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Archbishop Brings Papal History to Theology on Tap Audience By JULIANN DosSANTOS You wouldn't expect discussions in a crowded bar in midtown Manhattan to focus on theology, let alone on a weighty subject like the history of the papacy. Then again, Archbishop Dolan is not your usual barroom patron. But that's just what makes Theology on Tap—a gathering for Catholics in their 20s and 30s—so remarkable. With a standing-room-only crowd at the Metro 53 Bar and Grill, Archbishop Dolan, the featured speaker of the evening, started the night with a joke—telling those gathered that he gives up the "tap" of Theology on Tap during Lent. However, he swiftly went into more serious subject matter with a talk that focused on the Feb. 22 feast day of the Chair of St. Peter. Two hours before the event, billed as "An Evening With the Archbishop," the midtown bar was already filled with young adults eager to hear his words while sharing a beer with friends. It was the first Theology on Tap session of 2010, and also the first appearance by the archbishop at one of the sessions, which are held regularly at Metro 53. The archbishop read from the 16th chapter of Matthew's Gospel—the basis for the "establishment of the papacy"—and told those gathered that Jesus wanted to "take care of his Church" and so designated Peter as his vicar. Throughout the talk, the archbishop noted interesting tidbits of papal history. For example, the archbishop explained that Jesus changed Peter's name—his name was Simon—which is why popes also change their names. Highlighting other facts of papal history, the archbishop described how in the first few centuries, being pope was not a job that many people wanted. For one thing, almost all of the popes in the first few centuries were martyred until the Roman Emperor Constantine legalized the Church in 313. The archbishop also touched upon often-asked questions regarding the pope and said that the "Church is sinless, but popes are not." Throughout the talk, the archbishop referred back to the topic of the feast day—the chair of St. Peter—and discussed the life of the vicar of Christ. In one particularly moving description, he told the crowd of how Peter was crucified in Rome upside down. He said that he often wonders if Peter remembered Jesus, "the Crucified One," who "turned the values of the world on its head." The question-and-answer session that followed the archbishop's talk touched upon lighthearted topics such as baseball, as well as more poignant questions on the beatitudes and the archbishop's goals. The archbishop received a loud round of applause at the end of the question-and-answer session when he said that his goals were in line with those of all the bishops of the Church, and with all Catholics as well, to bring the "message of Jesus Christ to a world that needs it but doesn't think it does." After the lecture, a regular at Theology on Tap, 30-year-old Karina Morales Trevi–o, discussed her thoughts with CNY. "Theology on Tap is a wonderful way of reflecting about faith issues in a fun and friendly setting. It brings young professionals together who are seeking to find answers and learn more about the Catholic faith and looking to meet other young people who share their concerns and world view." "In today's world it's hard to be a Catholic, and to be a Catholic in New York City is especially challenging," she said, explaining that current lifestyles focus on "fashion, money, success, and material pleasure." She explained that events such as Theology on Tap are a "breath of fresh air" where the focus is on what is really important. She noted the large turnout for the archbishop and said that his lecture "touched on a core issue in the Church." She said it was enjoyable to have a "history lesson given in a very down-to-earth and understandable language." | |