The NCR's John Allen, who has owned the Peter Phan case from the get-go, has important details and analysis in his weekly column just posted today. Two of the many points John makes strike me as worthy of elaboration: One is the idea that the investigation of Phan and others is about theological dialogue with non-Christian religions. I think the rebukes are primarily about intramural Catholic house-cleaning, and shoring up any doubts Catholics may have about the unique role not just of Christ, but also the Catholic Church. Two, John says the Vatican has been careful to distinguish "between investigating works of theology and investigating theologians." At this point I think that is a distinction without a difference. Rome tried to use it in barring homosexuals from holy orders. That was ugly. "Hate the sin, love the sinner" too easily becomes a cloak for indulging our own biases. Final note: My opinion here once again does not go to the content and validity of Phan's writings, nor the question of whether or not there should be boundaries that we can legitimately say have been transgressed. Those are connected, but separate debates. IMHO...

David Gibson is the director of Fordham’s Center on Religion & Culture.

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