WOF 456: Bishop Barron at the New Ressourcement Conference
Sep 23, 2024
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Bishop Barron, a renowned theologian and philosopher, delivers a compelling talk at the New Ressourcement Conference. He reflects on his journey in a postconciliar Church and unravels the urgent concerns of the New Ressourcement movement. Key topics include the interplay between liberalism and Thomism, the need for a virtue ethics model rooted in saints and Aristotle, and the rise of disaffiliation among younger Catholics. Barron advocates for an integration of theology and spirituality to reinvigorate faith in contemporary culture.
Bishop Barron highlights the need for revitalizing Catholic theology by emphasizing classical sources like Aquinas to enhance the Church's intellectual life.
He addresses contemporary challenges, including youth disaffiliation and subjective morality, advocating for effective apologetics and rational discourse to reconnect with faith.
Deep dives
The Roots of a Theological Movement
Bishop Barron discusses his personal journey towards understanding the need for a new ressourcement in the Catholic Church, which stems from a deep-rooted need to revitalize the intellectual engagement of the faith community. He reflects on his upbringing in a post-conciliar church, where his religious education primarily focused on social justice rather than the foundational elements of faith such as the Trinity and salvation. This experience fostered a sense that theology was often simplified and relegated to mere ethics, leading to a diminished understanding of the transcendental aspects of Catholicism. Ultimately, he emphasizes that a robust engagement with classic theological sources, such as the works of Thomas Aquinas, is essential for revitalizing the Church’s intellectual and spiritual life.
Shifting Perspectives on Catholic Liberalism
Bishop Barron explores the implications of his formation during a time of liberal Catholicism, noting its effects on the intellectual landscape of the Church. His experiences at Mundelein Seminary revealed a reliance on proportionalism and historical-critical methods of biblical interpretation that diluted a Christological focus in doctrine and ethics. He critiques this approach as lacking the necessary grounding in the foundational truths of faith and highlights the decline in church participation observed over the years. This recognition leads him to argue for a renewed synthesis of both Thomistic and patristic insights that emphasizes a more integrated and vibrant expression of Catholic theology.
The Need for a New Approach to Biblical Exegesis
Bishop Barron advocates for a shift towards a patristic style of biblical exegesis, emphasizing its necessity for nourishing the spiritual life and evangelizing mission of the Church. He contrasts this approach with the historical-critical method, which he finds inadequate on its own for fostering a deeper connection to the divine narrative within scripture. By recovering typological readings that underscore the continuity between the Old and New Testaments, he envisions a richer theological framework that highlights the active divine authorship of the Bible. This perspective not only enhances scriptural engagement but also re-establishes a sense of unity and coherence in the Church’s teachings.
Confronting Modern Challenges in Faith
Bishop Barron identifies three contemporary challenges facing the Church: disaffiliation from religious institutions, the rise of self-invention culture, and the urgent need for effective apologetics. He highlights the alarming trend of young people abandoning their faith and stresses the importance of addressing the existential questions surrounding the existence of God through rational discourse and robust philosophical arguments. Additionally, he calls for a resolute defense of objective moral values against the prevailing culture of subjective self-definition. Through this renewed outreach and intellectual engagement, he believes the Church can reclaim its role in guiding individuals towards meaningful encounters with truth and faith.
Today we bring you Bishop Barron’s lecture from the 2023 New Ressourcement Conference. TheNewRessourcement is a quarterly journal of theology and philosophy published by Word on Fire Academic. It serves the Church and the academy by publishing scholarly articles that demonstrate the depth and relevance of the Catholic tradition.
In the talk, Bishop Barron explains the roots of this theological movement, his own coming-of-age experience in a postconciliar Church, and the particular concerns this movement aims to address. Enjoy!
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