Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

A un hombre o una mujer que tiene una gran sensibilidad espiritual, que se interesa por los temas de fe y religión o que dedica buena parte de su tiempo al cultivo de la vida espiritual se le asocia casi siempre con un sacerdote o una religiosa, a veces incluso de manera despectiva. Pareciera que el interés por lo espiritual fuera algo exclusivo de unos pocos. Sin embargo, Alexander Schmemann es un ejemplo de cómo una gran sensibilidad espiritual, un profundo interés por los temas de fe y religión y una gran dedicación de tiempo al cultivo de la vida espiritual se combina con ser padre de familia. Es por eso que este libro apelará en particular a muchos hombres ya casados o que quieran casarse y al mismo tiempo llevar una vida de fe sólida, consistente y coherente. Schmemann fue un hombre, que sintiendo un llamado muy fuerte a entablar una relación estrecha con Dios, descubrió que su camino no solo era llevar una vida verdaderamente espiritual desde el sacerdocio, sino también el matrimonio. En este libro, su esposa, Juliana Schmemann, hace un recorrido describiendo la vida de Alexander, desde las cosas más sencillas, como el degustar una caminata en medio de la naturaleza con su familia, del tiempo que pasaba a solas en su escritorio leyendo o escribiendo, hasta la grandeza de la celebración de la liturgia que tanto amaba y disfrutaba.  

The change in perspectives on abuse that integrated in its conception the authority abuse and spiritual abuse in the context of power asymmetries linked to charismatic leadership brought to the fore the abuses of all kinds perpetrated in the new movements and communities of the Catholic Church . In this publication we propose to study recent sources to analyze this dramatic phenomenon: the reflection of the ecclesial magisterium, the vigilance and remediation actions of the pontifical or episcopal authority when designating supplementary governments, the reception by charismatic organizations in conflict of independent reports such as contributions for its healing and reform. In addition, we will propose the adulterated images of two theological concepts as possible causes of abusive situations in the new communities: the falsifications of the virtue of obedience and the hypertrophied concept of charism of the foundation.

The expression vulnerable adults has recently emerged in relation to ecclesial abuse as a definition of certain victims. Admitting that the acknowledgement of these in the Catholic Church is a breakthrough towards repairing the damage perpetrated, the use of the expression vulnerable adults to describe them is ambiguous, and if analyzed from the perspective of theological anthropology, incorrect. Redefining the ethical-anthropological category of vulnerability as an inherent human characteristic, all people are potential subjects of abuse, hence the inadequacy of the term used to describe adult victims of ecclesial abuse.

Since the first cases of abuse in the Catholic Church came to light, the issue has shaken the ecclesial institution in all its internal structures. This article argues that in order to address clerical sexual and non-sexual abuse in a fair and responsible manner, both the systemic view of the Church, with all its possible anomalous dynamics, and also the theology of the ministerial priesthood that may have colluded with and facilitated abusive behaviour, must be taken into consideration.

Abstract: The thought of the Italian-German theologian Romano Guardini is among the most important impulses of the theological and ecclesial renewal that developed around the Second Vatican Council. As with the work of every great thinker, the reception of his ideas is conditioned by the time, the places and the people who receive and interpret them. In this reception -of more than 50 years- the richness of his thought has been demonstrated, but it has not been noticed regarding the critical disposition of his theology, especially in the consideration of the religious phenomenon. This article seeks to contribute to the reception of this great Catholic theologian, precisely by highlighting the depth of his reflection on the religious phenomenon and, in particular, by showing how his thought constitutes a significant contribution to a critical reflection on religion. Starting from a mature work of Guardini, Religion and Revelation, published in 1958, this article offers some fundamental categories to understand the occurrence of religion, but also to examine it critically and, thus, to shape a theology that contributes to its purification and renewal.