As usual, Bruno Mastroianni manages to say so much in a few sentences!
For Benedict VI,
dialog is not a tea party
for courteous pleasantries
10/29/09
The opening for Anglicans to return to full communion with the Catholic Church and the doctrinal discussions recently started with the Lefebvrians are not simply a phenomenon of inter-Christian dialog.
They are events that speak to us of an extraordinary, though often ignored, attitude to dialog of Benedict XVI.
The very Pope whom some 'educated' forecasts had considered to be most deficient for dialog, has been dealing out one coup after the other in this field.
Some had interpreted his doctrinal precision and unshakeable faith as lack of charism, but these very traits that were thought to presage disaster [for purposes of dialog] are proving to be Benedict XVI's strong points.
One sees it with the Orthodox, the Jews, the Muslims, and even in confrontation with the [exponents of] the secularization that has taken over the West.
With these interlocutors, Benedict XVI has not contented himself with complacent handshakes - he has made clear he wants dialog to lead to something concrete.
The fact that there have been reactions, sometimes rather harsh, only confirms that the Pope expresses ideas that aim to be valid for everyone.
The dominant culture has accustomed us to the idea that dialog ought to be like a courteous tea party, with plenty of smiles around the table - only to leave it without any substantial ideas.
It is the contrary for Benedict XVI: dialog should serve to speak about concrete truths.
In a world where the most that dialog aims for seems to be some vague pacifistic conformity, there is still someone - Benedict XVI - who trusts in truth and shows that he takes dialog and his dialog partners seriously.