scenes from a marriage

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Mar 04, 2008

"These days I have found things in the press which are helpful, but also things that are not helpful. Among those that are least helpful, for example, is the search for conflict between Jesuits and the Holy Father, between Jesuits and the Vatican. I do not believe this to be true. The Society of Jesus has always been in communion with the Holy Father and we are happy to be so. Between spouses there are always difficulties; if any of you who are married say there are not I would not believe you. Only people who love each other can hurt each other." -- V. Rev. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., Superior General of the Society of Jesus, 1-25-08

[Fr. Vincent O'Keefe, S.J.], like many American bishops, believes the pope has a cultural bias, that "he has a really deep antagonism to the West, certainly towards the United States. I think he feels we're too materialistic, we're too loud, we talk too much, we're spoiled." The Jesuit father asks, "How available is he for this universal Church that a lot of us are looking for?" [Carl Bernstein, His Holiness, 1996]

The Society of Jesus has always been in communion with the Holy Father and we are happy to be so. Between spouses there are always difficulties ... Only people who love each other can hurt each other. -- V. Rev. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J.

But the Rev. Patrick Howell, S.J., dean of the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University, said he was shocked. "I think most American Catholics were shocked by the selection of Cardinal Ratzinger because he's been known as the guardian for tradition and orthodoxy," the priest said. "What were they thinking?" Howell wondered about the cardinals. "I don't have an answer." [Tacoma News Tribune, 4-20-05]

The Society of Jesus has always been in communion with the Holy Father and we are happy to be so. Between spouses there are always difficulties ... Only people who love each other can hurt each other. -- V. Rev. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J.

But Father John Paris, S.J., Walsh professor of bioethics at Boston College, said the pope's remarks were tailored to a specific audience and will have little impact. "I think the best thing to do is ignore it, and it will go away," Paris said. "It's not an authoritative teaching statement." [ St. Petersburg Times, 5-1-04]

The Society of Jesus has always been in communion with the Holy Father and we are happy to be so. Between spouses there are always difficulties ... Only people who love each other can hurt each other. -- V. Rev. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J.

"The old canon law said you had to get the approval of the local bishop. Then the Polish pope came in and changed the canon law. He didn't want any priests involved in governments, so I resigned," [Fr. Robert Drinan, S.J.] said. [Boston Pilot, 11-26-04]

The Society of Jesus has always been in communion with the Holy Father and we are happy to be so. Between spouses there are always difficulties ... Only people who love each other can hurt each other. -- V. Rev. Adolfo Nicolás, S.J.