Most with whom I
share my Anger
at our abuse at the
hands of
a corrupt church
hierarchy
respond with
affirmation
and positive
encouragement
to keep on speaking
out
for all to hear.
Some, albeit only a
few,
bemoan it,
suggesting I be
more peace-like,
more accepting of a
church
that has
accomplished much good and
survived the
centuries
despite its human
frailties.
God knows that each
and every day that passes,
I consider simply
moving on
like thirty million
American Catholics
have already done,
leaving the
corruption and abuse
to its own demise.
But I keep being
reminded
(by whom I know not,
but suspect)
that silence in the
face of abuse is complicity;
that, as Martin
Luther King said,
We begin to die
when silent in the face of the things that really matter;
that, as Bishop
Desmond Tutu said,
Choosing to be
neutral in the face of oppression
is choosing the
side of the oppressor;
that, as Roy
Bourgeois urged,
We are all called
to speak out loudly
against the
hierarchical sins of discrimination;
and that
Over the Pope
stands my conscience
which must be
obeyed before all else.
Sister Joan
Chittister
urged those who
leave institutional church
to leave loudly so
all know why,
and those like me
who stay to help reform church
to stay LOUDLY.
As one of the
ordained Roman Catholic Woman Priests professed,
It’s a Ministry,
a Ministry of
Irritation.
Richard Rohr
said that
non-dualistic thinking
as part of an
Everything-Belongs Spirituality
does not preclude
the need
to speak out
against abuse and discrimination
as long as I don’t
let my anger possess me.
Does my anger
possess me?
I certainly am
passionate in my efforts,
but I daily work at
focusing
on life’s
positives,
on Spiritual Growth
and Nurturing
rather than
religious malfunctions,
on helping others
not get stuck or
trip over life’s stumbling blocks.
It surely would be
easier
to ignore, accept,
overlook
institutional
church corruption,
and simply pay,
pray, and obey.
Many do just that,
including the
ordained
who risk loss of
income, pension, and benefits.
(I judge them not.)
But not speaking
out against
the hierarchs who
make institutional church
so un-Christlike
is simply not part
of my DNA.
Mother Theresa
taught me that
True Peace
is not silence,
tranquility, restfulness,
but that True Peace
is
Love in Action.
So I will continue
to
Speak Out and
put my love of
church, as Jesus intended,
into Action.
Bridget Mary's Reflection
John's thoughts reflect the thoughts of millions of Catholics who stay in the church in order to reform the corrupt institution out of loving faithfulness to our community of faith. A ministry of irritation is a blessed exercise in transforming the old boys patriarchal club to an open, inclusive community worthy of Jesus in the Gospels. One could argue that the ministry of irritation is a time-honored, integral part of the prophetic call.
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp
No comments:
Post a Comment