Johann Sailer

The Roman Catholic Church published a list of books considered theologically dangerous and immoral in the sixteenth century. Any book that appeared in the Index of Forbidden Subjects was considered taboo for Catholics to print or read. The list was last published in 1948 and permanently suspended by the Vatican in 1966. It’s hardly surprising that writings by Protestant reformers appeared on the list, but so did leading Enlightenment thinkers like Immanuel Kant and John Locke. Many Catholics sought to disavow this Age of Reason altogether as antithetical to faith. There were others, such as Jesuit theologian Johann Michael Sailer (1751-1832), who sought to find a middle ground. He was roundly criticized by both sides. Staunch Catholics accused him of selling out, while radical Enlightenment thinkers criticized him for being too mystical. I recall something former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said, “Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by traffic on both sides.” Sailer recognized the value of “healthy reason” and a commonsense rationality to all Christian morality. He was also cognizant of the limits of “pure reason.” Reason can never be neutral and impartial but is always susceptible to the subtle forces of prejudice and emotion. Pure reason fails to account “for people as they really are.” Sailer served the church well in helping navigate emerging trends without succumbing to its corrosive influences. He forged friendships with Protestants and engaged Enlightenment thinkers while maintaining a vital spiritual life. Sailer leads us to pray: