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Nothing to Hide: Secrecy, Communication, and Communion in the Catholic Church Paperback – April 1, 2008
Shaw shows the secrecy issue is a theological as well as practical problem that raises such questions as: What kind of Church do we want our Church to be, open or closed? What kind of Church should it be? And how much secrecy is compatible with having such a Church? As Pope Benedict XVI has stated, "The consequence is clear: we cannot communicate with the Lord if we do not communicate with one another."
The Church is a communion, not a political democracy, and thus openness and accountability are even more crucial for the life of the Church than they are in a democracy. In a talk he gave many years before he became the current Pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had this to say about the reality of ecclesial communion: "Fellowship in the Body of Christ and receiving the Body of Christ means fellowship with one another. This of its very nature includes mutual acceptance, giving and receiving on both sides, and readiness to share one's goods . . . In this sense, the social question is given quite a central place in the theological heart of the concept of communion."
This is a beautiful vision of the Church. Shaw's aim in his book is to make a contribution to realizing this vision in the concrete circumstances of the present day, by helping to end the culture of secrecy, especially within American Catholicism, and replacing the destructive culture with an open, accountable community of faith.
"Throughout his career, Russell Shaw has served admirably Mother Church through his balanced, reasonable, informed, accessible, and forthright writings. Understanding that there are legitimate applications for the use of secrecy in both everyday religious life and secular society, he now addresses the unfortunate and long standing consequences of unnecessary secrecy and the lack of open and effective communication within the Catholic Church. Inhibiting the promotion of truth, knowledge, and accountability and increasing the chances of corruption, the author notes how unnecessary secrecy in the Church also weakens community/"communio;" maintains a second class status for the laity, furthers its "clericalization" and lessens its influence in worldly affairs; creates suspicion both internally and in the outside world; and impedes the speedy and effective just resolution of any number of crises affecting the religious institution today, most conspicuously, the recent sexual scandal. Let's hope the Bishops and other Church insiders recognize this important message of reform on the part of someone so committed to the Catholic faith.
- Joseph A. Varacalli, author, The Catholic Experience in America
Russell Shaw has long been a unique -- and uniquely valuable -- voice in American Catholicism. He was for many years the US Bishops' official spokesman, and he has the perspective and insights of an "insider". But Shaw is not an apologist for the hierarchy. He is at once a devout and loyal (and orthodox) member of the faithful, and a sharp critic of the cult of secrecy which so many bishops have cultivated. In this sobering but much-needed book, Shaw shows how some shepherds abused secrecy, and in doing so compounded the sex misconduct crisis with a broader crisis of trust in clerical leadership. But this is not a book about sex-abuse. It is rather about what it means to be the Church, about the collaboration of the non-ordained faithful in carrying out the Church's mission, and about how secrecy prevents the communication which is necessary to that collaboration. Shaw fully recognizes that the Catholic Church is no democracy and that confidentiality -- up to a point -- is essential to the Church's business. That is why this book is a measured yet cogent treatment of one of the great problem's facing the American Church today.
- Professor Gerard Bradley, University of Notre Dame
"Russell Shaw makes a persuasive case that it is time, at long last, to implement the teaching of the Second Vatican Council on the rights and responsibilities of the laity in the life of the Church. His call deserves the support also of clerics who recognize the unhappy consequences of clericalism."
- Rev. Richard John Neuhaus , editor in chief, First Things
"As the premier Catholic communications professional in the United States, Russ Shaw is a longtime critic of clericalism, excessive secrecy, 'happy talk' and spin control in Catholic culture. He's also an articulate and engaging writer with an unparalleled record of service to the Church. Nothing to Hide is a provocative, important book that explores the boundary between appropriate confidentiality in the Church, and the kind of secrecy that cripples Christian community life. It's a must-read."
+Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Denver
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Print length174 pages
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LanguageEnglish
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PublisherIgnatius Press
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Publication dateApril 1, 2008
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Dimensions8 x 0.75 x 5.5 inches
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ISBN-101586172182
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ISBN-13978-1586172183
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About the Author
Russell Shaw is a widely published author and journalist who has written over twenty books, including American Church and Nothing to Hide: Secrecy, Communication, and Communion in the Catholic Church. For 18 years, Shaw directed media relations for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the United States Catholic Conference. From 1987 to 1997 he oversaw media relations for the Knights of Columbus.
Product details
- Publisher : Ignatius Press; First Edition (April 1, 2008)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 174 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1586172182
- ISBN-13 : 978-1586172183
- Item Weight : 8 ounces
- Dimensions : 8 x 0.75 x 5.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,316,577 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18,493 in Catholicism (Books)
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Jason Berry's Render on the Rome is a great companion piece, as he demonstrates the fallout of what Shaw decries in this book.
The book clarifies how truth and openness work at the heart of unity within the Church and how openness ties directly into our communion as members of the body of the church. Mr. Shaw also makes many helpful observations regarding clericalism (an elitist culture among clerics that gives deference to clerics over the common layman) and it's corrosive affects on a vibrant living community of faithful Christians.
Here's an interesting quotation:
"[T]he Church is a communion, not a political democracy; therefore openness and accountability are even more important in the Church than they are in a democracy." I've drawn this quotation from page 9 of the introduction.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the life and history of our church. The book addresses the misuse of secrecy by bishops and priests and the corrosive affect that secrecy has on the life and spirit of the Church. It does much to provide practical, well reasoned steps to help the Church function in our society and to embrace the implications for our Church to fully be of the Church of Christ.
Mr. Shaw's writing style accommodates the reader and carries him through the material easily. He quotes from many of the essential documents of Vatican II and of later years regarding communication within the church and from the church to the world.
The book could, and I would suggest ought, to be used as a primer for the formation of those lay people who wish to participate in parish and diocesan councils. The text provides much substantial information from essential encyclicals and Vatican II documents. In this way the book does a great deal to inform and educated interested members of the faithful, and offers further areas of study as well.
Too often criticism of the hierarchy has come either from people on the "left" of the Church, whose doctrinal orthodoxy sometimes seems questionable, or from others on the "right" who appear eager to get angry over just about anything. It is a welcome relief to read a balanced, charitable, but also unsparingly honest critique from someone who is clearly faithful to the Church and her teaching.
I read this book in one sitting and recommend it to all who are concerned about the Church in North America.
The author argues for a Church with far less secrecy than there has been. Part of his arguments involves looking at documents put out by the Catholic Church. Many times the author would quote a pertinent passage and then claim that it provided evidence for his point, but more often than not, I did not see his position being put forth in the quote. However, the author is quite competent as far as journalists go (I'm sorry, I realize I have an anti-journalist bias; I'm working on it). He is well aware of many pertinent sources and cites them (the lack of citation annoys me to no end in popular journalism). Thus the book acts as an excellent resource.
The book is well written,but ultimately, I did not find the case too convincing.
Shaw is that rare Catholic analyst of Church affairs - a loyalist without being an apologizer. As a bonus, he writes well and the text moves quickly and forcefully.