"Razing the bastions, yet again"...

Is the title of P. David Meconi SJ's essay in the Homiletic and Pastoral Review; he's alluding to Hans Urs von Balthasar's Razing the Bastions (of more than fifty years ago).  It is fascinating to consider that the eminent theologian could write, then, that Holy Church had to tear down the fortresses with which she had surrounded herself and go out into the lands and be Christ for the poor, disoriented people who were dispossessed of their rightful Christian patrimony, and consider the very greatly changed circumstances today, when I've seen the 'meme' bruited about that Pope Benedict XVI has 'welcomed a much smaller but more fervent Church'.  In any event, P. Meconi's article is fine indeed, about orthodoxy and charity and tolerance and, well, Our Lord having already won the battle.  And he is editor of HPR; P. Kenneth Baker SJ is editor emeritus... for how long, I wonder.  Idle Speculations g. a.

I meant of course, for how long has P. Baker been retired as editor. Tsk; this is what happens when I look into these mysterious things at the end of a long day at work.