Expert: Padraig Caughey - 10/23/2007

Question
QUESTION: Father, thank you for taking the time to answer my question. I have recently purchased a book by Hans Urs Von Balthasar, a prominent theologian, on certain interpretations of the Tarot Major Arcana. Von Balthasar seems to give a very ample explanation of the Christian esoteric tradition in his book. At any rate, Von Balthasar seems to be very learned on this topic, so I want to know if you feel this book could be consider "heretical" by the Church. As a side note, Von Balthasar is a former Jesuit and has been recognized as a theology scholar by Pope John Paul II.

ANSWER: Hi Cesar,

I am not a priest but thanks for the promotion.

I have not read this book and so am not qualified to judge but just a general comment.

It is correct that the Church severely condemns all forms of fortune telling. Balthasar was once described as 'The most cultured man in the world'. He is Renaissance man, he takes and interest in everything. The fact that I might say take an interest in Germ Warfare an write a book about it does not necessarily mean I approve of it or would use it myself.

I can't really sy more without reading it but I doubt very much if this guy would indulge in heresy, he is more nor less a pillar of the Church.

God Bless

Padraig.

http://motherofgod.freeforums.org/portal.php?sid=cd9c8ffb274bf22c9ae184a230a6fa5

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Padraig, thank you very much for your answer (and sorry about the Father comment, but perhaps religion study is a priesthood in and of itself :) ). This book is not about fortune telling. In fact, it does not even suggest the "divination" aspect of the Tarot. Rather, it gives a very ample explanation of the "archetypes" contained in the cards of the major arcana (first 22 trumps), as they compare with the mysteries of the Christian mystical tradition. What strikes me as odd is that there would even be such an approach to the tarot cards (i.e. a Christian mystery component).

Answer
Hi Cesar,

I think maybe Batlthasar is influenced here by Carl Jung the psychotherapist. I am not sure this relationship is logical in the sense we would usually mean. Archetype to me can often seem  to be a tenuous idea. I wouldn't be happy at all in using them in such a way myself as it seems to me it might seem to give some kind of blessing to the Tarot.

I wish he had not written that book now. But as I say its difficult for me to comment, not having read it.