Herbert McCabe
Encyclopedia
Herbert McCabe was an English Dominican
priest
, theologian
and philosopher, who was born in Middlesbrough
in the North Riding of Yorkshire
. After studying chemistry and philosophy at Manchester University, he joined the Dominicans in 1949, where under Victor White he began his life-long study of the works of Thomas Aquinas
. He was also a student of Columba Ryan
. He is often confused with the Irish oarsman of the same name.
He became editor of the journal New Blackfriars in 1965 but was removed in 1967 following a now-famous editorial in that journal in which he criticised the theologian Charles Davis
for leaving the Church. Davis left the Catholic Church publicly, denouncing it as corrupt. McCabe countered that of course the Church was corrupt but that this was no reason to leave it. He was reinstated three years later, and began his editorial that month in characteristically combative style: "As I was saying, before I was so oddly interrupted..."
He spent many years teaching at Blackfriars
, Oxford University, writing four books, The New Creation, a study of the Sacraments, in 1964; Law, Love and Language, on the centrality of language in ethics, in 1968; The Teaching of the Catholic Church, a short catechism, in 1986; and God Matters, a collection of his articles, in 1987.
He was a member of the Slant
group and was unafraid to criticise what he perceived as erroneous applications of the Roman Catholic tradition, such as the ban on contraception in Humanae Vitae
, and the reservation of priestly ordination to men. He combined a commitment to the thought of Aquinas
and Wittgenstein with a socialist political stance, influenced by Marxism
.
Above all, however, McCabe was a brilliant preacher, who crafted his sermons with immense care and preached with intelligence and wit. A major theme of his was a caution against making God a god, of reducing the Creator to an object within this world, and thus committing idolatry
. A selection of sermons, edited by Brian Davies
, has been published under the title God, Christ and Us. Davies is in the process of producing anthologies in book form of his hitherto unpublished work.
He is an acknowledged influence on the thought of Terry Eagleton
, Alasdair MacIntyre
, Stanley Hauerwas
, Anthony Kenny
, Peter Serracino Inglott
and Seamus Heaney
.
Higher Resolution, alternative photo http://www.thetablet.co.uk/images/terry120610.jpg
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, theologian
Roman Catholic theology
Roman Catholic theology comprises the "Roman Catholic teachings" of the Catholic Church which bases its conclusions on Scripture and Sacred Tradition, as interpreted by the Magisterium. The Church teaches that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, keeping of the Ten commandments and...
and philosopher, who was born in Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
in the North Riding of Yorkshire
North Riding of Yorkshire
The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the English county of Yorkshire, alongside the East and West Ridings. From the Restoration it was used as a Lieutenancy area. The three ridings were treated as three counties for many purposes, such as having separate...
. After studying chemistry and philosophy at Manchester University, he joined the Dominicans in 1949, where under Victor White he began his life-long study of the works of Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
. He was also a student of Columba Ryan
Columba Ryan
Columba Ryan OP , January 13, 1916 – August 4, 2009, was a Dominican priest who was a philosophy teacher, university chaplain, and pastor...
. He is often confused with the Irish oarsman of the same name.
He became editor of the journal New Blackfriars in 1965 but was removed in 1967 following a now-famous editorial in that journal in which he criticised the theologian Charles Davis
Charles Davis
Charles Davis or Charlie Davis may refer to:Athletes* Charlie Davis , West Indian cricketer* Charlie Davis , American basketball player* Charlie Davis...
for leaving the Church. Davis left the Catholic Church publicly, denouncing it as corrupt. McCabe countered that of course the Church was corrupt but that this was no reason to leave it. He was reinstated three years later, and began his editorial that month in characteristically combative style: "As I was saying, before I was so oddly interrupted..."
He spent many years teaching at Blackfriars
Blackfriars, Oxford
Blackfriars, Oxford houses three distinct institutions: the Priory of the Holy Spirit, the religious house of the friars, whose current prior is John O'Connor OP; Blackfriars Studium, the centre of Theological studies of the English Province of the Dominican Friars ; and Blackfriars...
, Oxford University, writing four books, The New Creation, a study of the Sacraments, in 1964; Law, Love and Language, on the centrality of language in ethics, in 1968; The Teaching of the Catholic Church, a short catechism, in 1986; and God Matters, a collection of his articles, in 1987.
He was a member of the Slant
Slant (journal)
Slant was a Catholic magazine associated with the University of Cambridge and the Dominican Order during the 1960s, and of the group associated with this magazine. It sought to combine Catholic belief with left-wing politics and was influenced by the thinking of Wittgenstein and Marx. Influential...
group and was unafraid to criticise what he perceived as erroneous applications of the Roman Catholic tradition, such as the ban on contraception in Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae is an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI and issued on 25 July 1968. Subtitled On the Regulation of Birth, it re-affirms the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church regarding married love, responsible parenthood, and the continuing proscription of most forms of birth...
, and the reservation of priestly ordination to men. He combined a commitment to the thought of Aquinas
Thomism
Thomism is the philosophical school that arose as a legacy of the work and thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, philosopher, theologian, and Doctor of the Church. In philosophy, his commentaries on Aristotle are his most lasting contribution...
and Wittgenstein with a socialist political stance, influenced by Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
.
Above all, however, McCabe was a brilliant preacher, who crafted his sermons with immense care and preached with intelligence and wit. A major theme of his was a caution against making God a god, of reducing the Creator to an object within this world, and thus committing idolatry
Idolatry
Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God. In all the Abrahamic religions idolatry is strongly forbidden, although...
. A selection of sermons, edited by Brian Davies
Brian Davies (philosopher)
Brian Evan Anthony Davies OP is Professor of Philosophy, Fordham University , and author of the classic, An Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion, now available in a third English edition and translated into five Asian and European languages.-Education:Brian Davies read Theology at the...
, has been published under the title God, Christ and Us. Davies is in the process of producing anthologies in book form of his hitherto unpublished work.
He is an acknowledged influence on the thought of Terry Eagleton
Terry Eagleton
Terence Francis Eagleton FBA is a British literary theorist and critic, who is regarded as one of Britain's most influential living literary critics...
, Alasdair MacIntyre
Alasdair MacIntyre
Alasdair Chalmers MacIntyre is a British philosopher primarily known for his contribution to moral and political philosophy but known also for his work in history of philosophy and theology...
, Stanley Hauerwas
Stanley Hauerwas
Stanley Hauerwas is a Christian theologian and ethicist. He has taught at the University of Notre Dame and is currently the Gilbert T...
, Anthony Kenny
Anthony Kenny
Sir Anthony John Patrick Kenny FBA is an English philosopher whose interests lie in the philosophy of mind, ancient and scholastic philosophy, the philosophy of Wittgenstein and the philosophy of religion...
, Peter Serracino Inglott
Peter Serracino Inglott
Peter Serracino Inglott is Emeritus Professor of philosophy at and former rector of the University of Malta...
and Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney is an Irish poet, writer and lecturer. He lives in Dublin. Heaney has received the Nobel Prize in Literature , the Golden Wreath of Poetry , T. S. Eliot Prize and two Whitbread prizes...
.
External links
Higher Resolution, alternative photo http://www.thetablet.co.uk/images/terry120610.jpg
