the202

critical review

Vatican II: Voice of the Church.

The website, Vatican II: Voice of the Church, provides a succinct overview of the Vatican II whilst also bearing a vast wealth of knowledge about the aforementioned phenomenon.. Through this information, a decent foundation for evangelization and catechises is found. As such, it is only natural given these qualities, that Vatican II: Voice of the Church continues the ongoing renewal of the Roman Catholic Church.

The adequacy of the website is a product of the website editor's goal, that is, 'to explain and promote the teachings of Vatican II'. On the home page alone there is a vast array of knowledge dedicated to explicating the teachings of Vatican II.

The arguments, opinions and ideologies are all present on the front page for anybody to see. The website has no qualms in outlining their position on Vatican II - which goes against the grain of 'cradle Catholics'. They present their arguments with reasoning and sources and they seem to pride themselves in having the most up-to-date information about the struggles, debates and other changes occurring in the Church - which is a good sign.

As such, due to the scholarly nature of the website, it provides a firm foundation for catechises. The documents, teachings and beliefs of the Church as influenced by Vatican II are explicated in many different documents available on the website. Documents such as Dei Verbum, Lumen Gentium, Sacrosanctum Concilium and Gaudium et Spes are all available. As well as these traditional documents there are post-Vatican II documents available, such as Nicholas Lash's Vatican II: of Happy Memory and Hope?, which provide a critique of the council. The website boasts many of these documents and each one holds vital information pertaining to Vatican II. As such the website seems to be a useful website for learning about Vatican II - and thus it's a vessel of catechesis.

There is no doubt that the website seeks to maintain a strong intellectual desire for knowledge, understanding and proliferation pertaining to the affects of Vatican II. The editor states 'Forty years on from the Council, an Even Greater Urgency arises' meaning that now more than ever it is important to catechise, to evangelise so that the Church may continue to undergo this renewal to stay healthy. This mentality, that the Church must undergo constant renewal, is not surprising given the mentality of society today - the Church is constantly struggling against secular figures, authorities and communities and thus it is important to be intellectually prepared to explicate understanding of the Church and to defend the Church. As such, the website aids in this movement. Vatican II: Voice of the Church definitely helps in the ongoing renewal of the Roman Catholic Church.

'A Fundamental issue: Who leads and governs the Catholic Church?' Asks the editor. He then goes on to explain in detail the roots of the Church. This in-depth analysis is quite rare in Catholic circles today. Many Catholics are lax and simply care not for important academic questions such as the aforementioned. So, even if this Vatican II: Voice of the Church does not get every question right - it shouldn't be scowled at because it gets them wrong - it should be appreciated because it actually asks the questions in the first place. Catechism and evangelization are inextricably linked with the ongoing renewal of the Roman Catholic Church which is intertwined with the academic ability to question and assess with logic and reasoning. This website provides a lot of material which attempts to do question, analyse and reason with logic and intelligence.

I find it evident that if a Catholic person was to arrive at the website they would be suitably humbled by the approach the editor takes to expand upon the faith. The visitor would be challenged, perhaps even perturbed by some ideas - however I think for the most part they would be interested, most definitely. This is good because an interest in the faith provides inspiration for catechesis, evangelization and of course the ongoing renewal of the Roman Catholic Church.

Furthermore, if an academic was to peruse the website I am sure that some mistakes would be found and some concepts would need clarification - however I must suggest that one should not let these small discrepancies muddle the bigger picture. What this website is doing is maximising the affect of Vatican II. It seeks to push the Church forward. It seeks to expand upon the knowledge of the Roman Catholic faith. And the questions asked, the ideas promoted, the concepts proliferated, whether right of wrong, aid the final goal - that is to have a strong, intelligent and understanding Church.

As such, it can be seen, that Vatican II: Voice of the Church is a website filled with important documents, ideas and more. It certainly is an adequate resource for basic research focusing around Vatican II. On another level it provides a foundation for catechesis and evangelisation. Finally, when all of these qualities are put together, the website definitely furthers the ongoing renewal of the Roman Catholic Church.