von Hildebrand versus West

[Ron Conte]

This article by Alice von Hildebrand compares the thought of her late husband Dietrich to the thought of Christopher West, and offers some insightful criticism of West's work.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/document.php?n=999

I highly recommend that anyone interested in theology of the body read her article.

[Brother]

Excellent article!, thanks for sharing and recommending it Ron!

I'm not familiar with any of her husband's works, the late Dietrich von Hildebrand, whose works have been even praised by Pope Pius XII; and it seems that they are worth reading.

On the other hand, West's works are sadly popular, but not recommended at all because of its vulgarism, superficiality and huge errors.

[Ron Conte]

I've been reading 'In Defence of Purity' by Dietrich Hildebrand. This type of material is the true theology of the body. JP2 was not the first to write on this topic, even though he coined the term.

[Filotea]

Thanks Mr. Conte for the comment about mrs. von. I admired her work and I have in defense of purity and other of her books.

[Ron Conte]

Some quotes from her article:

"My general criticism of Christopher West is that he does not seem to grasp the delicacy, reverence, privacy, and sacredness of the sexual sphere. He also underestimates the effects of Original Sin on the human condition."

"Sex enthusiasts in the Church like West often speak about the 'raging hormones' many feel growing up, but the solution they propose to cure it-stimulate people even more, with a hyper-sexualized presentation of Catholic teaching-can easily aggravate the situation. Moreover, they consistently ignore the one successful remedy the Church has always called upon to address this malady: asceticism, the spirit of renunciation and sacrifice."

"For another, Dietrich would have vigorously opposed Popcak's so-called 'one rule' -- that married couples 'may do whatever they wish,' as long as they don't use contraception, 'both feel loved and respected,' and the marital act culminates within the woman."

"These ideas would have struck Dietrich von Hildebrand as abhorrent. It is precisely because the marital bed is sacred that one should approach acts within it with enormous reverence. Degrading and perverse sexual behavior -- even it is it done by a married couple, who do not practice contraception -- should be condemned, as an assault on human dignity. The 'pornification' of marriage should be resisted as vigorously as the pornification of our culture."

"It is in this context, that we should judge Popcak's shocking suggestion (p. 248) that 'as Christopher West has noted in his book, Good News About Sex and Marriage, there is nothing technically forbidding a couple from engaging' in sodomy (provided the husband culminates the normal sex act within his wife); and that, while he discourages the practice of marital sodomy, 'nevertheless, following Augustine's dictum and in the absence of greater clarification from the Church, couples are free to exercise prudential judgment' in this regard. That a Catholic author would cite 'Augustine's dictum' (presumably the much-misinterpreted 'Love, and do what you will') as a justification for sodomy would have broken my husband's heart."

"In this context, it is important for couples to avoid what Canon Jacques Leclerc calls 'any corruption of love' in the marital bed. He writes: 'There are many who believe that once they are married, they may do whatever they like.' But 'they do not understand,' he continues, that 'the search for every means of increasing pleasure can be a perversion.' ... It is thus a good thing to remember that the morality of conjugal relations does not allow that pleasure should be sought by every means, but calls for a sexual life that is at the same time healthy, simple and normal.' (Marriage: A Great Sacrament, 1951, p. 88)."

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/document.php?n=999

[Brother]

Here's an interview with Alice von Hildebrand regarding women's roles (it has two pages):

http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=530

[Ron Conte]

Originally Posted by Brother

Here's an interview with Alice von Hildebrand regarding women's roles (it has two pages):

http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=530

I read that interview. Alice offers some good insights into the distinctions in roles that God intends for men and women. I've not read her book on the subject. But she seems to understand a basic truth that is widely and strongly denied by modern society: equality between men and women does not preclude differences in roles.

[CB]

On the EWTN website in the audio library, there are many free downloads from previous interviews and talks by Dr. Alice. I have always thought her to be a remarkable and spiritually gifted daughter of the Church.

[ljsedivy]

Originally Posted by Ron Conte

I read that interview. Alice offers some good insights into the distinctions in roles that God intends for men and women. I've not read her book on the subject. But she seems to understand a basic truth that is widely and strongly denied by modern society: equality between men and women does not preclude differences in roles.

Wow! I just said this exact same thing yesterday.

Thank you so much for this forum on TOB. I have heard so much about Christopher West and have a DVD of his that I have not watched. He is a friend of a friend. I then heard (I think on Relevant Radio) a gal (don't know who) commenting on CW that was sort of "dissing" his theology. So I had that seed planted.

Thanks to you, Ron, now I have some sources to investigate. I'm very interested in this area and would like learn .....and I appreciate someone steering the ship for me.

Thanks again for all you provide for us (and all you other smart cookies that contribute).

In joy,