Agony in Albany - The Roman Catholic Faithful

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Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc. / AMDG May 2004 Albany newsletterproach to Humanae Vitae has been that it is an “ideal”that is not binding.Or, as one priest said, “Humanae Vitae is notan issue here, like it is in other places. It has neverbeen taught. Everyone who surrounds the Bishop opposesit.”Clever TacticsOne of the first clues to the approach thatBishop Hubbard would take with regard to HumanaeVitae surfaced in a “dialog” carried out in the pagesof The Evangelist. This was before Hubbard wasnamed a Bishop.In the June 3rd, 1976 issue of The Evangelist,Bishop Hubbard was one of 12 Catholics, withBishop Edwin Broderick, priests, Religious, and laity,discussing in an open forum their views on the impactof Humanae Vitae on Catholics.During the dialog, Fr. Hubbard spoke twice.Both reflections he offered were anticipated by Fr.Costanzo as a key indication of the clever dissenter’stactics. In a reference to natural law, Fr. Hubbardsaid, “Saying it’s natural law, as the encyclical did,well, natural law by definition is something clearlyrecognizable to all. If it is that clearly recognizable,why the confusion about it? Why do so many peopleof goodwill (and I don't think that anyone can denythat) find that it is something they really can’t assentto?”Later in the dialog, Fr. Hubbard, respondingto a statistic that only 29% of priests agreed with thePope on birth control, and explaining that the sense ofthe faithful can also be an infallible judgment, said:“There was so much confusion and disputeon the part of theologians, priests, Sisters, Religious,and laity about this issue, and then it was handeddown as being nonnegotiable. This has created a vastcredibility problem.”Three years later, in April of 1979, on thetelevision program Face-to-Face, Bishop Hubbardagain offered a view of Humanae Vitae proscribed byFr. Costanzo:“In the area of birth control,” said BishopHubbard, “we know the Papal encyclical that wasissued back in 1968 says that artificial contraceptionis not the acceptable ideal for Roman Catholics, andwe also know that in the same pastoral encyclical theHoly Father said that the ultimate guide and norm fora couple in this matter has to be their conscience. . .but if in their own conscience they conclude that thisis not an ideal that the Lord expects them to measureup to at this point, it is possible for them to continueto be faithful and a good member within the RomanCatholic community. So we have ideals that we propose.. . .”“By Appointment Only”“At the parish level,” a priest told The Wanderer,“there is no teaching on the binding nature ofHumanae Vitae. The priests who may still think thatcontraception is a sin are in parishes where there areonly old people, where contraception is just not anissue.”Asked if the Bishop was likely to encourageCatholics who contracept to go to Confession, thepriest replied, “We've moved beyond Confession inthis diocese. Many parishes have communal penanceservices at Lent or Advent, and a number of parisheshave Confession ‘by appointment only’ — whichmeans no one goes. Thus even Paul VI’s pastoralcounsels have been voided.”In a February, 1987 radio interview, BishopHubbard said that Pope Paul VI’s teaching in HumanaeVitae was “open to some debate. I think it’snot part . . . It’s never been defined by councils or bythe bishops and the Pope gathered to discuss it. Itwould never have anywhere near the weight of beliefin the Trinity, the Incarnation. . .” etc.His most recent publicly stated view of HumanaeVitae was given to the Albany Times-Unionafter he returned from the November, 1990 Bishops’meeting in Washington, D.C.Commenting on Bishop Kenneth Untener’sappeal to the American Bishops that they re-examinethe Papal condemnation of contraception, BishopHubbard stated that he not only thought it was importantfor Bishops to listen to those who do not acceptthe teaching, but that contraception is “one of thoseissues that needs to be discussed further with peoplewho have the experience of marriage and family life.”The opening of the same Times-Union newsarticle reported that Albany Bishop Howard Hubbardstated that just because the Vatican seemed to“discourage dissent and even discussion of controversialmatters” the American Bishops “are unlikely tosquelch dissent.”Part IIIBishop Hubbard’s32
Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc. / AMDG May 2004 Albany newsletterToleration Of Dissent“The key to understanding our Bishop isknowing how much he needs to feel that he is loved”— an Albany priest.“Bishop Hubbard doesn’t represent a minorityby any means; a lot of people do support him. He’sclever enough to use his charm and charisma, and tosay the things that please the people. A lot of peopleare sentimental about him” — another Albany priestIn September, 1987, when Howard Hubbardhad been Bishop for ten years, the Albany Times-Union and the Knickerbocker News published the resultsof a survey on what Catholics believe. The surveyshowed that Albany-area Catholics “don't toe thePapal line.”Sixteen percent agreed with the Pope on allissues; 16% disagreed with most of the Pope’s positions;and 66% agreed with some of his teachings anddisagreed with others.Nearly 55% of Catholics polled approved ofdivorce and remarriage; 49% believed women shouldbe ordained, 41% disapproved; almost 63% saidpriests should be allowed to marry; 25% believedabortion should remain legal; 72.4% approved of artificialbirth control, and only 18% did not; 45% approvedof sex between unmarried adults; and 43%disapproved of the Church’s teaching on homosexuality.Twelve percent of those surveyed said theyattend Mass more than once a week, 50% said theyattend weekly, 16% attend monthly, 10% on holidays;and 10% never.At the time the survey results were published,Bishop Hubbard was quoted as saying, “We have todo a better job of communicating our message.”“Loyal Opposition”But after interviewing a number of Catholics,reporter Stephen Frank wrote that the view held by amajority of Catholics on contraception “'reflects a defacto cease-fire” from the chancery and Catholic educationaland marriage officials on the issue.“I find very few priests that even see it as aproblem with their parishioners anymore,” said MichaelDick, an associate professor of religious studiesat Siena College. “I think there has been widespreadpopular resistance to Humanae Vitae on the part ofthe clergy.”“In interview after interview,” noted Frank,“the commentators said the poll reflects changeswithin the Church and in society at large. They characterizeddissenting opinion as part of a ‘loyal opposition’who disagree with some Vatican teachings butwho choose to remain in the Church.“According to Hubbard, dissent over Churchteachings on birth control, divorce and remarriage,and similar issues is an inevitable conflict in theChurch.“ ‘I think there always has been and alwayswill be a tension in the dual role the Church plays —the Church as teacher of ideals and the role of theChurch as pastor wherein we deal with people whocannot measure up to those ideals or who do not acceptthose ideals’,” said Hubbard.The Bishop also remarked, “I think as we go,about our theologizing there will be more of an attemptin the future to draw upon the experiences ofthe laity and that will be reflected in Church documents.”In March, 1988, former Catholic theologianFr. Charles E. Curran made another visit to Albany.He spoke at St. Rose and Siena Colleges to defend the“right” of Catholics to dissent from official Churchteachings.“I wanted to make this a whole teaching moment.. . to take the opportunity to indicate that dissentis appropriate in the Roman Catholic Church andmake people aware of it,” said Curran. “This has becomemy guide and direction.”During his Albany appearance, Fr. Curranreaffirmed his position that contraception, sterilization,and homosexuality are not intrinsically evil.A Long RecordResponding to objections made by Catholicsthat the appearance of Fr. Curran at Catholic collegesgave the impression that the Diocese was sanctioningdissent, Bishop Hubbard stated that the Diocese wasnot sponsoring the events. “A typical excuse,” said apriest.Nevertheless, there is a long record, datingback to the beginning of Bishop Hubbard’s episcopacy,of support for dissenters in general and Fr.Curran specifically by members of the chancery.On Feb. 22nd, 1980, a statement titled Eventhe Stones Will Cry Out, protesting a “new pattern ofintimidation which is appearing in our Church,” was33
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