"Too Little, Too Late" Commonweal Article on Bishops vs. Prominent Theologian Elizabeth Johnson

http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/?p=15712

October 31, 2011, 12:27 pm
Posted by Grant Gallicho
“Nun Has Refused to Meet with Doctrine Committee, Cardinal Wuerl Reveals.” That’s the headline of a Catholic Culture story reporting on a press release put out on Friday by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Doctrine. There’s one problem with that headline. None of it is true.
A common criticism of the Committee on Doctrine’s conduct during l’affaire Johnson is that the bishops failed to engage her in dialogue before slamming her book Quest for the Living God. As the Catholic Theological Society of America board and membership have pointed out, the committee’s refusal to discuss its concerns with Johnson before issuing its critique violates the bishops’ own guidelines for handling such conflicts. Indeed, in her response to the committee’s most recent statement on the controversy, Elizabeth Johnson points out that “both publicly and privately I made clear my willingness to meet with Cardinal Wuerl and the committee to discuss these matters at any time…. No invitation was forthcoming to meet and discuss with the committee in person.”

Bridget Mary Meehan's Reflection
Quest for the Living God by Johnson is a theological masterpiece summarizing the cutting edge of theology. We are witnessing a "revolution" in the theology of God, Dr. Johnson states in her opening chapter.
It is high time that the hierarchy affirm that God is not male, a man in the sky, who has put men in charge of the church! Even Thomas Aquinas realized that " we see the necessity of giving to God many names" (Summa Contra Gentiles 1, 31:4)
All too often in the official prayers of the liturgy, God is named in exclusively male language. The Bible itself presents a variety of expressions for God such as "I am who I am," and diverse images like : father, mother, husband, female beloved, companion, and friend, shepherd, midwife, farmer, laundress, potter, physician, bakerwoman, teacher, artist, homemaker.
In my books, Exploring the Feminine Face of God, Delighting in the Feminine Divine and Heart Talks with Mother God, I introduce readers to feminine images of God for contemplation and discussion.
The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests have just released our new Inclusive Worship Aides which uses both inclusive language and imagery for God.
It is available on our web site for a donation to our movement. www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
www.associationofromancatholcwomenpriests.org