Alice and Christopher West

To start off with, this whole situation initially confused me as well, but I figured that sorting through it in words would be helpful.

First off, Exhibit A:

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Sex/Story?id=7527380&page=2 May 7, 2009

Actually, you don't have to read that because, in fact, I find that article horribly offensive because I've read some of Christopher West's books, and even been to a talk of his (if I remember correctly). However, the ABC news piece takes snippets of what Christopher said in an interview and then twists them by putting a very scandalous spin on his beliefs. Despite the negative patterns of this interview, West is really just awesome when it comes to making Catholic teaching relevant to our current generation. Why then does this article exist? My assessment would be simply that he is too pure to notice when he is being led to the slaughter.

Now, Exhibit B:

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15950 May 12, 2009

First off, before I get started on my commentary, note the date. This interview with Alice Von Hildebrand occurred right after the above ABC post which I found offensive but (Thank God!) knew enough about Christopher West as to not be scandalized. Alice's harsh critique of Christopher West, if it is truly a reaction to the ABC article, and there is evidence that it is, then I would conjecture that she is knocking down little straw men instead of constructively critiquing West. Now let me add one more piece of relevant information. She does claim to have read the following.

Exhibit C:
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=15928 May 9, 2009

This article is concerned with West taking the opportunity to try and set straight some of the sensationalizing that occurred in the ABC interview.

Now, before I continue, you may be wondering who Alice Von Hildebrand is, aren't you? Well, she is the wife of Dietrich Von Hildebrand who was a renowned advocate of purity. Not having read either of their books, with the exception of skimming Alice's "The Privilege of being a woman," I really can't comment any further. Except to say that they are both on the same battlefield for purity as Christopher West and have their own unique approach to teaching it.
See http://www.hildebrandlegacy.org/main.cfm?r1=1.00&ID=1&level=1 for more information.

Now, let me call your attention back to exhibit B. I was really disappointed in this article. Alice starts off by saying that she "knew the gist of the Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body." Additionally, I was disappointed to note that I could not find her mention anywhere how extensive her knowledge was of Christopher West's materials. So, it struck me that she was likely not actually qualified to be making any remarks on the matter. When you are critiquing someone who is an expert on something extensive like say the Theology of the Body (a series of 129 sermons given over a five year period) and you only get the "gist" of the thing, you have no right to give definitive remarks. It only creates unnecessary turmoil from within the Church and extends from a lack of charity.

Actually, the thing that bothered me the most was that she attacked his reverence. If her reaction was to the ABC article, then yes he did appear irreverent, but that was hardly a good presentation of West. In fact, I would say he is rather reverent and on the very same side as Alice. A fact, which might have been communicated during his two-hour interview but not in the seven-minute regurgitation.

The impression I get is that Alice and her husband's works are geared for those ready for an intense, highly conservative approach to God and sexuality. They are like the howitzers of war, the enemy can't even get close and the user has to already be strongly entrenched on their side to properly utilize them.

Christopher West's materials are more like the everyday Ak-47's, grenades or flamethrowers of war that are used in the everyday grind. He simply brings the content to the world in which the world can relate, and his materials are in the middle of the conflict on the front lines.

My overall summary is simple. These two are together in the same war fighting on the same side with no time for this sort of dissonance. I see their two approaches as different, not contradictory, but even quite possibly complimentary. I would say Christopher West is seeking to be a different face for the world. An approach best summarized in the immortal words of St. Paul "I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 1 Cor 9:22

For those who want to see the entire Theology of the Body talks, I give this link:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/jp2tb2.htm