Two articles that remind us of the huge responsibility there is on all church members to ensure they are not risking life or health when re-opening after lockdowns.
An Irish Times story about a Dublin church being forced to close after ignoring regulations also covers the comment by Archbishop Martin of Dublin about the need to respect the sacrifices made by so many.
“The current public health policy has required sacrifice on the part of all of us. People have accepted that. I think of those who have had to bury a loved one without the normal process of grieving, with funeral rites limited to a bare minimum. We must show respect for those whose sacrifice has been greatest.
Public health policy will only work when its proposals and sequencing are fully respected by all. There is no room for self-dispensation from or self-interpretation of the norms. Jumping the queue by individuals or communities puts everyone at risk”
In another article
Michael J. O’Loughlin of americamagazine.org interviews a man we have become familiar with on our TV news programmes, Dr. Anthony Fauci.
““There have been situations in multiple countries where the source of the cluster was a church service,” he said. “That’s the reason why we gotta be so careful about that.”
As a result, even if churches are open, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions should consider staying home, “because they really are at high risk,” he said. “It would be so tragic for someone who just comes to a place of worship, gets sick themselves, or gets infected and brings it home to an elderly person who might have a compromising comorbidity, and the person gets seriously ill and dies.”
Angela Hanley’s review of ‘Women’s Ordination in the Catholic Church’ by John O’Brien is well worth reading
https://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2020/10/angela-hanleys-review-of-womens-ordination-in-the-catholic-church-by-john-obrien/
Thank you Soline for that timely reminder of Angela Hanley’s noteworthy review.
Today I listened to our Deacon give his homily. He is a lovely man and has grown in his role as a Deacon over the years with his depth of knowledge having increased noticeably over the years and his confidence growing as he becomes more experienced in his role. Yet every time he preaches his homily a sadness prevails over me as I wonder what homily some of our women in the Parish would have given, what words of faith/wisdom/encouragement would they have shared with us- some of these ladies already have degrees in Theology or Religious studies. If we had non gender-specific deacons, wouldn’t that be just lovely to hear rather than the silenced voices that haunt the same space.
Our PP told us how much on-line donations were received this week .. paltry amounts unfortunately. I feel for him, it is not a nice position to be put in at any time, asking for monies and at this time it must be particularly tough for many reasons. However, women can no longer look at this from a local level only, we must look at the bigger picture and the bigger picture is one of an institution that runs on a foundation of male supremacy, a power game, a closed shop approach. This has no place in our society now and certainly women do not wish to be associated with this inequality let alone support its continuation, and a great many men as we know feel the same.
AB-elect Dermot Farrell said in his interview posted on this site on 4th Jan.
https://www.associationofcatholicpriests.ie/2021/01/full-interview-with-dublin-archbishop-elect-dermot-farrell-by-patsy-mcgarry-the-irish-times/
Women priests/deacons.
“Pope Francis has put a new Commission in place. In terms of a way to go, that’s a way to go……
The danger is such change could lead to a schismatic church….
That’s a huge issue. What Pope Francis has done is that he has initiated the debate …but it’s going to be slow. I don’t think it’s going to be done overnight. There’ll be a lot of discussion.”
Regardless of his personal subjective preference he has said that there will be a lot of discussion. Meanwhile the ladies that could be Deacons remain silenced whilst the men talk about talks – it appears to be serious time wasting in the hope of appeasing misogynists … why? Is there not already a schism between lay and religious that is getting wider? Do vibrant parishes exist only because of certain priests being in situ rather than being helped by objective-based practises based on our Faith and shared commitment by all?
I do hope that this discussion does not reduce to being merely of an academic nature, Angela Hanley and Soline both feel that John O’Brien has done us a great service in writing a book that deserves further discussion. Perhaps it will also help diminish the need for more academic debate and hasten the path to action.
Soline and Phil, there is also an excellent book by John Wijngaards:
“What they don’t teach you in Catholic College. Women in the priesthood and the mind of Christ.”
#2 Phil,I agree with your observation that the institution runs on a foundation of male supremacy. When more church members see through the incense fog that masks it as ”the will of God” or ”the example of Christ”, and have the love and courage to speak, live and act accordingly, we will experience anew the liberating Good News that
”in Christ there is no longer male and female”.
Stop male supremacy in the catholic church:
https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/ordain-women-priests-billboard-campaign-expands-new-orleans
#3 Thank you Paddy. I have this book by John Wijngaards. He has been a lifelong advocate of women’s equality.
Blessings on the feast of St Brigid…ordained a bishop by St Mel!
Here is a video link to John O’Brien’s excellent talk:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/-scNcKQFxuPfjXBZocdi9k89TKogUtzIEkejx3kKYye1XAiDngV1Tiktiovjx1PaivOZjyuNi0cWmTQ.t0hqJdycX48CIm9-?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=o-lRkzMpSsuKCTdsVGfUPw.1612775218222.c5fe66e55e0952e404bc4c294c761e98&_x_zm_rhtaid=533