Support for Christopher West from Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishop Kevin Rhoades
Cardinal Justin Rigali, as Chairman of the Episcopal Advisory Board for the Theology of the Body Institute and as local ordinary of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia where the Institute is located, and Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Christopher West’s local ordinary in the Diocese of Harrisburg, have stated that they are pleased to express strong support for the important work of the Theology of the Body Institute and, in particular, that of Christopher West.
We are convinced that John Paul II’s Theology of the Body is a treasure for the Church, indeed a gift of the Holy Spirit for our time. Yet, its scholarly language needs to be “translated” into more accessible categories if the average person is to benefit from it. To do this is the specific mission of the Theology of the Body Institute, and we believe that Christopher West, the Institute’s popular lecturer and spokesman, has been given a particular charism to carry out this mission. With great skill as a presenter, with keen insight as a thinker, and with profound reverence for the mystery of human sexuality, he has been able to reach thousands in our sexually wounded culture with the Gospel of salvation in Christ.
In light of recent discussions, we are happy to state our full confidence in Christopher, who continues to show great responsibility and openness in listening carefully to various observations and reflections on his work and in taking them into account. He and the Theology of the Body Institute are in communication with us, their local ordinaries. They work with our episcopal blessing. In our view their programs, courses, and materials reflect strong fidelity to the teaching of the Church and to the thought of Pope John Paul II. As such, we consider them of superb value for promoting the New Evangelization.
We sincerely hope that Christopher will continue his much needed work in the Church. He does so with our enthusiastic encouragement. It is also or hope that more and more men and women — priests, deacons, religious and laity alike — will avail themselves of the valuable training and resources offered by the Theology of the Body Institute.
August 10, 2009
Cardinal Justin Rigali
Archbishop of PhiladelphiaMost Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades
Bishop of Harrisburg
Posted in Catholicism, Culture, Husbands, Marriage, Men, Mothers, Wives, Women Tagged: Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Christopher West, Human Sexuality, Marc Girard, Theology of the Body, Theology of the Body Institute 
I have a copy of Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body in book form. The book is a compilation of his general audiences given each Wednesday. As the Pope delivers this message each Wednesday, he sees the pilgrims in front of him, average folk. I am an average person and find that the Pope, like any good speaker, showed he knew his audience when addressing the Church in the Wednesday General Audience and geared his teaching to whom he was addressing, that is, the average person. Basic Speech 101, know your audience. I do not find the work difficult at all. I do not accept the premise that Christopher West’s work is necessary to translate the Pope’s work because the Pope did not know his audience but Christopher West does.
Regarding the issues and controversies with Christopher West’s work: generally, some have a problem with his work due to vulgar vocabulary, expressions and attitutes. Others say that such expressions are ok because he has to address college students and common folk in this manner for them to relate to the teaching and in order to develop persons with a Christianized view of sex. However, that approach is not what I’m used to seeing coming from the Popes and therefore from the Catholic Church. When educating people and Christianizing a culture, the Church comes to elevate the culture to Christ’s teaching rather than to join everyone in the mire. When Pope John Paul II went to Africa the women did not present themselves in their customary attire, that is, naked from the waist up. By having them dress with modesty, the Church taught them modesty. Immodesty characterizes Christopher West’s approach, presumably because he is addressing immodest people and they cannot understand or relate to modesty as well. The Church, however, practices another approach:
://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_
“… the school is an institution where young people gradually learn to open themselves up to life as it is, and to create in themselves a definite attitude to life as it should be.” The school of Christopher West never endeavors to form persons in how things should be, he lets them remain in how things are. As a “school” of formation for people, West misses the mark altogether.
The line “the school of Christopher West never endeavors to form persons how things should be” is absurd. I’ve been to West’s talks. There completely focused on raising people up to a new level of living their faith. And so, the misrepresentations of one of the church’s best defenders continues.
RHouser,
I cannot speak for Mayra definitively. However, I think her point is that West makes excessive accommodations to the over-exposure of his audiences to matters of sexuality.
There is no question in my mind that a certain amount of frank discussion in necessary in certain contexts. What seems in my mind to be underestimated is the importance of the natural and wholesome shame that seeks to veil what is holy. This is certainly being lost, and to the extent it is, purity is being lost as well.
This is a constructive criticism not a condemnation. It is definitely not a misrepresentation.