"New" sanctions for Roger Haight SJ.

Sandro Magister comments on the latest (six months old but only just revealed) sanctions against Jesuit theologian Roger Haight. He has many supporters in the area in which I work, namely interfaith relations. But is his theology the answer even in this context?

Pope Benedict and other curial officials (eg. Cardinal Tauran) working in the area of interfaith dialogue are strongly of the opinion that watering down the faith of the Church in the area of Christology is no more helpful in interfaith dialogue than is watering down the Church's ecclesiology in ecumenism.

Straightforward honesty and truthfulness is the first prerequisite for positive outcomes in any dialogue. Well, equal first anyway, along with respect for the honest and true beliefs of the dialogue partner.

Magister highlights one comment from another Jesuit, Gerard O'Collins - an Australian now working in Rome - with regard to Roger Haight's Christology:

O'Collins made a memorable quip after news came of Haight's first condemnation: "I wouldn't give my life for Roger Haight's Jesus. It's a triumph of relevance over orthodoxy."

That perfectly sums up the problem with Haight's Christology.