Raymond G Hunthausen

When the journeying Pope stops at the San Fernando Mission today to address the assembled American bishops, he will, perhaps, leave some signposts for improved relations between the Vatican and the U.S. hierarchy.

The four-day meeting with Pope John Paul II last week wasn't the first time America's Roman Catholic archbishops have met with a pontiff on Vatican turf, although the last such group encounter was more than 100 years ago. Now, as then, the U.S. prelates weren't afraid to respectfully speak their minds to the Holy Father and his closest advisers, the Curia. And, it appears, both Popes were willing to listen. The reason for the November, 1883, meeting with the dozen men who then headed U.S.

Dissent versus authority, liberals versus conservatives, the Vatican versus Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen of Seattle and Father Charles E. Curran of Catholic University, even Pope John Paul II versus the American Catholic Church. For months the media have been chronicling conflicts in the Catholic Church in terms of dramatic dichotomies. Everything was supposed to come to a head at the meeting of U.S. Catholic bishops last week in Washington.

Dominican Father Matthew Fox of Oakland hasn't heard from Rome since June, but he may well be the next U.S. priest to be disciplined by Cardinal Joseph A. Ratzinger and the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The "watchdog" agency of Roman Catholic orthodoxy began reviewing three of Fox's books after a group of conservatives in Seattle sent excerpts to Rome in 1983. Fox had held a workshop on his controversial "creation-centered spirituality" in the Archdiocese of Seattle.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen of Seattle, disciplined by the Vatican for his liberal church practices, presented his side of the controversy to fellow bishops Tuesday, but the prelates were unable to reach agreement on how to respond after four hours of closed-door discussion. A memo and a paper prepared by Hunthausen were given to members of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and the archbishop spoke briefly.

Embattled Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen, returning home to a joyous and tearful outpouring of affection, said Friday that he will seek a face-to-face meeting with the Pope. Flowers, telegrams and other symbols of support poured Friday into the Seattle archdiocese's headquarters, which was festooned with a giant red-and-yellow banner that read: "Welcome Back, Archbishop, We Love You."

What's ahead for American churches in the 1990s? The evangelical churches will sustain their pattern of growth from the past decade and the old-line denominational slump will continue, church analysts say. And if there's going to be any "Establishment" faith for the 1990s, it is likely to be Roman Catholicism, which has grown a solid 16% in the United States during the past 20 years.

Several months have passed since scandal rocked the small Eastside Catholic parish. "Father Nick," the fugitive priest charged with sexually molesting at least 10 altar boys at the church and at another parish, is seldom mentioned. At Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, nestled in the foothills of predominantly Latino El Sereno, parishioners still fill Sunday Masses celebrated in Spanish, and a new roster of altar boys assists at the services.

After hearing candid reports on widespread resistance to church doctrine, Pope John Paul II bluntly told the nation's bishops Wednesday that it is "grave error" for American Catholics to consider themselves faithful if they dissent on church teachings on divorce, abortion, homosexuality and other sexual issues. In the most significant address yet of his U.S. tour, John Paul made it clear that he is in charge.

THE BISHOP IS one smooth talker. Here he is at 8:30 on a Wednesday morning facing a classroom of sleepy seniors at Pius X High School in Downey. He has come to teach a religion class and, even for a bishop, it's a tough audience. Why, the bishop asks, do people have sex before they are married? Because it feels good, one student blurts out. Everyone else is doing it, another says. Because they are curious, says yet another. Finally, a girl in the back of the room timidly raises her hand.