This title would have enkindled great hopes in the miserable lives of henpecked husbands, more so if their wives are pretty, and more accomplished than they themselves are! Alas, this is not to be, for I am writing about the reported conversion of Julia Roberts, of “Pretty Women” fame, to Hinduism. Tough luck for all those guys aforementioned!
Julia Roberts’ co-star in “Pretty Woman” was Richard Gere, who has become a Buddhist. Another star, Michael Jackson, also reportedly converted to Islam, as did legendary boxer Cassius Clay, who became Mohammad Ali. Closer home Kamala Das, the Malayalee poet of soft porn also became a Muslim, as did Pakistani cricketer Yusuf Yohanna.
Some years ago we had the Beatles rushing to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Haridwar. Rajineeesh’s ashram in Pune has more westerners (read white persons of Christian origin) than Indians. India is a happy hunting ground for seekers from the West of spiritual solace. In Mussoorie one comes across several white Sikhs with blonde hair. Obviously the West is looking East for salvation and/ or spiritual balm.
Despite mush hyped World Youth days, a special year for priests, and worldwide live TV coverage of Papal elections, the Catholic Church in the west makes headlines for all the wrong reasons – like clerical paedophilia, opposition to “unnatural methods” of family planning, and an inflexible approach to abortion, regardless of the circumstances. Colossal Catholic cathedrals in Europe have become museum pieces, visited by bus trotting camera savvy tourists. South America, which was once almost entirely Catholic, has lost millions of followers to evangelical sects that have more personalised worship and community bonding.
Here in India, traditionally large families of Kerala and Mangalore, that contributed thousands of clergy and religious to the Indian and universal Church, now find that small families are no longer willing to contribute their mites (sorry for the pun). Fishing for vocations has now shifted focus to the tribal belts where there are still large families, and limited opportunities for economic development. The Church in India continues to pursue the path of least resistance – the easy way out.
The same would go for the universal church. It seems unable to read the writing on the wall. Good Pope John XXIII did. He convened the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) and prayed for a new Pentecost. He opened the windows of the church to the world, to science, to other religions; and flushed out the stale air and cobwebs that had accumulated over two millennia. He jettisoned excess baggage. His successor Pope Paul VI was an intellectual giant who actually weathered the storm of reform that came in the wake of Vatican II. Pope John Paul II, the first non–Italian pope in several centuries, was again a breath of fresh air. He was a man of the people, with a powerful social doctrine, including what was called the “pink” Catechism, promulgated during the early part of his papacy.
Unfortunately, with failing health and fading charm, he seemed to go back on the bold reforms of Vatican II, in the latter half of his papacy. Then came Pope Benedict XVI, with his Eurocentric world view and a conservative mind set. He blundered with his statements on Islam, abortion and his alleged soft stance on clerical paedophilia. With such a mindset and leadership one can expect a lot more pretty women like Julia Roberts looking elsewhere for spiritual solace, and an answer to the mysteries of life and death.
Vatican II took place from 1962-1965. The new Code of Canon Law was promulgated in 1983. The Catechism of the Catholic Church was issued in 1992. Has the Holy Spirit stopped functioning since? Has the universal or local Church arrived at its destination, or is it still a “pilgrim church”, as clearly annunciated in the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church (LG No. 8). It is on earth “the initial budding forth” of God’s kingdom (LG No. 5). It is not yet in full bloom. If that is the Church’s own stated dogmatic position, it needs constant renewal and updating – aggiornamento, as Pope John XXIII called it.
In the modern world, IT enabled as it is, situations and circumstances change in seconds, let alone days or years. The church cannot sit back smugly like a cat that has drunk the milk, and give us old wine in new bottles. It has to think afresh, and constantly discern God’s will. It is now 45 years since the conclusion of Vatican II. That is a very very long time by today’s standards. We need another Pentecost, a fresh out pouring of the Holy Spirit. Patchwork papal encyclicals are not enough. Not even a synod (which is Greek for “walling together“).
We need another universal ecumenical council. Call it Vatican III if you like. I appeal to national organisations like the CBCI, CRI and AICU to pressurise Rome for the convening of the next Council. The laity, women, clergy and religious should be actively and constructively involved in the preparation of the working papers (Lineanmenta) for Vatican III. If not, we will see the conversion of many more pretty women and men, and disillusioned or dissatisfied youth. Come Holy Spirit and enkindle in us the fires of your love. Maranatha. Come Lord Jesus.
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