t by FR. WILLIAM PURDY
Professor of Philosophy at the Beda College, Rome
Some recently published books dealing with the Second Vatican Council have highlighted in a dramatic way certain stresses within the Roman Church, and in particular the clash between ' conservative ' and progressive ' elements. The struggle, it is argued, centres mainly upon the role of the Roman Curia, its opposition to any kind of change and its apparent bid for power over both Pope and Council.
Is there, in fact, any such thing as ' the Curia] mentality'? Fr. Purdy believes that there is; that it can be accounted for— though not necessarily vindicated -in historical terms; and that it must in future be radically changed.