Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Pastor Stan Ulman on Vatican II's Historic Start 50 Years Ago

When I asked Stan Ulman about his experince of the ecumenical Vatican Council II, he noted:

"I only wish that I had paid closer attention to the Vatican Council while it was happening.  Being in high school and college at the time, I related to those events academically, but not personally.

It was only later that I realized what a momentous event this was.  It's not every day that your world gets turned upside down.  Liturgy was the most visible thing to change and very often with much opposition or uncritical adaptation. 

But, what was really changing was people's understanding of themselves as Catholics, their understanding of the world, and, the role of faith, relationships with other Chrisitans and non-Christians, the primacy of conscience in moral decisions, and, the servant role of those in charge. 

This was all very confusing and liberating. 

Today, some people are frightened by the implications of Vatican II and are willing to exchange its promise for the surety they think existed before Vatican II.  This pursuit will give them neither."

(The Rev. Stanley Ulman is a pastor at Saint Mary of the Hills Church in Rocheter Hills, MI.).

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