Readers Respond 10-22-11

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River Ridge
    It was gratifying to read in the Oct. 1 issue of the Clarion Herald that the Archdiocese of New Orleans was at the “top of the list among dioceses” regarding the positive relationship between the priests and the archbishop, and that the “unity among the priests themselves is also considered high.” However, it was rather troubling to read that one of the major problematic themes between older and younger priests was over issues of “conservative” and “liberal” theology. One young priest went as far as to describe new priests being “ridiculed” at deanery and priest personnel meetings because they desired to follow the “traditions of the church.”
    I was taught long ago that the terms conservative and liberal are political terms. More appropriate for the Catholic Church are the labels orthodox and heterodox. Since the “Catholic Encyclopedia” defines orthodoxy as “a right belief … not merely subjective, as resting on personal knowledge and convictions, but is in accordance with the teaching and direction of an absolute extrinsic authority. This authority is the Church founded by Christ.”
    With this definition in mind, should not all of our Catholic priests be orthodox? Kudos to those newly ordained priests who desire orthodoxy over heterodoxy.
         PAT GUGGENHEIMER