The TOB discussion (updated)

As editor at the women's section of Catholic Exchange, I've begun a series of articles that respond to Dr Alice vonHildebrand's critique of Christopher West's work on the theology of the body (yes, I know -- that's a twisty turny path). I think she wrote as lovingly as possible, offering an important fraternal correction that may serve to deepen our understanding of this rich subject.

The founder and director of the Theology of the Body Institute, Mr West has virtually made his name synonymous with the fascinating topic, which–in this sex-saturated culture–is at the forefront of the effort to evangelize teenagers and young adults. There are some who take issue with his approach, which can be roughly grouped in two categories: those who are troubled by his language–which is couched in today’s syntax and embellished by examples from the popular, secular media; and those who are troubled by his theological approach–which lays more emphasis on the revolutionary elements of the “theology of the body” than on the “hermeneutic of continuity.”

Part One: What Purity Isn't

Part Two: Necessary Fraternal Correction

Part Three: Reaching the "Objectively Disordered"

Part Four: Custody of the Eyes

Part Five: Three Views on Theology of the Body

(Stay tuned; more to follow)

ADDENDUM: for information on how to obtain Dawn Eden's excellent thesis on this topic, go here. For Barb Nicolosi's view, go here. More concerns raised here. We will run a few more pieces on Catholic Exchange next week.

NOTA BENE: I should mention that Christopher West generously wrote the forward to my book, The Authentic Catholic Woman, for which I am deeply grateful. His words there were quite unexpected, expressing his great desire for women to heal from the wounds caused by the lies fed to them in the sexual revolution (and his sincere contrition for any part in that deception). I found his contribution touching and appropriate, given the breadth of the book. For those who wish to read it in the coming year with a book club, I am happy to send a copy of a free study guide.

Comments

[Carla]

I did not have luck posting to Catholic Exchange so am leaving comment here...I probably lean more to the Christopher West camp but have only the highest opinion of and respect for Dr. Alice H, so I am keeping an open mind and meditating on her valuable commentary, which I believe the first 2 guest commentaries well reflect...
The 3rd however was far-overreaching and throws out an unnecessary (and logically flawed) slam against Dr. Popchak and co-sleeping families...this woman would probably view my nursing of my baby at mass as providing an occasion of temptation to the men in the pews...she is just as unavoidably culturallly entrenched as West, albeit in the other extreme...her essay really missed the mark and insulted my family and husband (who values my nurturing our babies at night in our bed!) and made me feel for what West is going through.

[Marie]

Dear Carla -
As the author of the third article you found problematic and a mother of six, I can assure you that I have nursed babies in bed, in Mass, in cars, in department stores, in restaurants and pretty much anywhere else they became hungry! To assume that I would consider nursing an occasion of temptation is incorrect. I hope you understand that.
Alice von Hildebrand brought up Greg Popcak in her critique, so I wanted to address her concerns, but with an example that was not overly graphic, which is actually quite difficult to do. I used an example that I thought I could write about with discretion. To clarify - I used the quote from Greg Popcak to make a point. The point was not about co-sleeping. The point was about using Catholic terminology to dress up things that are, in reality, unpleasant - and how there is a danger that such things can stem from concupiscence. It was really a deeper point about what I think misapplications of the TOB can do and how we need to be careful. For example - if I call a kitchen counter a "sacred space", does that make it - truly - a pleasant place for marital intercourse? The first thing I think of in that scenario is pain... but Popcak calls it "creativity". Remember: the Popcaks wrote this as a guide for Catholic couples. They are telling people - this is what you should do. Because of that fact, it opens them to critique in a way that those who are not positioning themselves as experts should not be critiqued.
I am sorry if the concept I was getting at was not clear. My goal was to provoke some thought beyond exciting words like "overflowing love" and think critically - hey - is this something I really think is loving? We all just need a lot of grace in order to discern the good, and our concupiscence messes with that on a daily basis. God bless.

[Carla]

Marie - as a fellow mother-of-six, I would like to thank you for your reply. I will go back and re-read your commentary with this further explanation in mind when I have finished nursing my littlest to bed ;-)
I am also a lawyer as well as a nursing and co- sleeping mommy, and upon my first reading last night, the "slippery slope" argument we used in law school came to mind with your example positing the woman who could no longer view the Easter candle after hearing Christopher West...
What then is to protect the nursing mom in Mass from the argument that a man would be distracted (through no fault of his own) and that nursing mothers therefore should be banished to bathrooms so that no prurient thoughts assail him during the Eucharist?
I find it a great gift of our Catholic faith that there is so much room for interpretation and discussion amongst people who are rock-solid orthodox believers ( as I think you would agree West is and I believe you and I are as well!) but sometimes I feel we should stop so much debate on minutae "amongst the choir" and spend our energy preaching the truth to those who do not know or believe! God Bless you and your family as well!

[Marie]

Dear Carla -
Yes, I trust that all involved in this discussion are devout believers and trying to work out our salvation in fear and trembling! You, as a lawyer, will have certain professional standards. For those of us in the catechetical field, debates "amongst the choir" are actually a vital way of learning the best approaches to preaching the truth to those who do not believe. Also - as catechists, we are entrusted with passing on the deposit of faith. Like a doctor's hippocratic oath, we carry out the "first, do no harm" pledge through our fidelity to the deposit of faith. Part of the case which is being put forward on Catholic Exchange this week is that some of the ways TOB is being presented may depart from the Church's tradition - more of a rupture with tradition than continuity with tradition, even if unintentional, as these things often are - so amongst catechists, this would not be considered minutiae. It is important to address at this time because Mr. West is in the process of taking 6 months to reflect on his methodology - so it is a good time for what Christi Derr referred to in her article as "necessary fraternal correction". We're all in this together.
As for the slippery slope question: in the talk I heard Christopher West give, he was intentionally eroticizing the Paschal candle - making it something explicitly sexual - the blessing of the waters, with the dunking of the candle, was a simulation of intercourse - the font being feminine and receptive. I'm not sure a slope could take someone from there to nursing a baby. That would be more like a drop off a cliff, I think, because nursing is nurturing, not sexual: an exercise of woman as mother rather than woman as wife. That's my opinion, anyway. :)

[Marie]

Oh - and one last important thing, Carla, which relates to what I was saying about the importance of fidelity to the deposit of faith. Mr. West emphasized that the paschal candle as phallic symbol was the interpretation desired by the Church, and that it was there at the highlight of Her most important liturgy, the Easter Vigil. He used this as evidence of the Church's attitude toward sexuality. Dawn Eden shows in her thesis that the opposite is true. The Church does not want this interpretation given to the paschal candle.
Sexualizing the liturgy itself has a lasting, and unfortunate impact.