Mercy Nuns Statement of Support for Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Link to National Catholic Reporter Support, Irish Priests' Association Support Roy and Women's Ordination/Vatican Punishments Fail /Tipping Point for Women Priests?

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/mercy-sisters-support-roy-bourgeois

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/lament-over-silencing-brothers

Bridget Mary's Response: 
Once again the Vatican and the bishops are the gifts that keep on giving to the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement!  Courageous male priests,  the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the Catholic press are challenging the Vatican for its tactics of intimidation and punishment against those who support women's ordination. There is no sugar-coating it. This is a spiritual revolution in the Catholic Church that is shaking the Vatican and moving the church forward towards a renewal. Perhaps, we are even approaching a tipping point for women priests!

What do  Maryknoll Roy Bourgeois, Franciscan Jerry Zawada and Jesuit Bill Brennan have in common? They are peace and justice activists, who co-presided with Janice Sevre-Duszynska at different liturgies. Roy gave the homily at her ordination  on Aug. 9, 2008 and has spoken out for women's ordination in many places in the United States and Canada. Fr. Jerry in 2010 and 2011 and Fr. Bill n 2012 co-presided with Janice at liturgies at the School of the Americas Watch in Columbus, GA. Their punishment:Fr. Roy Bourgeois was thrown out of the Maryknoll Order for his promotion of women's ordination Fr. Jerry's case is pending, Fr. Bill Brennan, a Jesuit, is not allowed to celebrate public Masses, speak to the media, or leave his nursing home without the permission of his superior!  It is outrageous to treat a faithful, 92 year old priest like a child!

Monsignor Helmut Schuller of Austria has been stripped of the tile Monsignor as punishment for leading the "Appeal to disobedience." According to the National Catholic Reporter: "Schüller, a former deputy to Vienna's archbishop, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, has made waves by organizing some 400 Austrian priests into the Austrian Priests' Initiative, which published an "Appeal to Disobedience" in June 2011.That appeal, which has the support of a large number of Austrian lay Catholics, calls for radical church reforms including the ordination of married men and women.")  

It is good news for Catholics to see our  priests challenging sexism, the elephant in the church's "living room! Amen, brothers, amen!

It is a wonderful surprise, in light of the Vatican persecution of the nuns, specifically of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, to read the strong statement of solidarity from Sisters of Mercy of the Americas! I hope that there will some gutsy nun priests soon!

Pope Benedict canonized two excommunicated nuns, Mother Theodore Guerin and Mother Mary MacKillop. So, one could argue that the pope has made excommunication the new fast track to canonization! Saints Joan of Arc, Mother Theodore Guerin and  Mary MacKillop, patron saints for primacy of conscience and of the excommunicated, pray for us! Perhaps, the growing number of the excommunicated is sending a message to the Vatican today. We are no longer afraid! Roman Catholic Women Priests are leading, not leaving the church!

Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp. www.arcwp.org

Links to Recent Top Stories on the "ever punishing" Vatican and the push-back from the Catholic Press/NCR, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the Irish Priests Association:

This critical challenge is written by Tom Fox, publisher of the National Catholic Reporter. http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/lament-over-silencing-brothers

Editorial supporting women's ordination in National Catholic Reporter in early Dec.
http://ncronline.org/node/40306

MERCY NUNS Speak out!
 See also the link to the Mercy Nuns' Statement in which they clearly support Fr. Roy Bourgeois and affirm their position for justice and equality for women in the church.
If the nuns jump from the institutional ship, that is big news! http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/mercy-sisters-support-roy-bourgeois

Association of Irish Priests Speak Out in solidarity with Fr. Roy http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/12/statement-of-support-for-fr-roy-bourgeois/

http://ncronline.org/news/global/irish-priest-association-supports-bourgeois

Franciscan Jerry Zawada, Janice Sevre-Duszynska, ARCWP, Jesuit Bill Brennan

Story of Punishment of Jesuit Priest who co-presided at 
Mass with Woman Priest- 
Janice Sevre Duszynska, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

(See photo)
http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2012/12/jesuit-penalized-after-eucharistic.html

(See photos of Liturgy of Janice and Jesuit Bill Brennan)
http://ncronline.org/news/people/jesuit-penalized-after-eucharistic-liturgy-woman-priest

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/us-usa-catholic-priest-idUKBRE8B506220121206

Fr. Roy Bourgeois, Bishop Dana Reynolds, Janice Sevre-Duszynska  Aug. 9, 2008
Ordination of Janice as a Roman Catholic Woman Priest

National Catholic Reporter- Male Priests Support of Women Priests- "A Lament Over the Silencing of Brothers" by Tom Fox/Publisher

http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/lament-over-silencing-brothers

A lament over the silencing of brothers

Thomas C. Fox  |  Dec. 18, 2012NCR Today

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"The decision in October by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to remove longtime peace advocate Roy Bourgeois from the Maryknoll fathers upset many Catholics.

Bourgeois was singled out for having participated in the ordination of Roman Catholic Womanpriest Janice Sevre-Duszynska in August 2008. Shortly after Bourgeois was notified by the Vatican that he had incurred a latae sententiae, or automatic, excommunication for his participation.

Then last month Jesuit Fr. Bill Brennan, a 92-year-old Milwaukee-area priest, was informed he could no longer  celebrate Mass or perform any other priestly duties after it was disclosed he had participated in a eucharistic liturgy with a woman priest

It seems priests will be singled out as long as they associate with women priest liturgies. It also seems the conflict between advocates of an inclusive priesthood and those who support an entirely male priesthood in the Catholic church will not die out soon.
 

One small example: A few days back I received an email from Jim Ewens, a former Jesuit living in North Lake, WI. He wrote what he called a “Hopkinsian lament,” wondering out loud why more religious had not spoken out against the way the Vatican had treated Bourgeois and Brennan. This is Ewens' lament. "

 
               A Hopkinsian Lament over the Silencing of Brothers

Is there not one, nowhere, no how, not (even) a single Jesuit -- or two --
In the entire Great Lakes province who might dare, so to speak, up, out --
Finding some way to stand forth and say:

"Yes, I do support my brother, Bill Brennan S.J., his friends, Roy Bourgeois,
Jerry Zawada, O.S.F. , the NCR Editorial Statement -- the
600 Austrian and 1,000 Irish priests -- in stating that it is well past time
To ordain women to priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church."

I mean, if not now, when? At 75, 87, 92? Wholly retired, slipping Into
Dementia? At any rate, well past when most other Catholics in the country
Or world will have approved the rightness of overturning this massive wrong.

True, there might, in time, be charges, losses, challenges, repercussions.
As there were back in the 60s for hundreds of thousands who sat in at
Lunch counters, marched, rode in the front of buses, for months, years,
Until laws were passed, freedoms won, for millions. We were with them, then.

Why not now? In large numbers. The Sisters of Mercy across the country
Have seen fit to do so. The American Catholic Council concurred as well.
Are Jesuits different, quieter, unable, unwilling? But since when -- and why?
It could be changed. By one, two at a time, then some more. This Advent.
Talk more about elephants in the rec room. Then, stand up, move them out.

O Antiphons (link to Martha Kelly's Art/ Prayer from Joan Chittister for Dec. 18th

http://www.marthakellyart.com/1/post/2012/12/o-antiphons1.html

Dec. 18th

O Adonai
when we build a vision of life it is necessary to realize that Jesus must be the center, not our institutions, good as they may be; not our plans or personal talents, necessary as they are.

Prayer
O Adonai, leader of ancient Israel, giving Moses, while in the burning bush, Sinai. Come with outstretched arms and teach us. 
Sr. Joan Chittister

From Bridget Mary:
O loving God, embrace us this day, and fill our hearts with a profound compassion for all who weep especially the families that lost loved ones in the Sandy Hook tragedy. May we move foward with the resolve to make the changes that will prevent future mass killings by passing gun control laws, providing better mental health resources and reaching out to all those who are in need who cross our path in life. 

This video is a Christmas gift that comes with the hope that Wisdom will guide us to change our violent culture and to co-create with Her a peaceful world

 http://jannaldredgeclanton.com/blog/?p=685; http://jannaldredgeclanton.com/blog/?p=633

Sign Petition for Gun Control as Response to Tragic killing of 28- 20 Kids in Connecticut

Dear friends across the US,

Our country is in shock at the tragedy in Connectictut. It's time we told the NRA ENOUGH! We won't stand for their opposition to sensible gun laws anymore. Sign the petition and send it to everyone:

Columbine. Virginia Tech. Aurora. And now, 28 people dead in a school in Connecticut -- 20 of them kids. We sit, all across the country, in shock. How could this happen? There are no satisfying answers. But one thing we know is that it's outrageous that our country hasn't passed sensible gun control laws yet.

That's because, for decades, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has opposed any and every reasonable proposal to regulate guns. NRA head Wayne LaPierre has made it his personal mission to make it easier for Americans to be able to buy guns and to threaten every politician who stands in his way. ENOUGH. Let's tell the NRA we're done with their extremism and show our politicians the public is ready to stand with them against LaPierre.

Sign the petition now and send it to everyone -- when we hit 1 million we'll surround NRA headquarters and let them know this is the last tragedy of the NRA's reign:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/nra_enough/?bprCedb&v=20192

President Obama says it's time to take "meaningful action" to make sure this tragedy never happens again. We need to hold him to that promise as his leadership is essential, but Congress writes the laws and until we free them from the grip of the NRA, it's hard to see them having the courage to act.

The NRA claims gun control rules violate gun owners' right to bear arms. The truth is, it’s a false debate. The Supreme Court has said that the right to bear arms is not absolute -- we can respect our constitutionally protected right to bear arms while also enacting strong gun control laws that keep our children safe. And laws are only getting more lax -- just two days ago a state legislature voted to allow gun owners to bring concealed weapons to school! While many argue it's not gun availability but mental illness that is responsible for tragedies like this, the truth is it's both, and we need to address both -- NOW.

After a string of mass shootings in Australia, the government enacted gun control rules in 1996. In the following decade, there was not a single mass shooting. And that evidence of gun control leading to less gun killings is consistent across the world.

Sign the urgent petition and send to everyone -- let's draw a line in the sand that finally stops the NRA. It's way past time we tackle gun control:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/nra_enough/?bprCedb&v=20192

Let's start a real national conversation about the laws that could protect our communities and families from devastating tragedies like this. Our Avaaz community in the US is nearly one million-strong! If we all rally around this moment together and tell all our friends, we can make this happen.

With hope and determination,

Mia, Alice, Ricken, Dalia, Allison, David and the whole Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION

Obama's cautious call may re-engage gun control debate (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/us/politics/obamas-reaction-to-connecticut-shooting-sets-stage-for-gun-debate.html?hp

Nation reels from tragic shooting (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/nyregion/shooting-reported-at-connecticut-elementary-school.html?hp

NRA-led gun lobby wields powerful influence over ATF, U.S. politics (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/14/AR2010121406045.html

Gun Control Legislation Report 2012 (Congressional Research Service)
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32842.pdf

Study: Australia's gun control laws
http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/12/6/365.full

Twelve facts about guns and mass shootings in the United States (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/14/nine-facts-about-guns-and-mass-shootings-in-the-united-states/

Bishop Olmsted Not Gong To Vatican Post

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/diocese-phoenix-bishop-thomas-j-olmsted-not-going-to-vatican

"Bishop Morlino Cracks Dow on Madison Nuns"/Grand Inquisition of Nuns and Women Priests' Supporters Continues/ Part of Papal Crackdown

http://host.madison.com/news/local/bishop-robert-morlino-cracks-down-on-madison-nuns-for-espousing/article_37f434d0-4325-11e2-a826-001a4bcf887a.html#.UMd1vBa91AV.email

..."Brent King, a spokesman for the diocese, said three other potential parish guest speakers, all male, have been banned "in recent years." The women are not prohibited from attending Mass or, if Catholic, from receiving communion, King said. Asked whether they could contribute to parish life in other ways, such as reading Bible passages from the pulpit or chairing a church committee, King said that would be up to individual priests.
The action comes amid a papal crackdown on nuns. Earlier this year, the Vatican accused the most influential group of Catholic sisters in the U.S. of "serious doctrinal issues" for not following Rome's lead on topics such as the male-only priesthood and homosexuality.
Interfaith approach
Wisdom's Well was founded in Madison in 2006. The center has no physical facility but offers workshops and retreats on topics such as nonviolence, contemplative living and Christian meditation.
The center's website says it "serves to support those who desire to grow spiritually, seek inner wisdom, and yearn for a transformative spirituality." Its mission statement says the center is "grounded in the Christian tradition, while embracing the wisdom found in other religious traditions."
Along with the sisters, the third staff member is Beth O'Brien, a married mother of two and a religious layperson affiliated with the Benedictine community. She also is banned, as is Paula Hirschboeck, a philosophy professor at Edgewood College in Madison who helped found Wisdom's Well but is no longer on its staff.
The women declined comment, referring questions to the Dominicans of Sinsinawa Congregation, based in southwestern Wisconsin.
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
All God's people belong to God's family. Neither Bishop Morlino nor the Pope can put God in a box. The Spirit blows where She wills including in the wisdom of other religions' sacred stories! This recent Vatican crackdown against the nuns and women priests' supporters will alienate more and more Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Sadly, the institutional church is slamming the door on many faithful women like the nuns in this story who have devoted their lives to service of God's people. But, from another perspective, the Vatican and the bishops are the gifts that keep on giving as the Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement continues to flourish.
Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/bishop-robert-morlino-cracks-down-on-madison-nuns-for-espousing/article_37f434d0-4325-11e2-a826-001a4bcf887a.html#ixzz2EmINFbe5

Welcoming Pope’s Move to Twitter, Hindus Urge Step Towards Women Priests also

" Welcoming traditional Pope’s move towards a new digital arena of Twitter on December 12, Hindus have urged His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and Vatican to introduce real change by reconsidering favorably the ordination of women priests in Roman Catholic Church. Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that Pope’s embracing of new media initiative showed that the age-old institution was trying to catch up with 21st century and it was thus highly appropriate time for the Holy See to hold a referendum among its congregations worldwide to learn about the feelings of Catholics on the subject of ordination of women.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stated that women could disseminate God’s message as skillfully as men and deserved equal and full participation and access in religion. Rajan Zed further said that as women were equal partners in the society, so they should be equal partners in the religion also. He urged Vatican to be more kind to Roman Catholic women as exclusion of women from religious services, just because they were female, was very unfair and ungodly.Quoting Hindu scriptures, Zed says: Where women are honored, there the gods are pleased. Men and women are equal in the eyes of God and religions should respect that, Zed stresses and adds that time has now come for the women priests and bishops.  

 Rajan Zed suggested that theologians and canonists of the Church needed to address women ordination issue urgently; re-evaluate Church doctrine, theology, male hierarchy and history; and give women a chance. Women should be ordained to priesthood and should perform the same functions as male priests. Treating women as not equal to men was clearly a case of discrimination promoting gender inequality. Church’s Cannon Law 1024 says—Only a baptized man validly receives sacred ordination. Zed noted that there had been, however, some positive signs regarding status of women in Roman Catholic Church as Vatican invited women to participate in the Synod of Bishops in 2010 and 2008 and girls outnumbered boys for the first time at the altar servers gathering in Vatican in 2010, where about 60 percent of young pilgrims were reportedly female. Pope reportedly appointed record 29 women to participate in October Synod of Bishops on Evangelisation. Holy See being the largest religious organization in the world should show exemplary leadership in women equality to the rest of the planet, Zed pointed out.
Rajan Zed argued that reprimanding of the US Catholic nuns’ group, Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), founded in 1956, by Vatican for reportedly raising the subject of ordination of women and other issues was unfortunate. Mission of LCWR, an association of the leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in USA, included “fostering dialogue and collaboration among religious congregations”, “developing models for initiating and strengthening relationships with groups concerned with the needs of society”, etc.
Roman Catholic Church, largest of the Christian denominations with about 1.2 billion adherents, is headed by Pope and headquartered in Vatican. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.

Media Stories about Jesuit Fr. Bill Brennan Co-Presiding at Mass with Woman Priest Janice Sevre-Duszysnka, ARCWP/Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

Catholic priest, 92, BANNED from Mass for flouting Pope's rule and performing ...

Daily Mail - ‎Dec 9, 2012‎

A 92-year-old Wisconsin Jesuit has become the latest Catholic priest to be punished by church authorities for celebrating Mass with a woman priest in violation of church rules. Father Bill Brennan, a Milwaukee-area peace activist who has done missionary ...

Priest stripped of duties for celebrating Mass with woman priest

NBCNews.com (blog) - ‎Dec 8, 2012‎

ago. Priest stripped of duties for celebrating Mass with woman priest. Bob Graf. Jesuit priest Bill Brennan, 92, was stripped of his priestly duties after he presided over a Eucharistic liturgy with a woman priest last month in Georgia. By Becky Bratu, NBC News ...

Father Bill Brennan Punished by Catholic Church for Performing Mass with ...

Opposing Views - ‎8 hours ago‎

Father Bill Brennan, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin Jesuit, was recently punished by Catholic Church authorities for celebrating Mass last month with Janice Sevre-Duszynska, of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, in violation of church rules.

Priest, 92, stripped of duties for holding Mass with woman priest

DigitalJournal.com - ‎Dec 9, 2012‎

Bill Brennan, a 92-year-old Milwaukee-area Catholic Jesuit priest, was stripped of his priestly duties by church authorities after he held a Eucharistic liturgy with a woman priest in Georgia. According to NBC News, on November 17, Brennan performed a ...

Wisconsin priest banned from church for Mass with female priest

GlobalPost - ‎Dec 9, 2012‎

A priest, 92, is no longer allowed to celebrate Mass or other sacraments because he conducted Mass with a woman priest in violation of Church rules. Ellen ConnollyDecember 9, 2012 12:46. Priest pupnished. A 92-year-old Wisconsin Jesuit has become the ...

Jesuit sanctioned for Mass with woman priest

Monterey County Herald - ‎Dec 7, 2012‎

MILWAUKEE — A 92-year-old Wisconsin Jesuit is the latest American priest to be sanctioned for celebrating the Catholic Mass with a woman priest in violation of church teaching. The Rev. Bill Brennan, a longtime peace activist, has been ordered not to ...

Bishop Olmstead To Replace Bishop Tobin In Rome/Bad News for LCWR and Nuns? Good News for Women Priests?

If more nuns'orders decide that this latest hostile power play by the Vatican is the last straw,   we may see nuns ordained publically as priests sooner rather than later. This is the silver lining in today's announcement that Bishop Olmsted is replacing Bishop Tobin as the Vatican enforcer of its recent crackdown on the nuns who have faithfully and prophetically served our church for centuries. "The orthodox hurricane continues to swirl. It's now taken Phoenix's Olmstead and whirled him right to Rome where he will replace Archbishop Tobin as Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life. This move removes the LCWR's best friend and replaces him with another ladder climbing Grand Inquisitor. The following is the first paragraph of Vatican Insider's coverage of this impending move."
http://enlightenedcatholicism-colkoch.blogspot.com/2012/12/bishop-olmstead-to-replace-bishop-tobin.html
As a Sister for Christian Community, which is an independent group of prophetic women living the Gospel today, and as a Roman Catholic Woman Priest, who serves my Sisters as bishop in the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests, I say 'bring it on"! It is time for the Sisters to declare that they are "free at last" of Vatican control. They certainly have the support of the majority of U.S. Catholics, and they know it.
Now more and more renewal groups are supporting women's ordination including more than a thousand male priests in Austria, Ireland, Germany, and in many other places. Prophets like Maryknoll Roy Bourgeois, Franciscan Jerry Zawada and Jesuit Bill Brennan have co-presided at liturgy with Woman Priest, Janice Sevre-Duszynska. Catholics are now approaching a tipping point in a spiritual revolution that is birthing a more inclusive church where all are welcome to receive sacraments and all the baptized are equals.
Bridget Mary Meehan, sfcc, arcwp
www.arcwp.org

Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests Congratulate Association of Catholic Priests in Ireland for Prophetic Stance in Support of Fr. Roy Bourgeois on the Ordination of Women as Priests

The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests congratulate the ACP in Ireland for your solidarity and prophetic stand on the issue of ordination of women priests and for supporting Maryknoll Roy Bourgeois. We thank you for your courage to speak truth to power to the Vatican and CDF on this issue. You are reminding the People of God that primacy of conscience trumps obedience to the Vatican. We look forward to the day when prophetic male priests will be co-presiding with women priests in an inclusive Catholic Church with equality and justice for all.

Blessings and Godspeed,

Janice Sevre-Duszynska priest, (Media)

for the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

www.arcwp.org

Catholics in Switzerland May Vote to Abolish Celibacy and for Women's Ordination

http://iglesiadescalza.blogspot.com/2012/12/catholics-in-basel-may-vote-on.html

"On Tuesday, November 27th, the synod of the Roman Catholic Church in Basel, Switzerland, recognized the validity of the "Initiative for Equality in the Church" which requires notably the abolition of priestly celibacy and the ordination of women. "We take the concerns of the initiative seriously, Christian Griss, the chairman of the synod, declared Thursday to the Basler Zeitung daily.

In the neighboring canton of Basel Land, a similar initiative has been launched and will be submitted to the synod when it meets in Liestal on Monday, December 3rd. But the executive of the Synod has already asked that it be considered valid.

Nearly 3000 signatures, including those of several theologians, were collected to support this "Initiative for Equality in the Church" launched jointly in the two half-cantons of Basel. If passed by the synod of Basel Land, it may be submitted to a popular vote before the summer of 2013, and if accepted, the cantonal ecclesiastical authorities would be required to commit to the abolition of priestly celibacy and the ordination of women.

The scope of this initiative is however limited to church civil law structures and will not effect the ecclesial level. However, its supporters hope to have a effective means of pressure against diocesan and Roman authorities.

In Switzerland, the Catholic Church is organized in a two-tier system: in addition to the canonical structures specific to the Catholic Church (dioceses, parishes), there is effectively a system of ecclesiastical corporations benefiting from a public law statute both at the cantonal and communal levels. These corporations, which are democratically elected, notably distribute the church taxes they receive, but do not have the right to modify the conditions of admission to Catholic ministries, which remains the responsibility of the Magisterium."

Text of the Initiative for Equality in the Church (short version)

Father Bill Brennan, 92, Sanctioned For Celebrating Mass With Woman Priest

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/08/father-bill-brennan-92-di_n_2258202.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

"Reception of the Immaculate" a Homily by Donna Rougeux, ARCWP/Feast of Immaculate Conception

Reception of the Immaculate

Donna Rougeux in pulpit at ordination, Janice Sevre Duszysnka on right

By Donna Rougeux

First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15,20

Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

On this special day that the church has set aside as the Immaculate Conception of Mary we need to talk about the "s" word...Sin. The evolution of defining sin and the concept of  original sin led to the belief that Mary was unstained by sin from birth. Original sin is a concept that comes from an interpretation of the story in Genesis that we read in the first reading tonight. I would like to suggest that the 'original sin' interpretation is a misunderstanding of what the story is actually teaching. The doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is based on this misunderstanding of the Genesis story. Therefore there is a problem with the Immaculate conception doctrine if in fact it is based on a misinterpretation of scripture. The misinterpretation involves seeing the Genesis story as a telling of an actual event in history. It views Adam and Eve as the original people created by God.

Here are some problems with looking at the story as a retelling of an actual event: 1)Who was there recording this actual event?  2)Can snakes actually talk? 3)If the original people would have not eaten the forbidden fruit then sin would have never come into the world. I'm sure you can think of other problems. The doctrine of the Immaculate conception carries these misunderstandings further because it says Mary is the new Eve who was conceived in the sinless garden of her mother's womb and was untainted by original sin. This immaculate conception of Mary allows her to be the perfect candidate to become the mother of Jesus. There is a theological desire to clean up the sinful world so that the Son of God can enter. This is sort of like cleaning your house before entertaining guests.This points to the problem that has plagued the church over the centuries..too much emphasis on the human ability to make things perfect for God. When we do this there is no room in the equation for allowing God to actually be with us the way we need God with us. But this is what happened with the immaculate conception doctrine. The house needed to be immaculate before the most special guest, Jesus entered the world. Mary needed to be free from original sin.

But guess what? Jesus doesn't mind dirt, clutter or sin. In fact it says in the scriptures that Jesus came to be with the sinners not the saints. It is less about us trying to get things in perfect condition before God can enter the world and more about receiving God openly and willingly the way Mary did. I think there is heavy theological baggage connected to thinking we have the ability to make things immaculate for God.

I would like to offer another understanding of the story in genesis that will help us be released from this theological baggage so that the doctrine of the immaculate conception can be reframed and even renamed. This alternate interpretation of the story in Genesis comes from the book Discovering Old Testament Origins by Margie Ralph. She teaches that this story in Genesis is written in the literary form called myth. The definition of myth is an imaginative and symbolic story about a reality which is beyond comprehension. The reality beyond comprehension in this story is the common experience of suffering.

So the writer of the story after wrestling with the common reality of suffering came up with this imaginative symbol filled story that points to a connection between sin and suffering. The plot of the story is:   there is a place where there is no sin (a beautiful heavenly garden) then there is sin (people going against the spiritual order by eating the forbidden fruit) and then there is suffering (pain in child birth, struggle to have food and shelter, physical death) So the theme of the story is sin causes suffering. And it is important to note that the story ends here. Let's unpack the symbols in the story.

Give people this list:

Adam = each person

Eve = the other person whom we need to love and by whom we need to be loved

Garden= a place of no suffering

God's instructions= Moral and spiritual order

Tree of knowledge of good and evil= the possibility of acting contrary to the spiritual order

Tree of life= Avoid physical death-one kind of suffering

Naked but unashamed= self-acceptance

Serpent= temptation

Eating= sin

Naked but ashamed= self-alienation

Hiding= loss of capacity to respond to God's love

Punishments= suffering, known from experience, which is seen as the natural consequence of disobeying the spiritual order

Expelled from garden and unable to return= people are powerless to undue the effects of sin

PLOT: No suffering ~sin~suffering

THEME: Sin causes suffering

If we view the message of this story in this way there was no original sin that we need to  free Mary from. The question of this story is not where did sin come from? The question is why do we suffer? This interpretation of the story shows sin as a given. We as humans all have the capacity to go against the moral and spiritual order. Because we have this capacity and because we have all acted upon this capacity, there is suffering. The consequence of the choice of sin is suffering.

 Applying this different interpretation of the story to Mary, means that for her along with all people, sin is a given. When we understand the genesis story in this way we no longer need an immaculate conception. What we need and what I think is more relevant, is an understanding that Mary had a reception of the immaculate. Mary received Jesus who was unstained by sin and who changed the paradigm. Now the story does not end with sin then suffering. Mary's reception of Jesus gives the story a new ending but doesn't forget where the story left off. Jesus enters the world with this sad ending of sin leads to suffering. Jesus who is God dwelling with us came into a sin filled world and endured horrific suffering so that sin and death no longer have the final say. Jesus suffered, died and overcame death in his resurrection.

So what does that mean for us? I think we like Mary need to work on being receivers of the the immaculate. We need to receive this gift of Jesus so that we can face our capacity to choose against the spiritual order. We need to receive Jesus who can dwell  with us when we face suffering and who can empower us to make choices that are life giving  instead of life destroying. We do not have to carry the theological baggage of making things immaculate before entertaining the idea of receiving Jesus as the special guest or of receiving Jesus into our imperfect sin filled world. What we have to do is to receive this immaculate gift of Jesus so that we can be transformed from one who has the capacity to choose against the spiritual order into one who accepts and is empowered by the spiritual order so that suffering and death no longer are the end of the story but are now the part of the story that can be faced with the promise of new hope and new life. So I suggest  a renaming of this feast day. Not the feast of the Immaculate Conception but the feast of the Reception of the Immaculate.

"Priest Stripped of Duties for Celebrating Mass with Woman Priest"/NBC News Story about Jesuit Bill Brennan and Janice Sevre-Duszynska, ARCWP/Photo Albums Online

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/08/15698507-priest-stripped-of-duties-for-celebrating-mass-with-woman-priest?lite

Photos of liturgy- Bill Brennan and Janice Sevre-Duszysnska and SOA Watch Vigil 

https://plus.google.com/photos/103731935303928135919/albums/5812333604205143601?authkey=CJqi5-rCmaP5_gE

Check out the 60th photo of Mike Hasky's shots at the SOAW procession and others.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2012/11/19/2282586/spotted-sundat-the-the-2012-soa.html

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Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests' Ordination of Laura Grimes as Deacon on Dec. 8,2012

Irish Priests' Association Statement of Support for Fr. Roy Bourgeois

http://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2012/12/statement-of-support-for-fr-roy-bourgeois/

http://ncronline.org/news/global/irish-priest-association-supports-bourgeois

The church reform group that represents about a quarter of Ireland’s Catholic priests issued a statement of support Friday for Roy Bourgeois, the U.S. Maryknoll priest that the Vatican laicization and dismissed from his order because of his support of women’s ordination.
The Association of Catholic Priests (Ireland) called on the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “to cease this type of abuse, to restore Fr. Bourgeois to the full exercise of his ministry and to allow for open and honest discussion on issues that are of crucial importance for the future of the Church.”
“We believe that this type of action, ordered by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and implemented by the Maryknoll Order, is unjust, and ultimately counter-productive,” reads the statement from the association.
“Dismissing people because they have sincerely held views that are contrary to those of the Vatican, but which are widely shared by the Catholic faithful, will not end discussion and debate on these topics,” it says.
The Association of Catholic Priests, which was founded by eight priests two years ago, has grown to represent about 1,000 of Ireland’s some 4,000 priests. The association aims at the “full implementation of the vision and teaching of the Second Vatican Council” and a “re-structuring of the governing system of the Church,” according to the group’s constitution.
The association has also called for an end to mandatory celibacy and for the ordination of women.
As an example of the widespread support for women priests among the Catholic Faithful, the statement from the association cited a year-long “listening process” in the diocese of Killaloe, a mainly rural diocese in Ireland, in which participants “expressed the opinion that the ordination of women should be openly discussed, particularly in view of the projected shortage of priests in the next few years.”
The leadership team of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, one of the largest groups of Catholic sisters in the western hemisphere, issued a similar statement of support for Bourgeois on Nov. 28.
One of the Irish priests’ association’s cofounders, Redemptorist Fr. Tony Flannery , a popular author and retreat director, is himself under Vatican scrutiny according to press reports from earlier this year.
Flannery was ordered to stop writing and speaking and to go to a monastery for a period where he would “pray and reflect” on his situation.
Following is the complete statement from Ireland’s Association of Catholic Priests.

Statement of Support for Fr. Roy Bourgeois
The Association of Catholic Priests (Ireland) is saddened and disappointed by the dismissal of Maryknoll priest Fr. Roy Bourgeois from the priesthood and from his religious congregation, and his excommunication from the Church that he has served for almost half a century.
We believe that this type of action, ordered by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and implemented by the Maryknoll Order, is unjust, and ultimately counter-productive. Dismissing people because they have sincerely held views that are contrary to those of the Vatican, but which are widely shared by the Catholic faithful, will not end discussion and debate on these topics.
In fact it will only serve to highlight the urgent need to face the problems around ministry in the Church. Participants in a year long ‘listening process’ in the diocese of Killaloe, a mainly rural diocese in Ireland, expressed the opinion that the ordination of women should be openly discussed, particularly in view of the projected shortage of priests in the next few years.
Surely this is yet another of many examples of the sensus fidelium calling for change so that, in future, the Eucharist can be available to the Church community.
We call on the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to cease this type of abuse, to restore Fr. Bourgeois to the full exercise of his ministry and to allow for open and honest discussion on issues that are of crucial importance for the future of the Church.
On behalf of the Leadership of the ACP:
Fr. P.J. Madden; Fr. Sean McDonagh; Fr. Brendan Hoban; Fr. Tony Flannery

[Dennis Coday is NCR editor.]

Inclusive Catholic Eucharist Sponsored by Progressive Catholic Coalition by Janice Sevre Duszynska, ARCWP

Janice Sevre-Duszynska,ARCWP and Jesuit Bill Brennan co-preside at liturgy
Photos coutesy Bob Watkins. Bill has been banned from celebrating public liturgies after co-presiding at this liturgy with Janice.
http://news.gnom.es/news/priest-stripped-of-duties-for-celebrating-mass-with-woman-priest

 Since 2004, the Progressive Catholic Coalition* has sponsored an inclusive
Catholic Eucharist as peacemakers gather at the gates of Ft. Benning for the
annual School of the Americas (SOA) Watch Vigil. This year as before lots of
folks gave of themselves and their gifts to celebrate the Body of Christ. In
doing so, our spirits are renewed to continue to work for a nonviolent world
where Gospel justice flows. In God’s Loving Presence we are restored as the
Beloved Community to challenge the Powers, to face the consequences of our
witness, whether jail, prison or exclusion. My heartfelt thanks to:
 --Support Memeber Peg Bowen offered artistic and practical suggestions of
flow, color and symbols while Bridget Mary suggested possible Old Testament
readings.
 I selected the Exodus reading about Miriam, first person called prophet in the
Hebrew Bible. In her Song of the Sea she praised God in song and dance with her
tambourine for saving her people from oppression.
 -- Jack Wentland coordinated logistics and communication
 -- Charlie King led us in song as he played nourishing music for our souls
 -- The Dominican sister from Tacoma, WA who read the Old Testament reading:
Exodus: 15: 1-3, 20-21
 -- Paki Weiland, back from the CodePink delegation to Pakistan, danced with
the Book of Gospels and read Luke 18: 1-8
 -- Sr. Megan Rice wrote the homily that I read: a message from her, Greg
Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli of Transform Now Plowshares
 -- Newly-ordained priest Diane Dougherty prepared the table and the
tambourines and gathered folks for the entrance procession and more
 -- WOC’s Kate Conmy and CTA’s Jen Gutermann gave out the worship aides and
steadfastly greeted peacemakers at the PCC table on Ft. Benning Rd.
 -- Support Member Kay Akers made herself available at the liturgy and table
for whatever needed doing: from taking photos to educating folks about ARCWP
 -- Priest Katy Zatsick shook hands with peacemakers at the table, spoke about
our community and carried the ARCWP banner on Ft. Benning Rd. and more
 -- Bob Watkins, in his gentle way, photographed as he has for us for many
years
 -- the Eucharistic ministers, all who gathered to renew each other in the Body
of Christ and those who I have forgotten to name
-- Our ARCWP community for its support and ad in the SOA Watch Vigil Program
 -- the SOA Watch community of peacemakers, especially Bob Graf and Joe
Radoszewski of Milwaukee 
> -- Jesuit Bill Brennan, 92, courageous and prophetic, who led the liturgy with
me
 -- Holy Ones Franciscan Jerry Zawada and Maryknoll Roy Bourgoeis for their
continued support of women priests
 *PCC member organizations are the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests,
Call to Action, CITI Ministries, Inc., CORPUS-usa, Federation of Christian
Ministries, Roll Away the Stone and Women’s Ordination Conference.
The Coalition also sponsors an information table on Ft. Benning Rd.
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests www.arcwp.org

 

Former Bishops' Staffer Banned Over Women Deacons

http://ncronline.org/news/theology/former-bishops-staffer-banned-over-women-deacons

"Prominent Catholic Newspaper Calls For Vatican to Approve Women Priests"/Huffington Post/Links to Stories in NCR and Reuters on Punishment of Jesuit Bill Brennan for Co-Presiding with Janice Sevre-Duszynska, ARCWP at Catholic Mass

Prominent Catholic Newspaper Calls For Vatican To Approve Women Priests

In an editorial published Monday morning, a prominent Catholic newspaper endorsed the controversial movement to ordain women priests.
Continue reading...

National Catholic Reporter Calls for Women Priests
http://ncronline.org/node/40306

Story of Punishment of Jesuit Priest who co-presided at
Mass with Woman Priest-
Janice Sevre Duszynska, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

(See photo)
http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2012/12/jesuit-penalized-after-eucharistic.html

(See photos of Liturgy of Janice and Jesuit Bill Brennan)
http://ncronline.org/news/people/jesuit-penalized-after-eucharistic-liturgy-woman-priest

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/12/06/us-usa-catholic-priest-idUKBRE8B506220121206