can post that. I was going to put it on my own blog, but I didn’t want to incite discussion on your personal faith journey without your permission. I have too much respect for you to throw you upon the mercy of combox inquisitors.)

Another person writes:

Of course I am deeply sorry that you are choosing to ’stand apart’ from the Church, but that does not dissolve the bonds of affection, respect and gratitude that I bear. I do feel a little lonelier at the loss of your professional support, and our fraternal union in faith, but I recognize that you are following your conscience, as I am mine.I can rejoice too that you and Joy now enjoy a deep union in your shared Adventist faith and I am just sorry that I wont be back … to share your 25th celebration in person, and I do look forward to enjoying a meal together soon.

Another person writes:

I celebrate, and I grieve…but mostly I celebrate that you–who I deem both intellectually and spiritually cautious and yet precise in your discernment–have found your home. Your “wanderings” has been, I suspect, a pilgrim’s progress and a time during which you have acquired the best of several Christian traditions and ministered in such a wide variety of settings; that will no doubt be an aid to you and a blessing to those at Houston International Seventh-day Adventist Church. I grieve that (your well articluated) “loss of trust in the authority of Rome and the Catholic Magisterium” contributed to your decision. That is a factor that (I have been painfully and repeatedly reminded) I grossly omitted from [something written on why people leave the Catholic Church].

From another:

Dearest Bill……if we believe that God is everywhere (and I do)…..then I believe that you will serve Him well wherever you are. Be assured of this: I will always think of you fondly and I will always hold you and yours in prayer. It is a joy to me personally that you will be sharing faith and worship with your entire family. There is such richness in that.

I hope that we stay in touch and that you call upon me whenever you want to talk about the “old days”……….we can leave them behind but they remain in memory even as they fade slowly away.

I’ll see you in heaven someday but hopefully before that. Yes!

From another:

I am glad for your wife and marriage. Please keep praying for me, and [a movement] and the Catholic Church (you know how much we need God’s forgiveness). I will pray for your family and new flock and the 7th Adventist Church.

I would be telling you only a half truth if i didn’t say I’m also hurt, but this is not the time to focus on me. I understand!

From another:

My dear, dear friend ~

Thank you for sharing this news with me.

It is a blessing to know that your family is UNITED IN FAITH. I know that Joy is OVERJOYED to have you by her side worshipping and professing THE SAME creed. I understand…trust me…I understand.

I rejoice with you in this happy moment of rebirth, rebaptism, renewal and redirection. I am honored to be your friend. You are SOOO gifted. What a joy to know that you are free to preach, teach and shepherd by sharing all your gifts and talents with those who need such ~ right here (in Houston), right now (this present moment in time)! Amen.

It’s incredible to know that in our midst God remains in control. Your STRONG family bond kept you grounded even when you “left home turf”. Your roots remain and your family tree has continued to lift leafy branches to Heaven praying for the special son to come home.

I don’t know if I would call you prodigal…I don’t think you squandered the inheritance of your family…but I agree with the concept of having the return of the son to the family: in body, in mind, in spirit, in truth, in Faith! Amen.

You are a wonderful person, a good husband and super dad. Nothing but GOOD can come from your decision to return HOME.

As for my personal feelings about all the recent revelations, Bill…I praise God for allowing your journey to detour at the crossroads where we met. Like the Road to Emmaus, we recognized Him ~ in the breaking of The Bread in Sweet Communion with God and All His Saints…here on MY home turf ~ Houston.

I am consoled by your presence here STILL. Praise God you remain near…and dear for years to come! Amen.

Congratulations! I wish you ALL THE BEST, Bill ~ in ministry, in life! Amen.

From another:

Wow! Quite a turn of events. I know you have been struggling and so I am not entirely surprised, but I confess that I wouldn’t have imagined a return to the SDA Church. The Lord guides us along the right paths, but we never quite know where they will lead, though green pastures are assured.

I am sad that the Catholic Church has lost a champion of faith and that your strong pull to return to home would take you away from us. But I am glad that you have found peace by rejoining the religion of your roots and upbringing. The influence of Catholicism on your life will be for the good of many people in your future ministry (though perhaps some of the specific experiences you had as a Catholic working in the Chancery were not entirely salutary).

Count on my prayers and friendship. As a “young” man, you are still in the middle of your journey and I will pray that Our Lord continue to guide you and help you to hear his voice. I look forward to getting together one day soon.

Given these reactions from my closest Catholic friends … can you imagine the letters I’ve gotten from those family and friends from whom I’ve been separated for 24 years and with whom I’m now reunited? Can you see why the nasty-grams really don’t have an impact on me, and why I just delete them rather than even let you see them? What’s the point? Someone asked what I did with the “Communion of Saints”–Oh, I think it is alive and well, and keeping me uplifted and joyful.

Richard McBrien on Sin and Grace

Richard McBrien reflects on limbo, baptism, sin and solidarity.

What if we are all born permeated with the presence of God, which is grace, and which is ours to lose only later in life by sin? Why is such “good news” so disturbing for some? Why does it make them angry toward anyone who even suggests the possibility? Why is our solidarity with Adam in sin a more important value for such Christians than our solidarity with Christ in redemption?

What if? What if we started with Scripture? We’d see that we do have solidarity with Adam in sin and death, but, by grace through faith, solidarity with Jesus in justification and life. The good news is not that we are “permeated with the presence of God” from birth; it is that, despite the fact that we are born separated from God, we have redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: … But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. … For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Romans 5, passim.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:23ff.

Signs of the Times

British government approves creation of human/animal hybrid embryos.