Christopher West and the theology of the body dispute.

Over the last few months Christopher West, a prolific author and well-known speaker on Pope John Paul II's "Theology of the body," has been criticized by two prominent Catholic speakers. David Schindler, of the John Paul II Centre for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America (Washington, DC), has raised questions whether West understands the nature of concupiscence as something that will always be with us (Catholic Catechism, No. 405). He finds a number of West's ideas and language "vulgar and in bad taste."

Alice von Hilderbrand, philosophy professor emerita in New York and a lay theologian, believes West's vocabulary "totally lacks reverence." "Reverence," she says, "is the key to purity." (LifeSiteNews.com May 25, 2009).

But other prominent theologians have come to the defence of West. Dr. Janet Smith, professor at Detroit's Sacred Heart Major Seminary and a highly respected theologian--a long-time defender of Pope Paul VI's encyclical Humanae vitae--does not believe Schindler is correct in his appraisal with what she "has read in West's work or heard in his lectures." Most of West's audience, she states, are "sexually wounded and confused" and have been shaped by our " promiscuous and licentious culture.... People need to think long and hard about the appropriate pedagogy of that group." Hundreds, if not thousands "have come to love Christ and His Church, and better understand and live the Church's teaching about sex because of the work of Christopher."

Dr. Michael Waldstein, who is the translator of Pope John Paul II's "theology of the body," said he "was surprised and taken aback" by Schindler's "blanket negative statement." West's work "is uncompromisingly in line with the Church's faith," he stated. (LifeSiteNews.com, June 1, 2009).

The National Catholic Register of June 21 carried on its front page the article: Theology of the Body Fight by Joan Desmond, a graduate of Dr. Schindler's Institute and a board member of Imago Dei, Inc., which promotes the study guide, A New Language: John Paul II's Theology of the Body. She states:

"Critics wonder if his brand of discussion of Christianity and sexuality is fatally flawed. Sam Meier hopes not. He needs West.

A counsellor who works with recovering sex addicts, Meier relies on books by the foremost U.S. evangelist of Pope John Paul II'S theology of the body.

'Men appreciate West's genuineness, his realness and the humble way he talks about difficult sexual sins that a lot of people struggle with in silence," reported Meier. 'Men who are looking for freedom connect with West and his material. It's a life-changing experience.'

Meier spearheads the 'freedom from pornography' effort in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan. His enthusiasm is shared by Church administrators in more than 40 dioceses where West has been invited to speak to Catholic educators, preCana classes and youth groups.

Thousands more have participated in West's in-depth seminars and purchased tapes and books. Public demand has kept the author's latest work on the best-seller list of the Catholic Book Publishers Association for more than a decade."

After explaining the controversy, Joan Desmond continues:

"Waldstein didn't dispute that West may have stumbled during the early days of his ministry, when he 'dove into the cold water of the culture' and struggled to find a way to reach his audience. 'Christopher says himself that he had to experiment and, to some degree, he is still experimenting with his approach; said Waldstein.

Still, among West's supporters and critics alike there remains a firm desire to bring the theology of the body to an ever-wider audience of ordinary Catholics.

'It's exciting that this teaching of Pope John Paul II, given to the Church almost 30 years ago, is just now being digested,' said Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan. Archbishop Naumann acknowledged that 'any effort to popularize a teaching' carried risks. Still, 'on balance, West's contribution has been overwhelmingly positive."