What Happened to Notre Dame? Case in Point: Fr. Richard McBrien

How about some open dissent and outright blasphemy from Notre Dame professor of theology (and former chairman of the university's Religion Dept.) Fr. Richard McBrien?

Fr. Z has the details and the fisk (emphasis and commentary are Fr. Z's):

... Notwithstanding Pope Benedict XVI’s personal endorsement of eucharistic adoration [In other words, who cares what the Pope thinks.] and the sporadic restoration of the practice in the archdiocese of Boston and elsewhere, it is difficult to speak favorably about the devotion today.

Now that most Catholics are literate and even well-educated, [In other words, Adoration is probably something only stupid people are interested in.] the Mass is in the language of the people (i.e, the vernacular), and its rituals are relatively easy to understand and follow, [Really? Ask people after Mass what the epiclesis is for? or what the Gospel reading was?] there is little or no need for extraneous eucharistic devotions. The Mass itself provides all that a Catholic needs sacramentally and spiritually. [No need for confession, either, I suppose.]

Eucharistic adoration, perpetual or not, is a doctrinal, theological, and spiritual step backward, not forward.

(Hat tip: Donald McClarey at The American Catholic)


Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Prof. Freddoso's Introduction to What Happened to Notre Dame? - Part 2: Why the Catholic Faithful WERE Scandalized

Prof. Freddoso's Introduction to What Happened to Notre Dame? - Part 1: "Why I Was Not Scandalized"

What Happened to Notre Dame?

Fr. McBrien Gives the Game Away

Notre Dame's McBrien Blasts Pope, U.S. Bishops [UPDATED]

Fr. Richard McBrien, MSM, Cleared of Plagiarism

Is Richard McBrien A Plagiarist?