In Defense of My Anger by John Chuchman/ A, Prophetic Call , the Ministry of Irritation- Response by Bridget Mary Meehan

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

www.arcwp.org