"The Church and the New Age Movement".

(C.I., Nov. 2005, pp. 33-36)

The article "The Church and the New Age Movement" on your website, by Dr. John B. Shea, M.D., FRCP(C) erroneously states: "The Vatican objected to Fox's refusal to deny belief in pantheism (God is all and all is God)." Matthew Fox has never been a proponent of pantheism. To the contrary, he speaks only of panentheism. The latter differs significantly from the erroneous term used by Dr. Shea. Perhaps you would be so kind as to point out the difference to your readers.

St. Catharines, ON

Dr. Shea replies: Bert Monster is correct in saying that the Vatican objected to Matthew Fox's refusal to deny belief in panentheism, and not in pantheism. The word 'panentheism' was used in three places in the original script but was erroneously printed as 'pantheism' in the published copy of Catholic Insight (Nov. 2005) and on the Catholic Insight website.

There is indeed a significant difference between the meaning of "panentheism' and "pantheism." However, both philosophies are inconsistent with Catholic Church doctrine.

Editor: We apologize for our error, and we have corrected our website, using the term 'panentheism' as Dr. Shea intended. Panentheism (all in God), which includes distorted views of God's immanence and transcendence (Fox believes that God changes), is indeed distinct from pantheism (all is God), which merges God's immanence with his creation into one.