http://www.johnhorgan.org/a_modern_catholic_mystic_15277.htm
"It was obvious by this point that Steindl-Rast is not a conventional Catholic.
He excoriated the Catholic church, calling it too centralized, authoritarian,
sexist, "the last absolute monarchy left in the world." The church in its
present incarnation is "doomed to die" as a result of its rigidity.
Steindl-Rast chose not to become an ordained priest in part so that he
would not be part of the church hierarchy; as a monk with no flock, he is freer
to speak his mind.
He hoped the church would soon allow women to serve as
priests. But ultimately, Catholics should not require churches, priests or any
of the institutional trappings of worship. Steindl-Rast recalled Jesus’s
declaration that "wherever two or three are together in my name, I am in the
midst of them." He envisioned a day when Catholics celebrate mass, carry out
baptisms and marry in their own homes.
I asked why we need Catholicism or
any religion to sustain our spirituality. Can’t art serve the same function in a
more benign fashion? Steindl-Rast gave me the same response to this question
that Huston Smith did. Art is a vital component of Catholicism, Steindl-Rast
pointed out. "Look at the cathedrals! Look at the liturgy! I feel like an opera
singer who has the privilege to sing every day, and dance. It’s not elaborate,
but it’s real dancing and singing. This is art." Those who want to reform the
church should emphasize these elements rather than theological doctrine. "That
is what we should focus on and should cultivate and develop into the
future."
Steindl-Rast seemed more personally committed to monasticism
than to Catholicism per se. When Steindl-Rast first met Buddhist monks, he said,
he felt an instant bond with them. Eventually, with the permission of the
Vatican, he left his monastery to spend time at Zen monasteries in New York
City, California and elsewhere. He felt as at home in these Zendos as he had at
Mount Savior. "Sometimes I had to almost pull my ear to become aware that I was
not in a Christian monastery," he said. "It was just another way of doing the
same thing, being in an environment where everything is geared toward
mindfulness..."
..."For the past
several years, Steindl-Rast had been living alone in a cottage on a Quaker
retreat. After so many years of traveling, he felt that he needed to catch up on
his solitude. He hoped to stay in touch with the world through an interactive
website that would encourage people from any and all faiths to explore the
spiritual benefits of cultivating gratefulness..."
Living Gospel Inclusivity and Empowerment Now- https://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/2025/10/rev-dr-bridget-mary-meehan-arcwp-chat.html
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Despite Censures, Womenpriests Movement Grows/Washington Post Article/March 29, 2013
Despite censures, Womenpriests movement grows
Friday, March 29, 2013
"Losing My Religion For Equality" by Jimmy Carter
Women and girls have been discriminated against for too long in a twisted interpretation of the word of God.
I HAVE been a practicing Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world. So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention’s leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be “subservient” to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.
This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women’s equal rights across the world for centuries.
At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.
The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.
In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime.
The same discriminatory thinking lies behind the continuing gender gap in pay and why there are still so few women in office in the West. The root of this prejudice lies deep in our histories, but its impact is felt every day. It is not women and girls alone who suffer. It damages all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for society. An educated woman has healthier children. She is more likely to send them to school. She earns more and invests what she earns in her family.
It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and outdated attitudes and practices - as we are seeing in Iran where women are at the forefront of the battle for democracy and freedom.
I understand, however, why many political leaders can be reluctant about stepping into this minefield. Religion, and tradition, are powerful and sensitive areas to challenge. But my fellow Elders and I, who come from many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning votes or avoiding controversy - and we are deeply committed to challenging injustice wherever we see it.
The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by former South African president Nelson Mandela, who offer their influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. We have decided to draw particular attention to the responsibility of religious and traditional leaders in ensuring equality and human rights and have recently published a statement that declares: “The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable.”
We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasise the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the world’s major faiths share.
The carefully selected verses found in the Holy Scriptures to justify the superiority of men owe more to time and place - and the determination of male leaders to hold onto their influence - than eternal truths. Similar biblical excerpts could be found to support the approval of slavery and the timid acquiescence to oppressive rulers.
I am also familiar with vivid descriptions in the same Scriptures in which women are revered as pre-eminent leaders. During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasn’t until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted Holy Scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy.
The truth is that male religious leaders have had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions - all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.
I HAVE been a practicing Christian all my life and a deacon and Bible teacher for many years. My faith is a source of strength and comfort to me, as religious beliefs are to hundreds of millions of people around the world. So my decision to sever my ties with the Southern Baptist Convention, after six decades, was painful and difficult. It was, however, an unavoidable decision when the convention’s leaders, quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be “subservient” to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service.
This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women’s equal rights across the world for centuries.
At its most repugnant, the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities.
The impact of these religious beliefs touches every aspect of our lives. They help explain why in many countries boys are educated before girls; why girls are told when and whom they must marry; and why many face enormous and unacceptable risks in pregnancy and childbirth because their basic health needs are not met.
In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime.
The same discriminatory thinking lies behind the continuing gender gap in pay and why there are still so few women in office in the West. The root of this prejudice lies deep in our histories, but its impact is felt every day. It is not women and girls alone who suffer. It damages all of us. The evidence shows that investing in women and girls delivers major benefits for society. An educated woman has healthier children. She is more likely to send them to school. She earns more and invests what she earns in her family.
It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and outdated attitudes and practices - as we are seeing in Iran where women are at the forefront of the battle for democracy and freedom.
I understand, however, why many political leaders can be reluctant about stepping into this minefield. Religion, and tradition, are powerful and sensitive areas to challenge. But my fellow Elders and I, who come from many faiths and backgrounds, no longer need to worry about winning votes or avoiding controversy - and we are deeply committed to challenging injustice wherever we see it.
The Elders are an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by former South African president Nelson Mandela, who offer their influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. We have decided to draw particular attention to the responsibility of religious and traditional leaders in ensuring equality and human rights and have recently published a statement that declares: “The justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a Higher Authority, is unacceptable.”
We are calling on all leaders to challenge and change the harmful teachings and practices, no matter how ingrained, which justify discrimination against women. We ask, in particular, that leaders of all religions have the courage to acknowledge and emphasise the positive messages of dignity and equality that all the world’s major faiths share.
The carefully selected verses found in the Holy Scriptures to justify the superiority of men owe more to time and place - and the determination of male leaders to hold onto their influence - than eternal truths. Similar biblical excerpts could be found to support the approval of slavery and the timid acquiescence to oppressive rulers.
I am also familiar with vivid descriptions in the same Scriptures in which women are revered as pre-eminent leaders. During the years of the early Christian church women served as deacons, priests, bishops, apostles, teachers and prophets. It wasn’t until the fourth century that dominant Christian leaders, all men, twisted and distorted Holy Scriptures to perpetuate their ascendant positions within the religious hierarchy.
The truth is that male religious leaders have had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. This is in clear violation not just of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights but also the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Moses and the prophets, Muhammad, and founders of other great religions - all of whom have called for proper and equitable treatment of all the children of God. It is time we had the courage to challenge these views.
Good Friday Homily by Pope Francis
http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/
"Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for having taken part in these moments of deep prayer. I also thank those who have accompanied us through the media, especially the sick and elderly.
I do not wish to add too many words. One word should suffice this evening, that is the Cross itself. The Cross is the word through which God has responded to evil in the world. Sometimes it may seem as though God does not react to evil, as if he is silent. And yet, God has spoken, he has replied, and his answer is the Cross of Christ: a word which is love, mercy, forgiveness. It is also reveals a judgment, namely that God, in judging us, loves us. In judging us, he loves us. If I embrace his love then I am saved, if I refuse it, then I am condemned, not by him, but my own self, because God never condemns, he only loves and saves.
Dear brothers and sisters, the word of the Cross is also the answer which Christians offer in the face of evil, the evil that continues to work in us and around us. Christians must respond to evil with good, taking the Cross upon themselves as Jesus did. This evening we have heard the witness given by our Lebanese brothers and sisters: they composed these beautiful prayers and meditations. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for this work and for the witness they offer. We were able to see this when Pope Benedict visited Lebanon: we saw the beauty and the strong bond of communion joining Christians together in that land and the friendship of our Muslim brothers and sisters and so many others. That occasion was a sign to the Middle East and to the whole world: a sign of hope.
We now continue this Via Crucis in our daily lives. Let us walk together along the Way of the Cross and let us do so carrying in our hearts this word of love and forgiveness. Let us go forward waiting for the Resurrection of Jesus, who loves us so much, who is all love. The preceding is an English translation of Pope Francis' remarks at the conclusion of tonight's traditional Good Friday Way of the Cross at Rome's Colosseum."
"Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Thank you for having taken part in these moments of deep prayer. I also thank those who have accompanied us through the media, especially the sick and elderly.
I do not wish to add too many words. One word should suffice this evening, that is the Cross itself. The Cross is the word through which God has responded to evil in the world. Sometimes it may seem as though God does not react to evil, as if he is silent. And yet, God has spoken, he has replied, and his answer is the Cross of Christ: a word which is love, mercy, forgiveness. It is also reveals a judgment, namely that God, in judging us, loves us. In judging us, he loves us. If I embrace his love then I am saved, if I refuse it, then I am condemned, not by him, but my own self, because God never condemns, he only loves and saves.
Dear brothers and sisters, the word of the Cross is also the answer which Christians offer in the face of evil, the evil that continues to work in us and around us. Christians must respond to evil with good, taking the Cross upon themselves as Jesus did. This evening we have heard the witness given by our Lebanese brothers and sisters: they composed these beautiful prayers and meditations. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for this work and for the witness they offer. We were able to see this when Pope Benedict visited Lebanon: we saw the beauty and the strong bond of communion joining Christians together in that land and the friendship of our Muslim brothers and sisters and so many others. That occasion was a sign to the Middle East and to the whole world: a sign of hope.
We now continue this Via Crucis in our daily lives. Let us walk together along the Way of the Cross and let us do so carrying in our hearts this word of love and forgiveness. Let us go forward waiting for the Resurrection of Jesus, who loves us so much, who is all love. The preceding is an English translation of Pope Francis' remarks at the conclusion of tonight's traditional Good Friday Way of the Cross at Rome's Colosseum."
Pope Francis Washed Young Women's Feet in Detention Center on Holy Thursday/ Angers Conservatives/Gives Hope to Women
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/03/29/new-pope-washing-women-feet-is-final-straw-sorts-for-wary-traditionalist/
Bridget Mary's Response:
I was heartened by the image of Pope Francis washing the feet of young women in a juvenile detention center on Holy Thursday. In my view, this what Jesus would do It is a positive sign that indicates that the new pope sees women as beloved sisters and equal images of Christ! That is my prayer and hope! Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org
Bridget Mary's Response:
I was heartened by the image of Pope Francis washing the feet of young women in a juvenile detention center on Holy Thursday. In my view, this what Jesus would do It is a positive sign that indicates that the new pope sees women as beloved sisters and equal images of Christ! That is my prayer and hope! Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Holy Thursday/"The Eucharist: God as Shared Food"/ Inclusive Eucharist- All Are Welcome
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Today is Holy Thursday. We celebrate the Last Supper when Jesus called us to remember him in this sacred feast of Passover that celebrates his journey through death to Risen Glory.
When we gather weekly, Mary Mother of Jesus Catholic Community celebrates an inclusive Eucharistic Banquet. All pray the words of Institution/Consecration together. We, the Body of Christ , share the Body of Christ at the table with the the Body of Christ around the table. In our communities, all are welcome to receive Eucharist.
We pray the following prayers as we prepare to receive Eucharist, "Jesus, you make us worthy to receive you." We are the body of Christ."
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp
www.arcwp.org
The following is Richard Rohr's meditation on Eucharist.
Holy ThursdayGod as Shared Food
Meditation 33 of 52
"When we start making the Eucharistic meal something to define membership
instead of to proclaim grace and gift, we always get in trouble;
that’s been the temptation of every denomination that has the
Eucharist. Too often we use Eucharist to separate who’s in from
who’s out, who’s worthy from who’s unworthy, instead of to declare
that all of us are radically unworthy, and that worthiness is not even
the issue. If worthiness is the issue, who can stand before God? Are
those who receive actually saying they are “worthy”? I hope not. It
is an ego statement to begin with. In fact, we Catholics even say
“Lord, I am not worthy” right before we come to the altar. I guess
we don’t really mean that, and it is just a pious bluff.
The issue is not worthiness; the issue is trust and surrender. It all
comes down to “confidence and love,” as Thérèse of Lisieux said.
I think that explains the joyous character with which many celebrate the
Eucharist. We are pulled into immense love and joy for such constant and
unearned grace. It doesn’t get any better than this! All we can do at
Eucharist is kneel in love and then stand in confidence. (St. Augustine
said that the proper posture for prayer was standing proud and erect,
because we no longer have to grovel before God or fear God, if God is
like Jesus.) "
Adapted from Eucharist as Touchstone (CD, MP3)
https://cac.org/store/cds/item/812-eucharist-as-touchstone
Marriage Equality, the Supreme Court, and the Bible
http://ncronline.org//news/politics/court-may-hold-california-marriage-law-ruling-justices-suggest
Some people claim that biblical passages condemning homosexuality should be the basis for the law of the land. However, the bible condoned slavery, rape, polygamy, the killing of first-born children and animal sacrifice. Leviticus prescribes the death penalty for adultery and for those who curse their parents. The Purity Code in Leviticus lists all kinds of abominations including eating shellfish and game birds, "every creature in the water that has neither fins nor scales is detestable to you." (chapter 11:12) and "do not lie with a person of the same sex in the same way as you would lie with a person of the opposite sex." (18:22).
Today the majority of Christian believers do not follow the Purity Code in the Old Testament, but rather Jesus' law of love and compassion.
Marriage equality is a human right. All God's children are beloved images of the divine called to covenant love and fidelity in all their relationships.
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp
www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
Some people claim that biblical passages condemning homosexuality should be the basis for the law of the land. However, the bible condoned slavery, rape, polygamy, the killing of first-born children and animal sacrifice. Leviticus prescribes the death penalty for adultery and for those who curse their parents. The Purity Code in Leviticus lists all kinds of abominations including eating shellfish and game birds, "every creature in the water that has neither fins nor scales is detestable to you." (chapter 11:12) and "do not lie with a person of the same sex in the same way as you would lie with a person of the opposite sex." (18:22).
Today the majority of Christian believers do not follow the Purity Code in the Old Testament, but rather Jesus' law of love and compassion.
Marriage equality is a human right. All God's children are beloved images of the divine called to covenant love and fidelity in all their relationships.
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp
www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Death Penality is Worthless and Unjust
http://millennialjournal.com/2013/03/27/why-the-death-penalty-is-worthless-and-unjust/
"Earlier this month, Maryland voted to abolish the death penalty. Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley took to the pages of Politico to explain and defend this decision. His article provides a succinct and compelling case for abolishing a practice that should no longer exist in this nation.
His main points include:
His main points include:
- The death penalty is not an effective deterrent. O’Malley notes, “In 2011, the average murder rate in states where there is a death penalty was 4.9 per 100,000 people. In states without it, the murder rate was lower. It was 4.1 per 100,000 people.” It is simply not a more effective deterrent than life in prison without the possibility of patrol.
- It’s a waste of money. O’Malley correctly states that there is a responsibility “to stop doing things that are wasteful, expensive, and do not work.” The financial costs associated with maintaining capital punishment are extraordinarily high, and steps to curtail them would almost certainly result in executing the innocent. Given the state of the budget and the need to make increased investments in other areas to promote the common good, spending recklessly and needlessly to maintain a death row is a terrible allocation of resources.
- The company we keep in executing our own citizens is appalling. O’Malley cites the fact that the majority of public executions now take place in just seven countries: Iran, Iraq, China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United States of America. If you care about human rights, that’s probably not a list you want your country to be on.
- It is fundamentally incompatible with authentic justice. It’s not simply that our country was not founded on the principles of revenge and retribution, as O’Malley states, but more importantly, that these are unacceptable motives for the use of force by the government. Justice is about the common good, creating conditions that correspond with human dignity and allow for human flourishing. It must be rooted in love-based justice, not hate-based bloodlust.
- It is unfairly and capriciously applied. The color of one’s skin, the color of the victim’s skin, one’s socioeconomic status, and one’s gender all impact the likelihood of a death sentence. Conversely, the gravity of the crime often does not determine whether one will or will not receive the death penalty. Justice demands a basic level of fairness. These discrepancies and the ultimate arbitrariness of the death penalty’s application make it unjust and provide good insight into why it does not work as an effective deterrent.
- It is impossible to remove the specter of killing innocent people. O’Malley notes, “Between 2000 and 2011, an average of 5 death row inmates were exonerated every year.” Does the government really want to execute innocent people when doing so is unnecessary to prevent or deter future crimes?
Pope Francis Shakes Up Business as Usual at the Vatican!
"Pope Francis has decided not to move into the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, but to live in a suite in the Vatican guesthouse where he has been since the beginning of the conclave that elected him, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman.
“He is experimenting with this type of living arrangement, which is simple,” but allows him “to live in community with others,” both the permanent residents — priests and bishops who work at the Vatican — as well as guests coming to the Vatican for meetings and conferences, Father Lombardi said March 26.
The spokesman said Pope Francis has moved out of the room he drew by lot before the conclave and into Suite 201, a room that has slightly more elegant furnishings and a larger living room where he can receive guests.
The Domus Sanctae Marthae, the official name of the guesthouse, was built in 1996 specifically to house cardinals during a conclave.
Celebrating Mass March 26 with the residents and guests, Pope Francis told them he intended to stay, Father Lombardi said. The permanent residents, who had to move out during the conclave, had just returned to their old rooms. "
Bridget Mary's Response
Oh my, I bet the residents were surprised to find they have a new neighbor!
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp
www.arcwp.org
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Discipleship and the Civilly Disobedient Jesus/ Raises Issue of a Discipleship of Equals and Speaking out for Justice for Women in the Church
http://ncronline.org/blogs/road-peace/discipleship-civilly-disobedient-jesus
"So the Synoptics make it clear that Jesus' final civil disobedience in the temple led to his arrest a few days later, his jailing, trial and brutal execution. This is a great challenge to anyone who seriously wants to follow this Jesus. Are we willing to give our lives to resist empire, injustice and the oppression of the poor? How seriously do we want to follow him?
But turns out there was one more final act of civil disobedience left to come: The Resurrection."
Bridget Mary's Response:
I agree but would add that Jesus was revolutionary in including women in his inner circle as disciples and equals. Social justice activists need to clearly name the injustices in their own house. I am grateful to priests like Roy Bourgeois who has put his priesthood on the line for justice for women in the church!
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp
www.arcwp.org
"So the Synoptics make it clear that Jesus' final civil disobedience in the temple led to his arrest a few days later, his jailing, trial and brutal execution. This is a great challenge to anyone who seriously wants to follow this Jesus. Are we willing to give our lives to resist empire, injustice and the oppression of the poor? How seriously do we want to follow him?
But turns out there was one more final act of civil disobedience left to come: The Resurrection."
Bridget Mary's Response:
I agree but would add that Jesus was revolutionary in including women in his inner circle as disciples and equals. Social justice activists need to clearly name the injustices in their own house. I am grateful to priests like Roy Bourgeois who has put his priesthood on the line for justice for women in the church!
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp
www.arcwp.org
The Holy Women at the Cross and Tomb/Faithful Disciples/What is Jesus Saying Today to Women in the Church?
The women were there for Jesus during his Passion and death and the first to receive the good news of the Resurrection. They were his faithful disciples. Unlike Peter who denied him three times, the women accompanied Jesus through the horror of his sufferings.
In Luke's Gospel, on the way to Calvary, Jesus stops and speaks to the women. "Daughters of Jerusalem! Do not weep for me. Weep rather for yourselves and for your children! The time is coming when it will be said: "Blessed are the childless, the wombs that have never given birth and the breasts that have never nursed." Then people will say to the mountains, "Fall on us and to the hills, "Cover us up!" For if they do these things in the green wood, what will happen in the dry?"
What is Jesus saying to the faithful disciples, many of whom, are women in a church and world that treats them as second class citizens? What is Jesus saying today to all those who oppress or marginalize their sisters and brothers? What is Jesus saying to women today?
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp
www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
In Luke's Gospel, on the way to Calvary, Jesus stops and speaks to the women. "Daughters of Jerusalem! Do not weep for me. Weep rather for yourselves and for your children! The time is coming when it will be said: "Blessed are the childless, the wombs that have never given birth and the breasts that have never nursed." Then people will say to the mountains, "Fall on us and to the hills, "Cover us up!" For if they do these things in the green wood, what will happen in the dry?"
What is Jesus saying to the faithful disciples, many of whom, are women in a church and world that treats them as second class citizens? What is Jesus saying today to all those who oppress or marginalize their sisters and brothers? What is Jesus saying to women today?
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp
www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
Monday, March 25, 2013
"Theology has Consequences" by John Chuchman
There is something perverse
about opposing condom use
and then washing the feet of people with HIV/AIDS.
There is something suspect
about opposing reproductive health care for women
who may not want to get pregnant
and then generously insisting on the legal baptism of children
whose parents are not married.
There is something dubious
about calling the hierarchical church to a simpler way of being
and ignoring the many women
whose ministerial service would enhance its output.
The Spanish expression that comes to mind is
“what you give with the wrist, you erase with the elbow.”
This seems to be the Jesuitical pattern.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans people kill themselves
because Catholic hierarchs tell them
that their sexuality is “intrinsically morally disordered.”
Women die from unsafe, illegal abortions
because the Catholic hierarchy spends millions of dollars
opposing legislation that would make their choices safer.
Survivors of sexual abuse by clergy live tortured lives
because the cleric-centric structures of the church favor their abusers.
While a few nuns famously ride the bus,
the Vatican’s current crackdown on women religious
makes most of them feel as if they have been thrown under the bus.
Theology does indeed have consequences
by John Chuchman
Bridget Mary's Response:
I pray that our new pope may understand that current church teaching has consequences that are contradictory of the spirit of the Gospel, and this theology must be changed so it reflects the love and compassion of Jesus in the Gospel who stood with the marginalized and declared the good news of healing, justice and the liberating Spirit in our midst.
Our theology must reflect the love in the heart of Jesus, this is my prayer for Pope Francis.
Bridget Mary Meehan, arwp, www.arcwp.org
Pope Francis- A Glimmer Hope for Change in the Church- like Oscar Romero and John XX111
"As an unlikely choice for Pope, mostly due to his age and health, Francis reminds me of another unlikely advocate for the people – a man chosen to be Archbishop because of his passivity and his ill-health – Oscar Romero. Romero surprised the people who placed him in office and stirred things up when he became a staunch advocate for the people that he served. Romero’s “moment of conversion” revealed something spectacular that changed Latin America. In his role as leader, he found his voice and became a defender for the poor and oppressed. It is because of Romero that I am hopeful hat Francis will provide (or at least start the wheels in motion to provide) changes to the Catholic Church.
It should also be noted that another unlikely choice for Pope was Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the Archbishop of Milan, who was not even a Cardinal. Roncalli became known as John XXIII: a Pope who saw that the Church was in need of change and who took unprecedented action to convene the Second Vatican Council. Again, this story fuels my optimism.
I, like most Catholics, was (pleasantly) surprised when I saw the new Pope appear. In stark contrast to his two predecessors, Francis emerged in a simple white cassock, and his face that seemed to reflect humility and kindness. Then another surprise came; before he extended the traditional Papal blessing on the crowd, he asked the people to bless him and bowed his head toward the people. A glimmer of hope sparked..".
Comment by Michele Stopera Freyhauf
People of El Salvador Celebrate Bishop Oscar Romero's Witness for Justice/March 25th/Anniversary of his Assasination
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| Janice Sevre-Duszynska,, Roy Bourgeois with SOA Delegation to Celebrate Oscar Romero's life and Legacy |
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Palm Sunday - Blessing of Palms at Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Liturgy
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| Mary and Bob Murray- Members of Hospitality Ministry at MMOJ |
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Leonardo Boff: "What matters isn't Bergoglio and his past, but Francis and his future"
http://www.iede.co.uk/news/2013_1332/qa-what-matters-isn%E2%80%99t-bergoglio-and-his-past-francis-and-his-future
I agree with Leonard Boff, prominent liberation theologian. We should be looking forward with Pope Francis and see what he does now to reform and renew our church in a more open, egalitarian and justice approach! Now that would be the fresh air we need, indeed! Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org
I agree with Leonard Boff, prominent liberation theologian. We should be looking forward with Pope Francis and see what he does now to reform and renew our church in a more open, egalitarian and justice approach! Now that would be the fresh air we need, indeed! Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org
Exploring the Feminine Divine in Christianity/ Mary Embodies the Motherhood of God in Her Person - Mercy, Compassion, Justice
http://www.christfaithpower.com/2013/03/01/return-of-the-mother-goddess/
Jesus came to end patriarchy and promote partnership as the will of God. My focus is on reintegrating the feminine face of God in our worship and ministry. See Delighting in the Feminine Face of God and Heart Talks with Mother God, two books that are available on amazon.com Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org, sofiabmm@aol.com
This article is highly recommended!
"Jesus got his feminine heart from his Mother—peace, love, justice, mercy and compassion. These virtues are usually not attributed to males, especially in patriarchy which represents power, control, preservation of the status quo and domination.
Speaking of Mary, Harvey comments:
Any unbiased reading of the Magnificat makes clear, Mary was on the side of the marginalized, the defeated, the scorned, and the poor in a very unmetaphorical sense. The pure eyes of her love saw the misery of the world without any consolation, precisely because they also saw the total holiness of all created things and the plan of the divine love that the Father-Mother had willed for creation. (353)
Eliazondo contends that the Virgin of Guadalupe is so powerful a presence in the Americas because, the Mother of the New Creation, turned things around. The Virgin refers to Juan Diego as “My dignified one.” The Mother bestows status and dignity on Juan who before had thought of himself in this way:
Because in reality I am one of your campesinos, a piece of rope, a small ladder, the excrement of people: I am a leaf, they order me around, lead me by force; and you, my most abandoned Daughter, my Child, my Lady, and my Queen, send me to a place where I do not belong. (10)
Juan represents the conquered mestizos, victims of the violent conquest by the conquistadors. Mary sends Juan to a place of dignity in her son’s kin-dom.The Virgin is so powerful because she also brought about the conversion of the conquistadors. The patriarchal bishop of Mexico City obeyed her order to build a sanctuary in the hinterlands of the conquered campesinos. Do not miss the transformation here—a conquering patriarch obeys the command of a native woman, The Virgin. Oppressors and their victims now have the possibility to be transformed because of the Mother of the New Creation that spawned at Guadalupe. Both sides returned to the Mother and, the words of St. Bernard were made real, “Remember, O Most Holy Virgin, that is never was heard in any age that anyone turning to your protection was abandoned.” Mary told the children at Fatima, The greatest sin is to revel against the Motherhood of God, and to refuse to recognize me as the Mother of all human beings.” (Why did we not hear about this statement instead of all the condemnations of Communist Russia?) John Paul I said, “God is our father, and above all God is our Mother.”
Mary is our Mother Goddess. She embodies the Motherhood of God in her person—mercy, compassion, justice. Merton wrote in Hagia Sophia:
O blessed, silent one, who speaks everywhere!
We do not hear the soft voice, the gentle voice, the
merciful and feminine.
We do not hear mercy, or yielding love, or non-resistance,
or non-reprisal. In her there are no reasons and no answers.Yet she is the candor of God’s light, the expression of His
simplicity.
We do not hear the uncomplaining pardon that bows
down the innocent visages of flowers to the dewy
earth. We do not see the Child who is prisoner in all
the people, and who says nothing. She smiles, for
though they have bound her, she cannot be a prisoner.
Not that she is strong, or clever, but simply that
she does not understand imprisonment.
The helpless one, abandoned to sweet sleep, him the
gentle one will awake: Sophia.
Mary is Sophia, the Mother of the New Creation, the incarnation of the Divine Feminine.
As the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mary represents the return of the divine feminine. "
Jesus came to end patriarchy and promote partnership as the will of God. My focus is on reintegrating the feminine face of God in our worship and ministry. See Delighting in the Feminine Face of God and Heart Talks with Mother God, two books that are available on amazon.com Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp, www.arcwp.org, sofiabmm@aol.com
This article is highly recommended!
"Jesus got his feminine heart from his Mother—peace, love, justice, mercy and compassion. These virtues are usually not attributed to males, especially in patriarchy which represents power, control, preservation of the status quo and domination.
Speaking of Mary, Harvey comments:
Any unbiased reading of the Magnificat makes clear, Mary was on the side of the marginalized, the defeated, the scorned, and the poor in a very unmetaphorical sense. The pure eyes of her love saw the misery of the world without any consolation, precisely because they also saw the total holiness of all created things and the plan of the divine love that the Father-Mother had willed for creation. (353)
Eliazondo contends that the Virgin of Guadalupe is so powerful a presence in the Americas because, the Mother of the New Creation, turned things around. The Virgin refers to Juan Diego as “My dignified one.” The Mother bestows status and dignity on Juan who before had thought of himself in this way:
Because in reality I am one of your campesinos, a piece of rope, a small ladder, the excrement of people: I am a leaf, they order me around, lead me by force; and you, my most abandoned Daughter, my Child, my Lady, and my Queen, send me to a place where I do not belong. (10)
Juan represents the conquered mestizos, victims of the violent conquest by the conquistadors. Mary sends Juan to a place of dignity in her son’s kin-dom.The Virgin is so powerful because she also brought about the conversion of the conquistadors. The patriarchal bishop of Mexico City obeyed her order to build a sanctuary in the hinterlands of the conquered campesinos. Do not miss the transformation here—a conquering patriarch obeys the command of a native woman, The Virgin. Oppressors and their victims now have the possibility to be transformed because of the Mother of the New Creation that spawned at Guadalupe. Both sides returned to the Mother and, the words of St. Bernard were made real, “Remember, O Most Holy Virgin, that is never was heard in any age that anyone turning to your protection was abandoned.” Mary told the children at Fatima, The greatest sin is to revel against the Motherhood of God, and to refuse to recognize me as the Mother of all human beings.” (Why did we not hear about this statement instead of all the condemnations of Communist Russia?) John Paul I said, “God is our father, and above all God is our Mother.”
Mary is our Mother Goddess. She embodies the Motherhood of God in her person—mercy, compassion, justice. Merton wrote in Hagia Sophia:
O blessed, silent one, who speaks everywhere!
We do not hear the soft voice, the gentle voice, the
merciful and feminine.
We do not hear mercy, or yielding love, or non-resistance,
or non-reprisal. In her there are no reasons and no answers.Yet she is the candor of God’s light, the expression of His
simplicity.
We do not hear the uncomplaining pardon that bows
down the innocent visages of flowers to the dewy
earth. We do not see the Child who is prisoner in all
the people, and who says nothing. She smiles, for
though they have bound her, she cannot be a prisoner.
Not that she is strong, or clever, but simply that
she does not understand imprisonment.
The helpless one, abandoned to sweet sleep, him the
gentle one will awake: Sophia.
Mary is Sophia, the Mother of the New Creation, the incarnation of the Divine Feminine.
As the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mary represents the return of the divine feminine. "
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Roy Bourgeois Calls on Pope Francis to Ordain Women Priests
My Prayer - Let Women Be Priests - NYTimes.com
...."Our loving God, who created us equal, is calling women to be priests in our Church. Let us welcome them and give thanks to God.”
"AFTER serving as a Roman Catholic priest for 40 years, I was expelled from the priesthood last November because of my public support for the ordination of women.
...."Our loving God, who created us equal, is calling women to be priests in our Church. Let us welcome them and give thanks to God.”
"AFTER serving as a Roman Catholic priest for 40 years, I was expelled from the priesthood last November because of my public support for the ordination of women.
Catholic priests say that the call to be a priest comes from God. As a young priest, I began to ask myself and my fellow priests: “Who are we, as men, to say that our call from God is authentic, but God’s call to women is not?” Isn’t our all-powerful God, who created the cosmos, capable of empowering a woman to be a priest?
Let’s face it. The problem is not with God, but with an all-male clerical culture that views women as lesser than men. Though I am not optimistic, I pray that the newly elected Pope Francis will rethink this antiquated and unholy doctrine.
I am 74 years old. I first felt God calling me to be a priest when I was serving in the Navy in Vietnam. I was accepted into the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers in New York and was ordained in 1972. After working with the poor of Bolivia for five years, I returned to the United States. In my years of ministry, I met many devout Catholic women who told me about their calling to the priesthood.
Their eagerness to serve God began to keep me awake at night. As Catholics, we are taught that men and women are created equal: “There is neither male nor female. In Christ you are one” (Galatians 3:28).
While Christ did not ordain any priests himself, as the Catholic scholar Garry Wills has pointed out in a controversial new book, the last two popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, stressed that the all-male priesthood is “our tradition” and that men and women are equal, but have different roles.
Their reasons for barring women from ordination bring back memories of my childhood in Louisiana. For 12 years I attended segregated schools and worshiped in a Catholic church that reserved the last five pews for blacks. We justified our prejudice by saying this was “our tradition” and that we were “separate but equal.” During all those years, I cannot remember one white person — not a teacher, parent, priest or student (myself included) — who dared to say, “There is a problem here, and it’s called racism.”
Where there is injustice, silence is complicity. What I have witnessed is a grave injustice against women, my church and our God, who called both men and women to be priests. I could not be silent. Sexism, like racism, is a sin. And no matter how hard we may try to justify discrimination against others, in the end, it is not the way of a loving God who created everyone of equal worth and dignity.
In sermons and talks, starting in the last decade, I called for the ordination of women. I even participated in the ordination of one. This poked the beehive of church patriarchy. In the fall of 2008, I received a letter from the Vatican stating that I was “causing grave scandal” in the Church and that I had 30 days to recant my public support for the ordination of women or I would be excommunicated.
Last month, in announcing his resignation, Pope Benedict said he made his decision after examining his conscience before God. In a similar fashion, in November 2008, I wrote the Vatican saying that human conscience is sacred because it always urges us to do what is right and what is just. And after examining my conscience before God, I could not repudiate my beliefs.
Four years went by, and I did not get a response from the Vatican. Though I had formally been excommunicated, I remained a priest with my Maryknoll Order and went about my ministry calling for gender equality in the Catholic Church. But last November, I received a telephone call from Maryknoll headquarters informing me that they had received an official letter from the Vatican. The letter said that I had been expelled from the priesthood and the Maryknoll community.
This phone call was one of the most difficult and painful moments of my life. But I have come to realize that what I have gone through is but a glimpse of what women in the church and in society have experienced for centuries.
A New York Times/CBS poll this month reported that 70 percent of Catholics in the United States believed that Pope Francis should allow women to be priests. In the midst of my sorrow and sadness, I am filled with hope, because I know that one day women in my church will be ordained — just as those segregated schools and churches in Louisiana are now integrated.
I have but one simple request for our new pope. I respectfully ask that he announce to the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world: “For many years we have been praying for God to send us more vocations to the priesthood. Our prayers have been answered. Our loving God, who created us equal, is calling women to be priests in our Church. Let us welcome them and give thanks to God.”
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Pope Francis Meets with Cristina Kirchner, President of Argentina, Will Pope Francis Treat Women As Equals in the Church?
http://abcnews.go.com/International/pope-francis-meets-argentine-president-cristina-kirchner/story?id=18753171
Bridget Mary's Response:
They looked like old friends from the body language and smiles.
Cristina Kirchner has challenged Francis on some of the hot button issues such as gay marriage, use of contraceptives, and sex education in public schools.
I wonder if Francis views women as equals in the church. He certainly has had personal experience and plenty of "dialogue" with Cristina Kirchner as an equal in Argentina.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
Bridget Mary's Response:
They looked like old friends from the body language and smiles.
Cristina Kirchner has challenged Francis on some of the hot button issues such as gay marriage, use of contraceptives, and sex education in public schools.
I wonder if Francis views women as equals in the church. He certainly has had personal experience and plenty of "dialogue" with Cristina Kirchner as an equal in Argentina.
Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
Official Biographer says Bergoglio/ Francis Supported Gay Unions
http://millennialjournal.com/2013/03/16/breaking-news-popes-official-biographer-says-he-supported-gay-unions/
"According to the new pope’s authorized biographer, Sergio Rubin, Bergoglio was politically wise enough to know the church couldn’t win a straight-on fight against gay marriage, so he urged his bishops to lobby for gay civil unions instead. It wasn’t until his proposal was shot down by the bishops’ conference that he publicly declared what Paulon described as the “war of God” — and the church lost the issue altogether.
Despite his conservatism, “Bergoglio is known for being moderate and finding a balance between reactionary and progressive sectors,” Paulon said. “When he came out strongly against gay marriage, he did it under pressure from the conservatives.”
Bridget Mary's Response:
Let's hope that as Pope, Francis will stand up for full equality of all in the Catholic Church. Now that would be a welcome change!
Bridget Mary Meehan, www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
"According to the new pope’s authorized biographer, Sergio Rubin, Bergoglio was politically wise enough to know the church couldn’t win a straight-on fight against gay marriage, so he urged his bishops to lobby for gay civil unions instead. It wasn’t until his proposal was shot down by the bishops’ conference that he publicly declared what Paulon described as the “war of God” — and the church lost the issue altogether.
Despite his conservatism, “Bergoglio is known for being moderate and finding a balance between reactionary and progressive sectors,” Paulon said. “When he came out strongly against gay marriage, he did it under pressure from the conservatives.”
Bridget Mary's Response:
Let's hope that as Pope, Francis will stand up for full equality of all in the Catholic Church. Now that would be a welcome change!
Bridget Mary Meehan, www.arcwp.org
sofiabmm@aol.com
Monday, March 18, 2013
Media Misses Deeper Justice Issues in Papal Coverage by Thomas C. Fox and Ivone Gebara/ Brazilian Liberation Theologian/National Catholic Reporter
Despite their value, the
media also have the power to distract us, writes Latin American theologian, Brazilian
Sister of Our Lady Ivone Gebara. They lull our minds and keep us from allowing
needed critical questions to surface. In the days leading up to the papal
election, many in Brazil and
around the world, she writes, were “hijacked” by live broadcasts from Rome Vatican
interests make it so willing to offer facilities for these transmissions?
"These questions, which
may not interest the wider public, continue to be significant for groups
concerned over the growth of consciousness among ourselves and all of humanity.
In large measure, she goes on, the telecommunication industry is responsible
for maintaining the secrecy surrounding Vatican
electoral policies. Secrecy, oaths, and the consequent sanctions when they are
not respected are an integral part of the industry. They create an impact and
make headlines. But this isn’t about a centuries-old tradition that will have
no real impact on the rest of the world. Rather, these are behaviors that end
up derailing the pursuit of dialogue among groups, or excluding some groups
from the necessary dialogue.
There is no criticism of this
perverse system, which continues to invoke the Holy Spirit in order to maintain
ultraconservative positions clothed in the pretext of religiosity and docile
submission. Official coverage allots no space for dissonant voices to be heard
(even at the risk of being stoned). Once in a while, light criticism is allowed
to surface, but it is quickly drowned out by the “status quo” imposed by the
prevailing ideology."
Gebara is one of Latin America ’s
leading theologians. She writes from the perspective of ecofeminism and
liberation theology. For nearly two decades Gebara has been a professor at the
Theological Institute of Recife
"New pope and geopolitics of secrecy"
Mar.
18, 2013
Full
text of Brazilian Theologian Sr. Ivone Gebara
Now that the initial shock of Buenos Aires Cardinal Bergoglio's election and the thrill of having a Latin American pope who is both cordial and friendly are over, it’s time for some reflection.
There is no criticism of this
perverse system, which continues to invoke the Holy Spirit in order to maintain
ultraconservative positions clothed in the pretext of religiosity and docile
submission. Official coverage allots no space for dissonant voices to be heard
(even at the risk of being stoned). Once in a while, light criticism is allowed
to surface, but it is quickly drowned out by the “status quo” imposed by the
prevailing ideology
They repeat that Pope Francis
uses public transportation, that he is close to the poor, that he cooks his own
meals and that the name he has chosen as pope shows his similarity to the great
saint of Assisi Argentina
The image of a kindly and
modest figure just elected by a group of cardinals assisted by the Holy Spirit
veils the reality of a man who in fact embodies numerous contradictions. More
recently the Brazilian newspapers (Folha de Sao Paulo, Estado de Sao Paulo)
have offered differing profiles of the new pope that give us a more realistic
idea of who he is.
In this light it becomes
clear that his election was, beyond doubt, part of a geopolitical offensive
involving competing interests and a balance of forces within the Catholic
world. An article by Julio C. Gambina published via Internet March 13 in
Argenpress, as well as information coming in from alternative groups in
Nicaragua, Venezuela, Brazil and especially Argentina have confirmed my
suspicions. The See of Peter and the Vatican
State
If something new is happening
politically in the South, there’s nothing better than a Pope from the South, a
Latin American, to confront this new political movement and preserve intact the
traditions of family and property. Such an affirmation undoubtedly dumps cold
water on this election's charm and on the thrill of seeing the multitude in the
St Peter’s square breaking into applause and joyful cheers when the figure of
Pope Francis appears. Many will say this criticism dampens the beauty of such
an emotional event as the election of a pope. Perhaps, but I believe this
critique is necessary.
The highly touted commitment
to evangelization as a Church priority seems instead to be a commitment to a
hierarchical order in a world where the elites reign and the people applaud in
great plazas, where they pray and sing and bubble over with high spirits,
invoking divine blessings upon the heads of their new political-religious
leaders.
The same doctrine, with
little variation, continues to be preached. There is no reflection, no
awakening of consciousness, no invitation to critical thinking. What is
invoked, instead, is a set of quasi-magical teachings. On the one hand, we have
a society awash with great spectacles that captivate us and urge us to accept
-- with a dose of romanticism -- the restraints imposed by the contemporary
system of order/disorder, and on the other a system of paternalistic handouts
that is equated with evangelization.
To go out into the streets
and give food to the poor and pray with prisoners is somewhat humanitarian, but
it does not solve the problem of social exclusion that afflicts many of the
world’s countries.
To write about “the
geopolitics of secrecy” in a moment of media euphoria amounts to spoiling the
party for the buyers and sellers in the Temple, content with stalls filled with
Rosaries, scapulars, bottles of holy water and the large and small statues of
many saints. The problem is that if we break the secret and pull the plug on
the allure of white smoke, we deflate the suspense of a secret conclave that
denies the Catholic people access to the information to which we have a
right—and lay bare those purple-clothed bodies with their sordid histories.
To break open this secrecy is
to give the lie to the political and religious system that governs the Roman
Catholic Church. It is to tear off the masks upholding it, and in this way to
open our hearts to real independence and responsibility for us all. Power games
are filled with cunning and deception, but there is also good faith. We are
capable of being impressed with a public gesture of affection and friendliness
without asking ourselves about this person's real life story. We don’t ask
ourselves about his past actions, his present behavior or his future
stratagems. The moment the amiable figure dressed in white appeared was enough
to impress us. We can be deeply touched by the new pope’s warm greeting, “Buona
sera” (“Good evening”), and then go to bed like well-behaved children blessed
by a kind daddy. We are no longer orphans--since being fatherless in a
patriarchal society is intolerable, even for a few days.
We are complicit in upholding
these shadowy powers, which charm and oppress us at the same time. We
ourselves—especially those of us who have more insight into these political and
religious processes—are responsible for the delusions these powers foist on the
lives of millions of people, especially those communicated through the
religious media. We ourselves can become so enthralled that we forget the power
games, the unseen manipulation and the cultivated theatrics so crucial for
these occasions.
We cannot make predictions
about the future direction of the Roman Catholic Church’s governance. But at
first glance it seems that we can’t hope for great change in its current structures
or policies. Significant change will come if Catholic Christian communities
take concrete action in deciding the direction in which Christianity will move.
If, that is, based on their own life needs, they are capable of saying how the
Gospel of Jesus can be expressed and lived in our lives today.
The geopolitics of secrecy
has huge interests to defend. It is part of a global power project in which the
forces of order are seen as being threatened by the social and cultural
revolutions underway in today’s world. To uphold the secret is to justify the
belief that in history there are powers superior to the life-force--and that
they are more decisive than the progress being made in our collective struggles
for dignity, bread, justice and mercy in the midst of the many troubles and
reversals that assault us along the way.
I end this short reflection
with the hope that we will not allow the light of freedom living within us to
go out, that we will continue to drink from the fountains of our dreams of dignity
and clarity, without being much impressed by these seemingly novel occurrences.
After all, it’s just one more Pope who has signed his name to an institution
that, despite its history of ups and downs, deserves to be transformed and
re-imagined for these times. Change can always occur, and we need to be open to
the small signs of hope that continually pop up all around us, even in our
world's most anachronistic institutions.
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