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(CNS) - Pope praises Jesuits, urges them to pledge loyalty to church doctrine

posted by: webkmccarthy on Friday, January 18, 2008

ROME (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI praised the Society of Jesus for its great contributions to evangelization and urged the order to reaffirm its fidelity to contested points of church doctrine.

As the Jesuits meet to elect a new superior general and discuss major issues facing the order, the pope said, they should take the opportunity to defend the church's teaching in areas such as interreligious relations, liberation theology, marriage and pastoral care of homosexuals.

The pope's comments came in a Jan. 10 letter addressed to Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, outgoing Jesuit superior general. The letter was posted on a Jesuit Web site Jan. 17. Some 225 Jesuit representatives opened their general congregation in Rome Jan. 7.

The pope lauded Father Kolvenbach for guiding the order in an "enlightened, wise and prudent manner" since 1983 and noted that the Jesuit superior had asked several times to be relieved of "so heavy a post."

Thanking Jesuits all over the world, the pope said they had made a "great and meritorious contribution" to the church in many different fields.

After recalling the Jesuits' traditional vow of obedience to the pope, he encouraged the order to offer a clear orientation of fidelity to the whole church.

"It could prove extremely useful that the general congregation reaffirm, in the spirit of St. Ignatius, its own total adhesion to Catholic doctrine, in particular on those neuralgic points which today are strongly attacked by secular culture," the pope said.

As examples the pope cited the relationship between Christ and religions, some aspects of the theology of liberation, and "various points of sexual morality, especially as regards the indissolubility of marriage and the pastoral care of homosexual persons."

The pope said reaffirming "true and healthy Catholic doctrine" was not easy in today's varied social and cultural contexts, but it remained a particular charism of the Jesuit order.

He said the importance of doctrinal adherence was tied to the Jesuits' great influence throughout the church.

"The evangelizing work of the church very much counts on the formative responsibility which the society has in the areas of theology, of spirituality and of mission," he said.

The particular fidelity of the Jesuits is especially needed in an age that urgently needs "the unique and immutable message of salvation which is the Gospel," he said.

For this to happen, he said, it is indispensable that the lives of Jesuits as well as their doctrinal research be animated by a spirit of faith and humble fidelity to the magisterium.

END

01/17/2008 1:28 PM ET

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops