The following is an abstract of an article “A different Happening”
which appeared in “The Sun” (a leading Australian newspaper)
from February 17,1973. written by Dr. Max Charles-Worth
(lecturer in Philosophy, Melbourne University)
about his thoughts on the 40-th International Eucharistic Congress.
Skepticism and dismay was my reaction to the initial plans for the Eucharistic Congress. A violation of the spirit of the Second Vatican Council would be manifested and the congress would reflect nothing more than catholic tribalism.
However, during the lengthly planning period the plans changed radically and the happening we are now witnessing in Melbourne is a product of our times. Thus, instead of contributing to the division among the churches, the congress is in fact centered on the idea of ecumenism and church unity.
For inviting Prof. Moltmann and Dr. Vischer, both Protestants, to be the two main speakers at the congress, the Church can hardly be condemned of “inward-looking.”
One of my regrets is that there are no really “Prophetic” figures at the congress to shake the smugness of the Australian Christians. I mean figures such as Fr. D. Berrigan of the USA or the “Red Bishop” Don Helder Camara of Brazil or even Prof. Hans Kung.
And I still think that the congress is an overly expensive and “triumphalist” show.
* * *
Follwing is Dr. Rudnycky’s reaction to Dr. Charles–Worth article:
Dr. Max Charles-Worth Reader in Philosophy
Melbourne University
February 17, 1973
Dear Dr. Charles-Worthі
I have read your article “A different happening” (The Sun, Feb., 17, 1973) with great interest and I would like to react to one of the statements in it. The particular passage I have in mind reads: “One of my regrets is that there are no really “Prophetic” figures at the congress to shake the smugness of Australian Christians and to stir their spirits,” and then you listed the people you had in mind. This is my first visit to Australia and it would be presumptious of me to speak about the “smugness of Australian Christians” although I do believe that during my brief stay here I did detect some signs of it. However, there is a man at the congress who is truly a prophetic figure and a living embodiment of Christian virtues, a man capable of stiring even the most complacent souls. I am referring to His Beatitude Joseph Cardinal Slipyj, the Confessor of the Faith, who was released after 18 years of imprisonment in Soviet slave labor camps in 1963. Since that time Cardinal Slipyj, in spite of continuous opposition from high ranking curia officials, has revitalized the Ukrainian Catholic Church and during the process revealed the credibility gap between Vatican promises and procedure. He has influenced by his activities, his preaching, and his human warmth every facet of the life of his Church. He has touched intimately the lives of young people, adults, religious, lay, and clergy all over the world. His open and fearless criticism of the Vatican’s attitude toward the Ukrainian Catholic Church has stired the conscience of many Roman Catholics.
I believe that Cardinal Slipyj is truly a prophetic figure. His presence in Melbourne will leave an indeliable impression on the 40th Eucharistic Congress.
Sincerely yours
Leo D. Rudnytzky,
PhD Associate Professor of Literature
La Salle College Philadelphia, USA
Dr. Charles-Worth in his article “A Different Happening” among other “tilings mentions that the Eucharistic Congress lacks personalities that could shake the smugness of the Australian Christian. He calls these figures “Prophetic” and gives us an idea whom he has in mind: Pr. Daniel Berrigan, Bishop Don Helder Camara, Prof. Hans Kung, etc.
Dr. Rudnytzky in reading the article takes issue with the statement that the Congress lacks a prophetic figure and points out that such a figure is present namely Cardinal Joseph Slipyj. It is significant to note that Dr. Rudnytzky uses the word prophetic without quotation marks. Apparently Dr. Charles-Worth has made a quick evaluation of the effect of some of the most eminent figures at the Congress on his countrymen and has come up with the conclusion that none of them made a profound impact, not Cardinal Joseph Slipyj, not even His Holiness Himself, Pope Paul VI.
Being deeply concerned about the complacency of his Christian Countrymen, Dr. Chaples-Worth sort of wishes that some of these radical figures were participating and maybe they, whether right or wrong, might be able to stir their spirits.
