Author: Ellie Harty

You have probably heard of Brian D. McLaren, especially if you follow Richard Rohr’s postings.  I had not. But as I started to read more of his writings and consider his ideas as a resource for envisioning a renewed, inclusive, vibrant Church, I found many (although not all) of his overall concepts intriguing and invigorating.…
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I came across two approaches to managing and/or healing rifts. One focused on personal and the other on political, but I thought both had something pertinent to say about how we might – or in the one case might not – approach and/or heal our own difficulties with gender issues within Catholic leadership and ministry.…
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Often when I read the newspapers, magazines, even books, I see the most interesting connections to our own struggle for equality and inclusion of all genders in our Church. I’m a lover of analogies at the best of times and sometimes go into full connection mode when I feel as if I – and perhaps…
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Oh dear.  Another year.  Where and how to end the old?  Where and how to begin the new? What more can we possibly say?  What more can we possibly do? I know in my heart the answer is “Plenty!  So get moving!”  I ask, therefore, that the push/pull of Carlo Carretto’s “Letter” below resonate with…
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SO CLOSE AND YET… I guess, the more we read it, we can all be encouraged by Laudato Si. We could even go a step further and be proud. For a change, the Vatican is actually acting like a positive role model. I came across this briefing by Carol Glatz in the Catholic News Service:…
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This Thanksgiving I am especially thankful for all of you, and I am grateful for having a day of gratitude, a day of rest from the challenges, a day to remember and say thank you. Each year, as a mealtime grace, I read a passage from an article by Anne Lamott (Traveling Mercies, Grace Eventually,…
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The headline in the November 14, 2019 National Catholic Reporter flashed the latest news: Abortion preeminent issue, global warming not urgent, say bishops. Despite so very much to choose from, the declaration that climate change is not urgent and that abortion must take priority particularly fired my outrage. I have to say what young environmental…
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Did you notice the witnesses representing Women’s Ordination Worldwide outside the Amazon Synod last week wore not only purple for gender justice but green for environmental justice?  In fact, to emphasize how connected these two issues are, their banners and chants proclaimed: “Empowered Women will Save the Earth. Empowered Women will Save the Church.”  …
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Women!  Be more like men. Men, as you were.”  I love this quote from an October 13, 2019 New York Times article by Ruth Whippman titled “Why ‘Lean In’? It’s Time for Men to ‘Lean Out’.”  Not only does it show us what we’re up against, but it shows us an alternate way to proceed…
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Imagine having this staring at you: Plastered on a huge rear tire on the car in front of you, a huge Tweetie Bird, hands on hips, looking right at you and… scowling! Not too sweet – or “tweet” as Tweetie would say. He was definitely not about to utter his signature “I tought I thaw…
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