Tag: catholic church

They surprise me, these Bishops. A measure of transparency surrounds the USCCB meeting next Tuesday and Wednesday. A news release lists items on the agenda for the plenary sessions with links to relevant documents. There’s a live stream and social media coverage. WOW! But before I knew all this, I made a list of some…
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As we prepare to get an extra hour’s sleep, let’s rest easy and think about what might happen because of the amazing summary reports of the national and universal synod process. We the laity suddenly have our concerns revealed to all the world. We can whip out these documents as things come up – and…
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Doors are cracking open. Forbidden topics (Women’s ordination!) are open for discussion. As the just newly released Vatican document says in so many words: ”Spaces in our tents are enlarging!” I am going to resist the temptation to say an exasperated ”finally!” and jump to celebration instead. It’s early days, of course. Nothing “magisterial” has…
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You know how you’re not supposed to discuss religion, politics, or sex if you want to have a peace-filled and conflict-free gathering among friends? Well, the other day, a group of us were talking about a book we had all read about modern Irish history which included as a predominant topic the collapse of the…
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The why: Is it “propitious” or pure chance that this week the National Catholic Reporter and America both feature the results of major surveys about American Catholic women? Are you reading this before or after the march in your community? Are you going as a Catholic feminist?  I hope you do. The who: The surveys…
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The idea behind “Boxing Day” hit me especially hard this year as I thought of us struggling to gain and keep women’s sacred and secular leadership in our Church. A bit of history about the day may strike you, too, with a certain uneasiness. According to Elaine Lemm writing on a website called The Spruce:…
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