Promoting a renewed
ordained ministry
in a renewed
Roman Catholic Church
March 15, 2019 |
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The Vatican Summit on Sex Abuse - Have the Bishops Learned Anything? --
No
Mary E. Hunt, rewire.news | February 27, 2019
The recently concluded Vatican summit on sexual abuse in the church was
framed in the same old top-down way that's at the heart of the problem.
Lay people, both women and men, experts in the law, psychology, and
theology were excluded. What could be more wrong with this picture?
Roma locuta; causa finita est, attributed to Augustine, means: “Rome
has spoken, the matter is closed.” So it is. Sordid details emerging of
Australian Cardinal George Pell’s conviction on “multiple historical
child sex offenses” are no great shock. They only confirm the general
consensus that the recent Roman summit was a dismal failure of nerve
and justice at a time when only nerve and justice will suffice.
Read
More
The
Vatican Summit on Sex Abuse - Have the Bishops Learned Anything? -- Yes
By Austen Ivereigh, commonwealmagazine.org | February 25, 2019
The contrast was little short of amazing. On the one hand, you had the
experience inside the synod hall by the end of last week’s Vatican
abuse summit, with talk of a new resolve and clarity. On the other, you
had the scorn from victims’ groups who saw only missed opportunities.
Nothing like this had ever been done before: to use a synodal process
to effect a global institutional conversion aimed at overcoming
mechanisms of denial and resistance. Inside, 190 church leaders were
becoming crusaders against child abuse, a shift that was especially
notable among the presidents of bishops’ conferences from Asia and
Africa, some of whom began the February 21–24 meeting saying this
wasn’t their problem. Yet outside, survivors’ spokespeople said the
summit was just a wordy exercise for show, one that avoided the real
task.
Read
More
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JBK
Happy Color
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Contents
-
International Women's Day
-
The
Vatican Summit on Sex Abuse - Have the Bishops Learned Anything? -- No
-
The
Vatican Summit on Sex Abuse - Have the Bishops Learned Anything? -- Yes
-
A
pilgrim's progress
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Comments
to the Editor
- Book Review: I, the Woman, Planted the Tree: A Journey Through Dreams to the Feminine -- Pearl E. Gregor (Author)
-
Visitor
Countries to The Review this week
-
Featured
Link
-
Tech
Tip
-
RCWP
Canada now has authorization from Canada Revenue Agency for charitable
status
-
RCWP
Canada Bishop's Message
-
Confessions
of a millennial, gay Catholic: being gay and Catholic
-
'Vatican
I (One, not Two)' examines pre-conciliar movements that threatened the
church today
-
Why
Celibacy Matters -- How the critique of Catholicism changes and yet
remains the same
-
Tradition
as a counter-argument does not convince German Bishop Feige: Ordination
for women will come
-
Welcome
to my world: Notes on the reception of Frédéric Martel's bombshell
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Called
to be a Priest -- Life of a woman from Baptism to Ordination
-
Francis
Comic Strip
-
Form
for Comments to the Editor
-
Links
to RCWP Canada website and other progressive websites and blogs
RCWP
Canada Bishop's Message
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God, you are my light, my
salvation – whom shall I fear?
Each year during Lent we
are called to give some extra attention to our life-long journey as
disciples of Jesus which leads us into the fullness of God's love for
us. As we attune ourselves to the Sacred Scriptures we hear the call
to reconnect with the goodness instilled within us and to discover
ways that we can live into persons of greater love. We do not journey
alone but as part of God's creation. We travel with the
companionship of people of faith around the world – sisters and
brothers in the Risen Christ, the Light of the World.
The Second Sunday of Lent
challenges us to see ourselves in the light of God. From the breath
of creation God said, “Let there be light!” Light enables us to
see things differently than we do in darkness. As the day dawns we
can see objects, we can detect movement, we can see colour, we gain
perspective of things in relation to other things as the fullness of
daylight comes. And with the ability to see which light gives us, we
loose our fear of “things that go bump in the night.” The light
of God also enables us to see our attitudes and actions in different
dimensions. As we allow the Light of God to shine upon us we can see
ourselves as God sees us, and be seen as God sees us. And we do not
need to be afraid because our God is all Goodness and Love.
In our first reading,
Abraham is asked to look at the stars and see himself as one favoured
by God with a destiny beyond his imagination. He dared to journey
into the unknown and allow God to fulfil through him the promise of a
great nation. We regard him as a great ancestor in faith. In Luke's
account of the Transfiguration, three of the disciples who were
leaders in the early church are given the opportunity to see Jesus in
a different light from which they were accustomed. In radiant light
and the appearance of Moses and Elijah, Jesus is presenting them with
a future vision and inviting them to be part of his destiny. This is
beyond their imagination and Peter proposes three tents to fix the
moment rather than let it unfold into the unimaginable. Going down
the mountain they found it hard to get their heads around what
“rising from the dead” could mean. Only later, after the
Resurrection, did they begin to understand.
As I allow myself to be
drawn into these images of light and feel their energy surge in my
soul I ask myself what of my original goodness can I connect with?
Where can I allow myself to be challenged to go beyond where I am now
to be a more faithful disciple of Jesus? How can I radiate the light
of God's all-embracing love and be a bearer of the Good News? What
fears do I have that are unfounded in the light of God's love for me?
Read More
+
Jane
[Jane
Kryzanowski, Regina, SK, is bishop for RCWP Canada]
Confessions of a millennial, gay
Catholic: being gay and Catholic
Luke Gilmore, ignation.ca
| February 23, 2019
Five words have made being gay and Catholic easier over the past five
years. Those words are: Who am I to judge? But recently, that easy
confidence I had seems to be wilting in face of comments made by
clergymen from across the world and out of the lips of the man who
uttered those five words.
If you have been following Catholic news lately, you would have heard
that Pope Francis is concerned about having gay Catholics in the
priesthood. This new statement, which you can find in the new papal
book, follows similar statements made by other members of the clergy
this autumn, especially in regards to the sex abuse crisis.
I know that in previous posts I have tackled this issue somewhat, but
it seems that we still need to come back to it.
Read
More
'Vatican
I (One, not Two)' examines pre-conciliar movements that threatened the
church today
Michael
Sean Winters, ncronline.org
| March 1, 2019
Jesuit
Fr. John O'Malley has delivered a much needed and very informative
history, Vatican I: The Council and the Making of the Ultramontane
Church. When we read the word "post-conciliar" we assume the writer
means after Vatican II, but O'Malley's book shows the many ways in
which the church we know is still very much shaped by the First, not
only the Second, Vatican Council. Put differently, the modern church is
still, in certain ways, the work of reactionaries.
Read
More
Why Celibacy Matters
-- How the critique of Catholicism changes and yet remains the same
Ross Douthat, nytimes.com
| Feb. 23, 2019
The rhetoric of anti-Catholicism, whether its sources are Protestant or
secular, has always insisted that the church of Rome is the enemy of
what you might call healthy sexuality. This rhetorical trope has
persisted despite radical redefinitions of what healthy sexuality
means; one sexual culture overthrows another, but Catholicism remains
eternally condemned.
Read
More
Tradition as a
counter-argument does not convince German Bishop Feige: Ordination for
women will come
Catholic News Agency, katholisch.de
| February 12, 2019
Magdeburg Bishop Gerhard Feige keeps open the question of a priestly
ordination of women. "To reject this rigorously and to argue only with
tradition is no longer convincing," said Feige on Tuesday in an
interview with the Catholic News Agency (KNA).
At the same time, he emphasized that at the moment he considers the
possibility of consecrating women priests unlikely, since many
Catholics would not support this and would break the unity of the
Church. "On the other hand, this will come," added Feige. "Some time
ago I would not have thought that way."
Read
More
Welcome
to my world: Notes on the reception of Frédéric Martel's bombshell
James
Alison, abc.net.au
| February 23, 2019
So,
the other shoe has finally dropped. The veil has been removed from what
the French rather gloriously call a secret de Polichinelle ― an open
secret: one that "everybody knows" but for which the evidence is both
elusive and never really sought. The merely anecdotal is, at last,
acquiring the contours of sociological visibility.
Frédéric
Martel's book In the Closet of the Vatican: Power,
Homosexuality and Hypocrisy is the first attempt of which I
am aware at a properly researched answer to the question: "How and why
is it that the principal institutional obstacle to LGBT rights at the
worldwide level appears itself to be massively staffed by gay men?"
Read
More of this 12 page article
Called
to be a Priest -- Life of a woman from Baptism to Ordination
Bridget
Mary Meehan, bridgetmarys.blogspot.com
| December 26, 2018
One
night as St. Teresa of Avila prayed, she heard laughter everywhere and
God said to her, " enjoy me." Perhaps, this is the divine message to
the hierarchy about women priests!
Like
bright rays of sunlight streaming through fluffy white clouds, God's
loving presence has illuminated my path from childhood days. When I
reflect on my memories of an Irish childhood I realize that the
Catholic Church is in my DNA.
Read
More
Visitor Countries to The
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A pilgrim's progress
Marie Bouclin, Special
to The Review | March 15, 2019
Dear members and friends of RCWP Canada,
Some of you may be familiar with my "end of year" travelogue letters.
Although this trip began as an admittedly privileged first-world
holiday with Virginia (CNWE Ottawa) and Raymond in Italy, it truly
turned into a pilgrimage. First because we visited an average of two
churches a day and secondly because we walked between seven and ten
miles every day. However, we did no fasting, far from it, and were
lodged very comfortably. I'm sharing the experience because each and
every one of you came to mind as we paused, often overwhelmed by the
splendour of our surroundings, sometimes staying for Mass (most often
with the priest facing the back wall), sometimes lighting a candle or
simply taking time for reflection. The entire experience was a gift of
affirmation, especially for those who believe God calls women to
ordained ministry.
Some highlights:
MB photo
The most outstanding was a visit to the basilica of Saint Praxedis. If
you've read Dorothy Irvin's wonderful calendars on "ordained women in
the Early Church", you will know about its breathtaking mosaics.
As soon as the curator/custodian led us to his souvenir stall, I
pointed to the picture of the "famous four" - Theodora Episcopa,
Pudentia, Mary and Praxedis saying,"I want to see this."
He was so excited by our enthusiasm that he lit up the side altar and
began telling us in his broken English that we were in the oldest
church in Rome, built on the home owned by Praxedis and Pudentia,
daughters of senator Pudens mentioned in the Second Letter to Timothy
(4:12). He also mentioned Petronilla, St. Peter's daughter.
I felt the presence of our foremothers in the faith, founders of house
churches. And there they were in all their glory! Praxedis is quite
beautiful! It made me smile that, according to the "male-stream" book,
Theodora was given the title "Episcopa" because she was the mother of
Pope Pascal I of the fifth century. Dorothy Irvin would beg to differ.
But what struck me in the mosaic is the equality in Christ of men and
women. Paul and Peter come together, shoulder to shoulder with women,
to Christ.
My attention was diverted by a groups of students and their young and
handsome priest/seminarian (they all wear collars). I asked him about
the women in the mosaics. He dismissed me with, "I have no idea". So,
as they were leaving I spoke to some young women in his group, telling
them my excitement as seeing with my own eyes, recorded for all time,
that there were women deacons, priests and bishops in the Early Church.
They were curious and attentive but were quickly called by "Father" to
"come along".
Oh how I wished I'd brought my business card!
The next day we visited the Catacomb of Saint Domitilla.
Our guide, Laura, was excellent and it was there that I was able to see
the fresco of Veneranda.
MB photo
Again an affirmation of ordained ministry. I told Laura that this was
incontrovertible evidence that there were ordained women then and that
there still are today. I suggested she google Ludmila Javarova and
RCWP. She said she would, adding that it made her really sad that the
hierarchy were so closed to women. What saddened me was that this
bright and literate woman, clearly versed in archaeology, had only
heard the male-stream version of history. I'd love to be a
fly on
the wall the next time she explains Veneranda and other frescoes in the
Catacombs!
MB photo
I should mention that we did stop in at the Vatican. Virginia had hoped
to hand deliver to Francis' residence, Casa Santa Marta, an envelope of
letters. Not possible, so we visited an exhibition of Russian art,
including some very famous icons of the Trinity.
Later in the week, we took the train to Assisi. We climbed the 90 steps
(know that I'm prone to vertigo) after the very steep hill to the
Basilica. At his tomb in the crypt, I asked Francis to be our guide as
people who are in our day called to rebuild the Church, thinking to
myself that he must have rolled over in his grave when they built such
a huge church, however impressive, in his honour. That wasn't, in my
opinion, what he heard Christ ask of him... Hoping to relay the same
message to Santa Chiara, Albert and I climbed again for twenty minutes
to attend Mass at the cathedral next to her convent. There were about
twelve of us in a side chapel. No homily, just a time of reflection. On
the way back down to our B&B, I suggested to Albert that the
nuns'
singing of Vespers in three monasteries of Poor Clares and one of
Benedictines was a sign that Francis and Clare were with us "reformers".
The next day we went to ask Catherine of Sienna for her help in being
heard by the Pope. We visited the very cold cathedral of San Domenico
where her skull and right finger are displayed. Hopefully someone will
catch the ear of the current Pontiff.
In Florence we prayed at the Basilica San Lorenzo but more
interestingly, took in an exhibition called "Voices of Women", a
tribute to women writers from Antiquity, beginning with Sappho, 200 BCE
ending with French women of letters from the Renaissance. We also
visited the Chapel of the Medici's which is a bit of a metaphor all its
own. It has become a museum with works of art and sculpture by some of
the world's greatest, but it is no longer a place of prayer and
worship. Also, perhaps another metaphor, all the churches were cold and
cavernous.
There were many other moments of affirmation, many interesting
encounters, for instance telling a group of English students at
Sant'Agnese in Agone, where we attended Mass on the feast of Saint
Agnes, concelebrated by six (6) priests. Alas, no music, no singing.
Again, wishing I had my card, I did tell them to google Roman Catholic
Women Priests.
The day after we arrived home, I received a call from Jennifer Stark
who followed me as Coordinator of WOW in 2006. She sends greetings to
Danielle, especially, and Virginia and others she had met in Ottawa at
the 2005 Conference. She thought we should adopt the following by-line
when women inquire about ordination: "If God calls you, call me."
Sounds perfect!
Hoping you are affirmed and uplifted in the struggle for equality as I
hold you all in God's love, with a very grateful heart,
Marie
[Marie
Bouclin, Sudbury, ON, is bishop-emerita, RCWP Canada]
In the article, "Prohibition
on women priests could bring about 'slow death' of church,"
Sarah MacDonald asks the question: "What is the church afraid of?" In
this case, by "church" I assume she means institution. I would like to
offer one possible answer among many: The institution is afraid of
losing its power.
Concerned
Catholic, Regina, SK
Book Review: I, the Woman, Planted the Tree: A Journey Through Dreams to the Feminine -- Pearl E. Gregor (Author)
Michael Kenyon, Special to The Review | March 15, 2019
An
immersion experience for seekers, healers, and dreamers. This story is
real, gut-wrenching and a timeless story of woman's search for the
Divine Feminine. It is a birth, death and rebirth story for maiden,
mother and Crone.
A
surprising story of the desperation of and final release from seemingly
endless depression, this book is for those who have found no relief
either in talk therapy, the medical establishment, pharmaceuticals, or
conventional religious and cultural institutions.
An
immersion experience for seekers, healers and dreamers, this book is a
journey into the dark feminine. This is a real, gut-wrenching and
timeless story of woman's search for the Divine Feminine.
A
surprising story of the desperation and final release from seemingly
endless depression, this book is for those who have found no relief
either in talk therapy, the medical establishment, pharmaceuticals, or
conventional religious and cultural institutions. It will appeal to
many resting in an uncomfortable church pew or those who have abandoned
the pew but suffer with, flashbacks and the longing for communion with
All.
No matter what gender, most people are living deep patriarchal consciousness with no awareness of its presence.
"A
century ago Sigmund Freud said, 'Dreams are the royal road to the
unconscious.' Carl Jung agreed but was more subtle. 'The dream is a
little hidden door in the innermost and most secret recesses of the
psyche.' Working deeply with dreams, he went on to describe the
collective unconscious. Dreams have been noted and found important in
every culture on this planet; babies dream; animals dream. Pearl Gregor
had a dream in 1988 that changed her life. This is the story of the
dreamer and the dreams. Pearl sets aside her skills learned as an
educator and administrator to forge a brand new path into the dark
forest with the light of dreams to guide her.
This
book's main task is a plummeting within and a thorough examination of
the plummeting and rising process. There's also an invitation to the
reader to go on her own journey. This work is a revelation (of immanent
and transcendent Being), a psychoanalysis and an extended meditation on
being human. Oh, and it's a memoir."
[Michael
Kenyon, author and poet, lives in British Columbia. Book
review used with permission. The author, Pearl Gregor, lives at
New Sarepta, AB. Her book is available at Amazon.ca]
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