"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