Affluent Catholics promote dissent, English bishop charges

November 18, 2008

An outspoken English Catholic bishop has charged that some of the nation's most educated and affluent Catholics are distorting the faith and paving the way for public acceptance of a pervasive secular mentality. Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue of Lancaster-- who has issued several recent statements of concern about the widespread disregard for Catholic teaching-- said that the "dark side" of higher education has been the "dissemination of radical skepticism, positivism, utilitarianism, and relativism." This in turn has produced "a fragmented society that marginalizes God," he said.

Bishop O'Donoghue said that many problems in the Church can be traced to distortion of Vatican II teachings. He said: "The Second Vatican Council tends to be misinterpreted most by Catholics who have had a university education -- that is, by those most exposed to the intellectual and moral spirit of the age." These people influence others, he said, "causing confusion and discord in the whole Church."

 

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Further information:

• Educated Catholics have sown dissent and confusion in the Church, claims bishop (Daily Telegraph)
• Catholic revival requires full embrace of Church teaching, British bishop argues (CWN, Oct 30)
• English bishop lists Church troubles in blunt, sweeping statement (CWN, Sept 2)