The Problem with Assisi

We  approach with trepidation the third edition of the Assisi interfaith conference. The Vatican has  made changes to the program compared to the first two exercises – such as eliminating joint prayer.   Thus, to a limited extent,  the conservative criticism of the last quarter century would appear to have  been acknowledged.  Another  innovation is the invitation extended to several nonbelievers.  Even if that would seem  to call the entire rationale of Assisi into question by perhaps implying  that  peace can be sought  – and achieved? –  entirely apart from any religious belief. And  if the intent of these changes  is to avoid the appearance of “syncretism”  I doubt if that goal has been realized either. The “religions”  may no longer  be praying together (although hierarchs in  and outside of the Vatican continue to describe Assisi that way).  But if,  in Assisi III,  we are all pilgrims seeking the way of truth,  it would seem to me that result is equally conducive to indifferentism. The problem with the Assisi  conference is, however,  much deeper than these questions regarding the program and the attendees.

One of the  atheist invitees was the British philospher AC Grayling. It would seem an odd choice – Mr. Grayling has profiled himself recently as a militant critic of  religion, even authoring a “secular bible.”  Last year he assumed a prominent role in the chorus opposing the Pope’s visit to England.  On the other hand, he has had the courage to  take positions not at all in conformity with the those of the Establishment and its public opinion. Such as when he showed the lack of moral foundations of the Allies’ bombing of civilians in World War II.  So he is a man from whom we can expect a degree of frank speech – what a rarity today. Now, after an initial acceptance, Mr Grayling has rejected the invitation to Assisi. According to Mr Grayling,  he initially thought it to be  an opportunity to “discuss the place of religion in society.”  Then, after he understood that what the Vatican really wanted was for  him to accompany the Pope on a pilgrimage  he withdrew his previous acceptance.

 Now I think Mr. Grayling has hit onto something profound here.  If I may take a stab at developing his insight further,  the essence of Assisi not at all  joint prayer, intellectual discussion or even pilgrimage . It is a show.  One in which Mr Grayling understandably does not want to appear as an extra. So much of what the Vatican and the “Movements” place before the public today has the nature of a show: Cardinal Ravasi’s “Court of the Gentiles” in Paris; the “conferences” of San Egidio, the Neocatechumenal Way, and the Legion of  Christ; many aspects of Papal visits etc.  In putting on a show the Vatican is adopting a quintessential form of expression – and manipulation-  of the culture of contemporary liberal society.  A show is  inherently secular, inherently spiritually problematic regardless of  the explanations accompanying it or how the program has been tweaked. 

This is all the more so since in the show what primarily counts are the visuals. Regardless of  what the “delegates” actually do or do not do, what people will see is the Catholic Church acting  as one among equals.  The impact of that is already obvious  from the statements and conferences swirling around Assisi in which the indifferentist flavor is very strong. It is not a message that a church needs that is now facing extinction in Western Europe and will be soon elsewhere.