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The Jesus Child
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Speak freely, boldly, and without fear.
John J. O Shea writes an open letter to 300+ delegates and alternates who are going to the synod from the different countries.
John J. challenges all to speak freely, boldly, and without fear about the true status of women in our church.
The Stripping of the Altars
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“The symbolism of today was very moving. The closing of a Church brought people to Mass! ……..
A new world of God, is opening up. We do need to be very creative. Buildings help it happen. It will occur in a very different way. We can knock down some of the structures of religion and become architects of a very new and simple faith. Pope Francis expresses it well how our Church has to grow and develop. We need to focus on faith-building rather than brick-building.”
Thank you so much for sharing that, Colm. I have only recently become aware of Fr. Diarmuid. Prompted by Tony Flannery’s essay, The Language of Doctrine, I began, for the first time in my adult life, to ask myself what I really understood the reality of God to be.
Again prompted by Tony I have now read Incarnation A new Evolutionary Threshold written by Diarmuid and others in our Edinburgh Newman circle have now read it too.
I keep telling people over here –despite everything else — what wonderful scholar, prophet priests we have at home in Ireland.
Diarmuid O’Murchu’s brilliant talk “Expanding our View of Christian Faith Today” is now available on this YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geNY18at8QY&fbclid=IwAR2INLD-zws5IPcGCQWWKOiHOkPr09ZEnCfm1MoX0B2NVPDEnnxOR8B0_JI
Here are some of the quotes from the Q & A session:
1. Pope Francis is trying to divest. He is living in ordinary accommodation. It will be organic; messy; untidy; huge numbers; business as usual.
2. When we change the level of awareness we discover the new reality.
3. The ‘Last Supper’ has been greatly exaggerated to perpetuate an all male leadership. Meals were cooked and hosted by women and women participated in them.
4. In 1970 theologians were 5% Lay and 95% Clerics
In 2020 theologians are 70% Lay and 30% Clerics
5. Think globally – act locally. Don’t disempower local.
6. In Brazil 50% of the forest is being destroyed. And 50% of our medicines come from trees and plants in the Amazon.
7. If there is a Synod in Ireland it should represent the authentic voice of the people and wise elders. It can only bring about good.
8. Three books by Diarmuid O’Murchu:
(a) “Christianity’s Dangerous Memory”
(b) “Incarnation”
(c) “When the Disciple comes of Age”
9. Recommended books:
(a) Paul Hawken “Blessed Unrest”
(b) Elizabeth Johnson “Truly Our Sister”
(c) Paul O’Loughlin “Eucharist”
(d) Carolyn Osiek, Janet H. Tulloch & Margaret MacDonald
“A Woman’s Place – House Churches in Early Christianity”