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A Challenge to RTE: Margaret Lee
While it is satisfying that RTE has apologized unreservedly to Fr. Kevin Reynolds, I cannot help believing that we have replaced the arrogance of the institutional church with that of…
Diwali: The festival of lights
Sean McDonagh tells us of his experience of the celebration of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, in Fiji.
Sean also tells of the terrible air pollution the over exuberant use of fireworks during the festival caused in Delhi.
Any lessons for over enthusiastic thurible swingers?
All that He made is good
Fr. John Mannion in “Doctrine and Life” (Dominican publication) January, 2016 wrote about the dilemma that Gays present to the church.
The traditional response was, he said, “fed by a historical separation …. between scientific advancement and Thomistic moral theology.”
“The current theory explaining the biology of sexuality … has two complementary dimensions, one evolutionary, the other statistical.”
Outlining this theory, he states, that it “explains the major sexual phenomena currently the focus of controversy in most societies”.
“In medical circles, the curtain has irrevocably set on those who think that homosexuality is an illness which can be cured with psychological treatment.”
John concludes that “We live in a country which still calls itself Christian but where the level of scholarship needed to bridge the gap between modern man and a heritage of thousands of years is often conspicuous by its absence.”
New Models of Christian Community – Toward a Post-Clericalist Church
Werner G. Jeanrond writes in Doctrine and Life about models of church for the future.
“Christian communities are called to become communities of love – and not models of some perfect society with a well-ordered male hierarchy.”
“We live and work at the intersection of two competing models of Church: the Church as well-ordered society and the Church as dynamic community. “
“All kinds of conflicts may appear on the road toward a better Church. All kinds of vested interests will show their often ugly heads when challenged. But in the present period of transition, we are invited to remain faithful to God’s love command,…………. this love command applies also in any struggle within our Church.”
Mary McAleese to Pope Francis -‘develop a credible strategy for the inclusion of women as equals’
A report on the Voices of Faith International Women’s Day Conference from the National Catholic Reporter and the text of the talk given by former President Mary McAleese.
“Today, we challenge Pope Francis to develop a credible strategy for the inclusion of women as equals throughout the church’s root and branch infrastructure, including its decision-making.”
Mary McAleese
The Way of Francis – a real alternative
Brendan Hoban writing in the Western People wonders what would happen if Francis was more like Trump in his approach to change; “It would be interesting to imagine, for a moment, what might happen to the Catholic Church if Francis was to adopt Trump’s more robust approach.”
He concludes “But clearly that’s not Francis’ way. Because he believes that how you do something is just as important as what you do.”