The Word in the World, 1964–1965

The centrality of scripture and the Church’s mission to identify with the world’s “joys . . . and griefs” furthered the teaching of Lumen Gentium and the “bridge” documents. The laity’s participation in the prophetic teaching of Christ joined the people of God with the social changes occurring in American society. Participants argued for the dignity of the person and a commitment to the alleviation of world poverty. A deductive methodology of doctrine clashed repeatedly with an inductive methodology focused on the “signs of the times.” Even as the Cold War inheritance shaped a cautious American approach to the condemnation of nuclear war, the leadership of Archbishop Dearden worked toward a new vision of marriage and the family. These distinct approaches and the convergence between conciliar language and social practice created tense relationships between the bishops and the laity’s reception of their teaching. Similar difficulties would run through the post-conciliar world.