My personal story with Thich Nhat Hanh that I shared last week included a very negative encounter he had with the Vatican. In meditating on that since TNH’s holy death, I have written a public letter to Pope emeritus Joseph Ratzinger which I share on my web page in full. A portion of it is shared here.
Dear Cardinal Ratzinger,
You have been in the news lately and it has not been good news either for you or for the many victims who have been reminded of the suffering they are dealing with at the hands of the church over the past decades.
I write this letter because I am concerned about you as you face your last years and some unpleasant truths are coming out about your protecting pedophile priests who wrecked great harm on innocent children while you were archbishop in Munich. And about your lying to a commission about having been at an important meeting when a priest who ended up accosting 23 boys was discussed.
I am pleased to learn that you have apologized publicly for not telling the truth regarding the grave matter of priestly pedophilia in your diocese of Munich. This shows hope that before your life ends you might apologize to many whom you have offended in your powerful positions at CDF (the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, formerly the Holy Inquisition) and as pope. A time of confession and release seems close at hand for you and I seek to bless you on your journey.
But the forgiveness you seek is not only for pedophile clergy but the reason behind it which is: Ecclesiolatry. There is such a thing as making an idol of the church itself. This is done every time a member of the hierarchy chooses to put the “reputation of the church” ahead of the rights of a human being, especially a child. See what havoc is wrecked when one follows such idolatries. The irony is that the church you sought to protect at all costs is wounded far more deeply by this deception than had the truth been allowed to flourish and real action had been enacted.
It is good to see you are apologizing in your advanced age. I invite you to seek forgiveness for the following action as well: Calling Thich Nhat Hanh, a true saint in our times, the “anti-Christ.” He passed the very week news of you broke. I knew him and his holy work well and he was indeed “another Christ” and “another Buddha” as we are all called to be and as he taught us all to be.
Your brother,
Matthew Fox, oops (once of the order of preachers)
See Matthew Fox, Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times
Also see Matthew Fox, The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved
Banner Image: Zen Master, The Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, giving a dharma talk. Originally posted to Flickr by Geoff Livingston.
Recommended Reading
The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times
A stunning spiritual handbook drawn from the substantive teachings of Aquinas’ mystical/prophetic genius, offering a sublime roadmap for spirituality and action.
Foreword by Ilia Delio.
“What a wonderful book! Only Matt Fox could bring to life the wisdom and brilliance of Aquinas with so much creativity. The Tao of Thomas Aquinas is a masterpiece.”
–Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit
The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved
The Pope’s War offers a provocative look at three decades of corruption in the Catholic Church, focusing on Josef Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. The final section in the book focuses on birthing a truly catholic Christianity.
“This book should be read by everybody, not only for its ferocious courage, but also for its vision for what needs to be saved from the destructive forces that threaten authentic Christianity.” ~ Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope.
“In the gripping The Pope’s War, Matthew Fox takes an unwavering look at the layers of corruption in the Catholic Church, holding moral truth against power.” — Jason Berry, author of Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II
.jpg){kind=link}
9 thoughts on “Thich Nhat Hanh & Emeritus Pope Cardinal Ratzinger”
Matthew, Thank you for sharing your letter to Ex-Cardinal Ratzinger. I just want to say that I think you hit the nail right on the head when you said that the real problem is “Ecclesiolatry,” we see this done every time “a member of the hierarchy chooses to put the ‘reputation of the church’ ahead of the rights of a human being, especially a child.” It will be interesting if he ever responds to your letter, I hope so, but it would be a long one!
As I ponder over today’s DM, I’m trying to be mindful of TNH’s emphasis on the three pillars he mentions, that being understanding, compassion and forgiveness… so it is within this context, that my comment follows the stream of.
As I listened to some of the names Mathew read, of those denounced by the past Pope Ratzinger; seeking mainly some sense of understanding, what was revealed, was the difference between those whom are divergent thinkers and those that are convergent thinkers. All of the people that Mathew mentioned, whom were denounced, including himself, had or have an evolutionary level of conscious awareness expressed through a convergent way of thinking. They all, within their thought process with regards to walking the talk of their faith, generated creative ideas, that opened their hearts, minds and souls, to many possible solutions, to the many diverse challenges they faced, within their journey. They were open to the spontaneous free flowing movements of the incarnate Spirit within themselves and others, which lead them to manifesting the emergence of their Divine nature, working in collaboration with their humanity, in a harmonious, yet evolutionary way.
Convergent thinking, is the opposite of divergent thinking… which is what I see in Ratzinger. Convergent thinking, regarding one’s faith journey and walking the talk of this, is about arriving at and resolving challenges encountered within this, through human intelligence only. It’s methods are analytical, deductive and logical… following a strict adherence to rules and laws that are focused on conformity to the standard and traditional status quo.
Looking at these two types of thinking, enables me to gain some sense of understanding the complexities within the minds, hearts and souls of both Ratzinger and those whom he denounced. This then leads me to compassion for all involved… whom painfully reflect the intensity of the human struggle within our learning to relate rightly to one another, respecting and valuing both divergent and convergent levels of conscious awareness and the potential emergence of the many blessings that await coming into being through this sacred union of communion.
Oops one typo, in my comment… please insert divergent for the word convergent when I was referring to Mathew and the others denounced by Ratzinger. I can’t believe I didn’t catch this typo in my original posted comment, having read it over several times before hitting send. I just wanted to clarify, so there was no misunderstanding.
Jeanette, Today you say, that as you listened to Matthew read the names of those denounced by former Cardinal Ratzinger, you saw “the difference between those whom are divergent thinkers and those that are convergent thinkers.” Then you state the difference as being, “Convergent thinking, regarding one’s faith journey and walking the talk of this, is about arriving at and resolving challenges encountered within this, through human intelligence only. It’s methods are analytical, deductive and logical… following a strict adherence to rules and laws that are focused on conformity to the standard and traditional status quo.–while divergent thinking is the opposite. Then you say, “All of the people that Matthew mentioned, whom were denounced, including himself, had or have an evolutionary level of conscious awareness expressed through a convergent way of thinking.” I beg to differ with you on this, because people like Matthew, Hans Kung, Leonardo Boff, and Archbishop Oscar Romero did NOT follow “a strict adherence to rules and laws that are focused on conformity to the standard and traditional status quo.”
An exceedingly heartbreaking dark truth of the Roman Catholic church, but one that we all must all process in Truth.
Thank you for your letter, Matthew. https://www.matthewfox.org/blog
Thank you for your ongoing courage and speaking of the truth.
Dear Matthew,
I was so deeply moved as you read some of the names of those silenced with you as I was The first time I read them in your book and again hearing their names during our candlelit grieving ritual Procession of 50 at the Occupy Christianity retreat at Adelynrood Retreat Center In MA shortly after the Pope’s War book was published. Perhaps a few readers were there? Tears flow again and my heart breaks hearing the names of those lost voices and so very grateful for your strength and courage to raise Them by name in your Own voice, especially as an internationally known and respected theologian For All those who can not, you hold the lamp of truth and justice.
They will not be forgotten.
Amen
Ellen Kennedy DM team
Ellen, Thank you for your words !!!