Bishops' Marriage Conference Led by Supporter of Cohabitation and Divorce

A Catholic theologian who opposes Church teaching on divorce and supports creating a betrothal ceremony for cohabitating couples just led a colloquium to assist US bishops with writing a pastoral letter on marriage.

The colloquium, which ended yesterday, was sponsored by the US Bishops' Committee on Marriage and Family and hosted by the Center for Marriage and Family at Creighton University in Omaha. It featured theologians and social scientist and had as its theme, "Promoting and Sustaining Marriage as a Community of Life and Love." According to a press release, the colloquium was a "major step" toward developing "a pastoral letter on marriage" and was "intended for the current and incoming members and advisors of the Marriage and Family Committee."

The director of Creighton's Center on Marriage and Family, Michael J. Lawler, served as the colloquium's chief facilitator. Lawler is well known for his heterodox views on divorce and cohabitation. A review of Lawler's book, "Marriage and the Catholic Church: Disputed Questions," in the left-of-center Catholic magazine "America", explains Lawler's take on divorce: "The governing agenda is to show how divorce and remarriage can be justified historically, canonically and theologically. Lawler argues that the sacramental character of marriage depends on personal faith. Therefore (contrary to canon law and current official teaching), sacramentality cannot attend the union of two persons, even two baptized persons, who do not intend, or who cease to experience, a mutual love that in faith makes God and Christ present." According to the review, Lawler also "proposes a formal betrothal ceremony to recognize and legitimize [cohabitation] and to provide an opportunity for marriage preparation."

In 2004 the US bishops committed themselves to a multi-year National Pastoral Initiative on Marriage. According to the USCCB's website, the centerpiece of the Initiative will be a pastoral letter. "It will deal with contemporary concerns about marriage from a foundation in Catholic doctrine and pastoral practice. It will draw from the experience and expertise of many, including engaged and married couples, social scientists, theologians, educators, communications experts, and others." Savannah Bishop J. Kevin Boland, chairman of the Marriage and Family Committee, said, "The colloquium will play a key role in our pastoral initiative by bringing together Catholic teaching on marriage with the latest research from the social sciences."

Theologians at the colloquium included Dr. John S. Grabowski, Catholic University; Dr. Julie Hanlon Rubio, St. Louis University; and Dr. Wendy M. Wright, Creighton University. Social scientists included Dr. Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, National Marriage Project and Rutgers University; Dr. W. Bradford Wilcox, Institute for American Values; and School Sister of Notre Dame Barbara Markey, Ph.D., Family Life Office, Archdiocese of Omaha.

I'm curious as to where you have heard that.

I'm an alumnus (undergrad, 1983, and law, 1987). I actually had Mike Lawler for three theology classes at Creighton. He was an excellent professor, although, I will admit that he was not 100% orthodox in his Catholicism. However, he was not that liberal either. He clearly was not a fan of the papacy and the Magesterium, but he did not exactly trash talk them either. He is a brilliant man and a good teacher. Originally from Ireland, he has been educated abroad and was an interpreter at the Second Vatican Council. When I had him as a professor in the early 80's the essence of what he taught me was orthodox, though not completely so. But I recall that even then he seemed like he was still in the 60's. I was very sad to read how he has apparently continued on a leftward swing. I thought the last twenty plus years would have helped him to see the beauty and wisdom of the gifts of the papacy (through watching the pontificates of John Paul II and now Benedict XVI) and the Magesterium. And, especially the beauty of orthodox Church teachings, including those concerning divorce and marraige. Apparently he's still stuck in the 60's. As far as Creighton University is concerned, my experience was that it was some what liberal (again this is over twenty years ago). The theology professors were not big fans of the papacy and Magesterium, but they were respectful of them. I would describe Creighton as a left-of-center Catholic university. It was not very orthodox, but no where near as liberal and bad as, say, Georgetown has become.
Again, it's been a long time since I've been on campus there and there may be more orthodox professors at Creighton now. I was at a twenty year reunion from undergrad in June of 2003 and I heard that the show Vagina Monologues was not allowed on campus and that a pro-gay/lesbian group was not allowed to hold their meetings on campus. I thought those were two positive signs as to how things are going at Creighton.

Anyhow, I hope Dr. Lawler's personal beliefs about cohabitation, divorce and marriage don't make it into any pastoral letter from the U.S. bishops.

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