tus of episcopal conferences as the onenissue that can scarcely be avoided. Hisnwarnings were more oblique: Thenprinciple of subsidiarity must be safeguardednand regionalism encouraged.nRev. Charles E. Curran, currentlynunder fire from the Holy Office, wasnthe most candid of America’s commentators,nhaving less rhetorical deftnessn(or caution?) than Orsay or Dulles.nSince there is no longer, henasserted, one perennial theology, thenChurch must be willing to live with farngreater pluralism and diversity. Thentrue test of collegiality occurs when anbishop tells the Pope that he is wrong.nMonika. Hellwig’s sober, dogged hopenfor the Synod was based on episcopalnconferences because they are concernednwith the “real issues of thenredemption of the world,” e.g., peacenand disarmament, questions which donnot have a “narrow churchiness aboutnthem.” Michael J. Buckley, S.J., jushfiednthe Americanization of religiousnlife over the past 20 years, praisingnnative charisma as “an absolute essentialnfor apostolic mission.” The needsnof the local church should be a majornnorm for the shape a seminary assumes,nwas the opinion of his fellownJesuit, Brian O. McDermott.nOne looks in vain in the numberlessnpre-Synod articles in the religiousnpress for references to Christ and thenHoly Spirit in the list of expectationsnadvanced and proposed. The discussionsnwere so narrow as to have beennmore appropriately printed in journalsnof method and management. The suspicionnthat American seminaries havenbeen teaching little more than sociologynfor some time now seems to benwarranted. Perhaps it is well to remembernthat it was just 80 years agonthat Rome warned the U.S. Bishopsnthat “Americanism” confused the naturalnand the supernatural.nWhat the Extraordinary Synod actuallynpreached, we know now, wasnquite thi; opposite of what the Americannjournalists had suggested. It affirmednthe Universal Church as mysterynin Christ and communion in thenword of God. It affirmed Vatican II bynplacing the council within the livingntradition of the Church from which itngot its authority, “the Church itselfnbeing the same in all councils.” Itnwarned against the Church being reducednto methodology, organization,nor the vocabulary of power. It affirmednthe one and universal Church as existingnin all particular churches whichnare formed into one image of Christnbecause of its universality. The Synodnfathers reminded their fellow bishopsnthroughout the world that collegialitynbased on love is far superior to juridicalncollegiality. The status of episcopalnconferences will have to be studied innthe light of the good of the UniversalnChurch and the unalienable responsibilitynof the individual bishop to hisnown diocese.nIn his closing address, John Paul IInextolled “in the first place” the recommendationnof the Synod that a universal,nnormative catechism of the wholenof Catholic teaching be prepared. Innaddition to its profound theologicalnsignificance, the Pope’s emphasis wasna brilliant rhetorical flourish whichnonly the blind could not see or the deafncould not hear. Or the willful, and onnthat word the short-term future of thenRoman Catholic Church in the UnitednStates will turn.nJoseph Schwartz is professor of Englishnat Marquette University.nShould old Chronicles be forgot,nand never brought to mind?nAbsolutely not! In fact, our bet is that readers like you wouldnrelish an opportunity to catch up on the extraordinary issuesnof Chronicles you’ve had the misfortune to miss.nSo, for you, the new subscriber wanting more of a good thingn(or you, the long-time reader eager to share your favoritenChronicles with fellow cognoscenti), we happily offer a collectionnof recent back issues. Supplies are limited, so rush yournorder to us today!nTitlenn Popular Wisdom Steven Goldberg on the truth in stereotypes andnThomas Molnar on the anatomy of cliches. $2.50nD Personal Fireworks: Modern Times/Modern ArtnJohn Aldridge on the novel and the imperial self; John Sisk on drugs,ncensorship, and Hollywood; Janet Barlow on the Bob Greeneing ofnAmerica; and Andrei Navrozov on the art of Colleen Browning. $2.50nn The Tower of Babel: The American Nation in an International WorldnSamuel Francis and Thomas Reeves on the McCarthy legacy; InganKaretnikova and Igor Golomstock on Big Brother’s portraits. $2.00nn The Spiral Staircase: Evolution and MannEdward O. Wilson on genetic determinism and morality;nStanley Jaki on the moral legacy of Darwin. $2.00nD Amber Waves of Grain Fred Chappell on the poet and the plowman;nAndrei Navrozov on artist Igor Galanin. $2.00nD Sexual Politicking Thomas Fleming on old Adam, new Eve; GeorgenGilder on dames, defense, and democracy; Carol McMillan onnmothers and others. $2.00nD A House Divided Admiral James-Stockdale on POW ethics; RussellnKirk on the perils of ideology $2.00nn Counting the Ways: The World, the Flesh, and the Social SciencesnRobert Nisbet on the uses of tradition; John Shelton Reed on surveynsociology; and Irving Louis Horowitz on the doctors and the bomb. $2.00n*Postage and handling included in issue price.nName.n_ Address.nTotal Amount Due: *nCity_ _ State. _Zip_nQty. Amt.nChronicles • 934 North Main Street • Rockford, IL • 61103 CBI1286nnnDECEMBER 1986 / 47n