National Catholic Reporter’s John L. Allen, Jr. has both reported and analyzed the news that Jesuit Fr. Jon Sobrino has been censured by the Vatican. Sobrino has been one of the great voices for the poor and oppressed of El Salvador.
For the report, go here.
For the analysis, go here.
Pauline Dolan, a member of Visitation parish, is in El Salvador right now and sent this report:
Sunday’s paper, “La Prensa Grafica,” here in El Salvador had an article on Jon Sobrino. On Thursday the Vatican will sanction him. His sanction is described as “absolute silence”. He will not be able to teach in any “eclesiatical center” or publish any books with the ‘nihil obstat’ of the Catholic Church. He is being sanctioned by the Vatican’s Congregation of Doctrine and Faith”.
(The following is my translation of parts of the article)
Though the official letter/document of sancition is signed by the present director of the Congregation, Cardinal Joseph Levada, “the inquisitions against Sobrino stared earlier when the Congregation was directed by Joseph Ratzinger, the present Pope. Sobrino is accused of ‘not affiriming openly the divine conscience of the historic Jesus’. Sobrino and the Jesuits of which he is a member, have known for months the contents of the sanction. Rome had asked Sobrino to rectify his position in writing before they condemned him.
According to the Spanish paper “El Mundo”, Sobrino informed his Superior, Father Kolvenbach, about his sanction and Father Kolvenbach’s reply was “Think it over and whatever decision you make you will be supported by the Jesuits.”
