Month: July 2018

Transition periods are unpleasant, to say the least. Shifting from what came before to what is to come is often a circuitous path without visible markers. Some transitions are abrupt and bring their own difficulties, but many transitions linger with us. In these slow transitions, we break from the past without quite propelling into the…
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Few church leaders embraced Vatican II like Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, who as a young bishop attended all four conciliar sessions and returned to the U.S. with a prophetic vision for implementing the Council’s teachings. Sadly, he passed away earlier this week at age 96. Hunthausen advocated for oppressed persons everywhere. He protested nuclear weapons as…
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Feast of St. Mary Magdalene – Readings This is only the second year since Pope Francis elevated the celebration of St. Mary Magdalene to a feast day, at the same level as the other apostles. Since her feast falls on a Sunday this year, many churches may not hear the readings. But, using the feast readings…
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While I am a cradle Catholic, over the past few years I have found myself captivated by the practice of shamanism.  What draws me in is the emphasis on the spiritual connection with all the living—humans, plants, animals, the earth.  A few months ago I was out on retreat in the remote wilderness of Wisconsin…
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I love the designated theme of this year’s Mary Magdalene Feast: “Celebrating Feminism & Faith in Union”. With this focus, how proudly we can join with other Catholic renewal groups in affirming the national and international Women’s Marches, #MeToo and #CatholicToo, all brave advocates for justice and rights of women, and those who participated in…
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I have to admit that I have not read the “Theology of the Body” (TOB). During the years that John Paul II (JPII) gave these weekly addresses, 1979 to 1984, I was living my own mind-body duality: ending and starting marriages while getting a PHD in American Civilization. So I can’t answer Luis Gutierrez’s questions…
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There is a wonderful half hour series on some PBS stations (and probably podcasts, too) called Poetry in America. It highlights how poets and poems have informed, enlightened and inspired our thinking on all kinds of issues. Check out, as an example, the one focusing on Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem, “To Prisoners”. Because I have been…
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A couple of weeks ago, a man at liturgy in our small faith community suggested that women would never use violent tactics. In my inimitable fashion, I immediately shot back that no man can limit the tactics women choose to use, and that such distinctions – about women being better, more peaceful, more dialogic, than…
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I cannot leave this holiday, our “Independence Day,” without comment. I write as thousands on June 30 are rallying for immigrants coming to this, my country, fleeing oppression, violence, violation, and extreme, poverty to be granted asylum, and for their families detained in this, my country, to be reunited immediately. I had intended to go…
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