Category Archives: trads and libs

December 14, 2011 · 9:32 pm

enlarging the tents vs. circling the wagons

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Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;

do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. Isaiah 54:2

 Several years ago, I was asked to be part of a visioning team with my dear Benedictine friends. The Sisters were discerning the future of the monastery in a time of diminishing and aging members. One Sister proposed this line from Isaiah as a mantra and guide.

What a courageous and inspiring image! These women refused to allow their hearts to mirror their shrinking numbers. Instead, they began looking at new ways to share their cherished charism. Not ready to roll up their tents, they dreamed of expansion by embracing new ways of thinking and of being. Today, part of the monastery has been refurbished into St. Benedict’s Place; independent living suites for seniors who “seek to age meaningfully and gracefully with others in a peace-filled environment.”

The image of enlarging tent sites is a useful metaphor in today’s world of ever-narrowing ideologies. The Tea Party in the U.S draws those who want to circle the wagons and hunker down into a security seeking conservatism. Many religions, including Roman Catholics, have groups that would happily wave farewell to all members who do not follow their own fundamentalist or traditionalist ideals.

For these groups, a smaller, “purer” community of the faithful is preferred to the messiness of diversity or dialogue. Clinging to a perceived golden age of the past is preferred to facing the challenges of new methods and new times.

In this dreaming time of Advent, it’s worth taking a moment to vision what our world and our church would look like if we all worked at enlarging the tent site. What if we stretched those stakes and cords further than we thought possible – welcoming others more freely rather than turning more away? What if we learned to expand our boundaries and embrace the risk of newness?

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October 4, 2011 · 11:55 am

the trad-lib pendulum in catechetics

My generation of baby-boomers was raised in the heady days after the Second Vatican Council. I am just old enough to remember Latin masses. And, I have a very clear recollection of the Baltimore-style Catechism in my early school years. Our religion classes consisted of memorizing, verbatim, responses to questions. I still remember the first two questions,

Who is God?

God is a Supreme Being. 

Why did God make you?

God made me to love Him and serve Him, in this world and the next. 

This is heady stuff for a six year old! Yup, back in St. Werburgh`s in Chester, England, we began the long journey through the Catechism as soon as we started school. The words SUPREME BEING, for some reason, terrified me. Is this what the fear of God is all about? And `the next world` sounded so eery!

We came to Canada when I was eight years old. The more liberal approach to catechetics was making its way into the parishes. Ours was named after good Pope John XXIII. For a couple of years we used more traditional text-books. Being a voracious reader, I loved these books; especially the ones on the lives of saints and Church history.

Slowly, the books were put aside and the art supplies came out. We were now taught that God was butterflies, and encouraged to express our faith through collages and drawings. We listened to Simon and Garfunkel and discussed the deeper message in their words.

As with most pendulum swings, going to extremes might have its strengths. But it almost always results in weakness for what is left behind and thrown away. We need a good grounding in the teachings of the Church. But, we need to ground it in a faith of the heart otherwise it becomes merely an intellectual activity. We need to tap into our emotions, for our emotions help our souls to soar! But love that is based solely on emotional feelings is bound to fail. We need deeply formed roots; a mind and will to remind us of the roots of our faith and why we believe.

And what about Simon and Garfunkel? I still love the lads. They taught me to seek the wisdom and truth in art and culture; whether it is a top 40`s hit, a symphony, a T.V. show, a witty ad, or a brilliantly done graphic design. God can, and does speaks through all. And, isn`t it good to seek God in the world around us?

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October 2, 2011 · 4:24 pm

roamin` catholics

Friends and family are well acquainted with my feelings about a certain Christmas homily from several years past. In front of a church of regulars and many `C and E` Catholics, the pastor announced loudly and strongly that the most important place to be in the world is inside the four walls of this church!

The memory of those words set me off on a long, impassioned rant. I`ll challenge that belief straight from the depths of my gut, spewing forth my anger at such a closed-minded and judgmental theology. There are those that are in. And those that are out. Choosing which category a person falls into is easy…does their back-side warm a pew on a Sunday morning?

Today, another pastor challenged us to be roamin`Catholics. We are called to go beyond the walls of the church; beyond the altar and tabernacle and into the world. Our faith is not a Sunday morning activity. It is meant to be a life choice, shared through our daily lives. AMEN!!!

This difference in views might not seem like a big deal. But it really is a big deal. Some folks view their faith as a call to barricade themselves from the rest of the world. The world is evil. The Church is good. Therefore, we should have as little to do with the former and give all our time and energy to the latter. This kind of ecclesial-centric faith emphasizes the liturgy and sacraments. And, since the liturgy and sacraments are number one, then so are her ministers. This is at the core of clericalism. The more this mentality is fed, the more power is hoarded and the greater is the divide between the ordained and laity.

Being called beyond the walls of the church does not minimize the importance of the liturgy and sacraments. Catholics believe in the efficacious grace of sacraments. We need their healing, nourishing, energizing, and forgiving gifts, given so freely and generously by a loving God. We need to gather as a community of faith and prayer. But we gather in order to be sent.

We are all called to be roamin` catholics. This is at the heart of the new evangelization, spoken about so frequently by recent Popes and Bishops. It is time to unlock the proverbial tabernacles and truly bring Jesus into the world.

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September 22, 2011 · 4:50 pm

catholicism…the “quintessential dysfunctional family of the 21st century”

Robert McClory, over at NCR, has written a blog post after my own heart. Can We Talk? is a reflection on the responses he received on a previous post titled Dissent? Don’t You Dare!

In the first post, McClory explored the stifling of “thoughtful and earnest dissent” within the Catholic Church since Humanae Vitae. He believes that, “The curtailing of all dissent in this era does not serve the good of the church. Rather it leads to disruption, disintegration and disaster.”

The ensuing discussion from readers on his blog is a microcosm of the larger, vitriolic style of debate present in our church today. The loud voices on the right challenge any and all dissenters to unquestioning obedience to church teachings – or please leave. The loud voices on the left speak out for the right of each conscience, “without adding any qualification.” And, of course, there are the off-topic comments “perhaps influenced by the Republican presidential debaters”!

But there are other voices that offer hope. McClory writes,

These are thoughtful, searching folks who read, pray and ponder thorny problems like dissent without coming to rancorous or absolutist positions. The hang-up here is that these searchers, like the proverbial choir, talk only to like-minded associates, so their balance doesn’t get into the discussion. More often than not, it’s the extremists who frame the debate.

So can we talk?

I have this idea of a debate on dissent in the church, or better, a series of debates between qualified representatives from left and right — no grandstanding, no polarizing, no gotcha questions, no yelling.

Undoubtedly, the result would not lead to mass conversions from either camp, but it just might lower the decibel level, even set a tone of respect we haven’t seen in a long time.

Somehow, we’ve got to get out of this quagmire that has turned Catholicism into the quintessential dysfunctional family of the 21st century.

A big AMEN!!!

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September 7, 2011 · 11:39 am

truth vs love???

One of the dangers of reading too much, is that you store brilliant little nuggets in your brain and then forget where you read them! This is especially true when I`m cyber-surfing. I zip from local to national to international news, checking out several sites for balance. Then it`s time to check out the latest catholic news pages and blogs. Oh, and who can resist those tantalizing head-lines on the Yahoo home-page. Yes, of course I want to see the shocking fashion disaster on the latest red carpet…who doesn`t?!

I read recently (I don`t know where!) that our theology is affected by the emphasis we place on either truth or love. Oh no, yet another dividing line to categorize Catholics. Truth and love are central to our faith. How can we think of placing them in competition?

But, as is often the case, we build up a dichotomy by placing an undue emphasis on one to the detriment of the other. Church history is full of examples. The early councils concerned themselves with the heady question of the humanity and divinity of Jesus. They finally concluded that it`s not either-or, but both-and. Hard to wrap your head around, but such is the reality of mystery.

The reflection around truth-centered or love-centered theology goes something like this. Those who focus on the truth are more concerned about rules and regulations. Faithfulness is measured by obedience to the teachings of the church in all matters.

Those who focus on love are less concerned about dogmas, doctrines and ritual and more concerned about social justice and living the gospel in the world.

We have to be wary of any generalizations or over-simplifications. But, there is some truth (!) in this observation. And, as with other unnecessary dichotomies, they occur when we take the pendulum and swing it too aggressively in one direction or the other. And when we hang around on the extreme edges too long, the judging often begins. Traditionalists accuse the progressives of apostasy or heresy. Progressives accuse traditionalists of having a lack of gospel charity.

There is beauty and harmony when truth and love are in balance. How well do we balance truth and love in our own lives? Do you know someone who exemplifies this balance? What does their faith look like?

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July 20, 2011 · 6:00 am

Set-decorator Catholicism: The common traits of set-decorators | National Catholic Reporter

The first common characteristic of set-decorators is their affinity for surfaces. Professing commitment to the depths of the faith, they are obsessed with rustling cassocks, billowing capes, sounding bells and bows, the stuff, in short, with which they can redecorate the set of hierarchical Catholicism. If they build it, these clerics believe, the people will come.

via Set-decorator Catholicism: The common traits of set-decorators | National Catholic Reporter.

Have you ever read a piece of writing that had your head-a-bobbing in agreement? Have you ever been drawn into a metaphor so strongly that you are torn between lingering on each image and speed-reading to see what happens next? The above article is part two of a lengthy essay written by Eugene Cullen Kennedy. I read the first part  while on holidays and was itching to share it on this blog.

Kennedy uses the term `set-decorators`for those clerics who embrace the pre-Vatican II liturgical style of ritual, pomp and finery. The focus on fine fabrics and lace is only one aspect of this clerical culture. It also promotes an old-school style of authoritarianism that views the laity as disobedient children, and a style of leadership that allows no questioning or dialogue. The young seminarians who embrace this style of priesthood have one eye always open on future promotions in the Church. And there is more…

As always, the discussion board is a mixed bag of reactions. Readers love it or hate it. What do you think?

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June 27, 2011 · 10:19 am

corpus christi

image via Microsoft

Yesterday was Corpus Christi, or the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist, or Holy Communion, is central to our Catholic identity. It is the `source and summit` of our faith life and liturgical worship. Sadly, the theology surrounding this sacrament separates us from other Christian denominations. Ironically, it also divides us within our own Church.

When we receive Holy Communion under the appearance of bread and wine, we believe that it is really and truly the body and blood of Jesus and not just a sign or symbol of remembrance. We use dense words such as transubstantiation to try and explain the unexplainable. As with most mysteries, there are many layers and meanings beyond this core belief. Our theological or ideological leanings often determine which aspect is highlighted in our worship style. At the risk of over-simplifying or generalizing, traditionalists focus more on the real presence of Jesus in the consecrated bread and wine. Liberals or progressives focus more on the communal banquet table that feeds and unites us.

A focus on the real presence tends to place great importance on devotional practises and liturgical rites such as Eucharistic Adoration, Benedictions, and Corpus Christi processions. Individual piety and acts of devotion center on the Tabernacle and the consecrated host itself. It can be more exclusive, with high standards of who can and who cannot receive.

A focus on the communal aspect of Eucharist focuses on gathering in fellowship around the table of the Lord. The worship style is less formal and more communal, less focused on the person of the priest and more focused on the community. It tends towards inclusivity, with a desire to welcome all who come to the table.

A previous pastor used to focus on the real presence. His strong devotion was apparent in both his worship style and homilies. He often wore a Cope, a liturgical cape, changing vestments mid-way in the mass. After Communion, he dramatically kneeled in long prayer in front of the Tabernacle while we watched from the pews. Lengthy rules concerning reception of the Eucharist were repeatedly read in homilies and printed in bulletins. We had to bow – and he kept correcting how we bowed.

He preached that the most important place in the world was inside the four walls of the Church. Missing Mass was a grave sin. One First Communion Sunday, when pews were filled with non-Catholic family and friends unsure of when to sit and stand, he preached about Eucharistic miracles – hosts purportedly turning to real flesh and blood. I squirmed in the pew wondering what our visitors were thinking. What were the young boys and girls thinking? At the heart of his efforts was a deep devotion. But his methods were turning people away rather than drawing them in.

As with many aspects of our faith, the truth can be found in the middle of two extremes. If we truly believe in the sacramental presence of Jesus in the Eucharist then yes, we must receive with respect and devotion, ensuring that certain standards are in place. If we truly believe that it is a sacrament of love and unity, then we must also reflect this in how we welcome our sisters and brothers to the table.

 

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June 15, 2011 · 9:15 am

unhappy traditionalists vs unhappy progressives

In response to recent Catholic news headlines, a dear friend mused…

I find it interesting that unhappy traditionalists tend to send letters to Rome (witness the attacks on the Australian bishop, complaints against a newly named French bishop) while progressives unhappy with the status quo assemble and practice what they want to see in the church. This says a lot about our views of church!

It is an astute observation. On one side of the trenches we have Catholics who place all their faith and obedience in the hierarchical leadership (as long as the said leaders are of a traditional mind-set.) These Catholics are the loyal spies for orthodoxy, eyes and ears carefully tuned to spot the heresy or liturgical faux pas. It is their holy duty to record the failings of priests and fellow parishioners. They send regular, carefully written dispatches to their local chancery. If there are no sympathetic diocesan ears, or if the guilty party is the bishop himself, then the accusatory missives are sent directly to Rome.

On the other side of the trenches, we have the Catholics who have lost faith in the hierarchical structure of leadership in the Church. They support priests and bishops of integrity, but will not offer blind obedience based on ordination alone. They believe that the Church is the People of God, and it`s time for God`s people to stand up to injustices and inequality. They gather together for inspiration, support, and to strategize for change. The mere act of gathering will set off warning bells among traditionalists.

The former group believes that excommunications are an effective way of purifying the Church. The latter group does not bow to threats of censure or canonical punishments, as was shown in the recent gathering of the American Catholic Council.

I admit that the above descriptions are stereotypical caricatures, painted with very broad strokes. But it shows the deep theological differences that are present in our Church. As with all trench warfare, there is lots of noise and damage but little progress in finding common ground.

What will it take to cross over this ideological divide?

 

 

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February 26, 2011 · 6:00 am

baby boomer elders

Fifty is the new thirty, a phrase most probably coined by baby boomers. I’m part of this group born in the years 1946-1964. Our sheer numbers meant we were, and are, a force to be reckoned with. We posed a challenge to society in each of our life stages from birth to school to post-secondary education to the work force. Red flags are now being raised about our upcoming take-over of the elder demographic. Dire financial forecasts bemoan the heavy burden we will place on health care and social services. It’s a tough guilt trip after a life-time of working, raising and supporting children, and paying more than our fair share of taxes.

Recently I’ve been noticing another baby boomer guilt trip within our own church. I admit that I have no empirical proof for this observation, and I`m not trying to make any generalizations (which I dislike and seldom trust). It`s merely a simple observation after reading and  reflecting on  recent articles and online discussions.

Some more traditionally minded Catholics blame baby boomers for the post-Vatican II reforms – reforms they believe had a negative effect on the Church. Now we are being portrayed as aging hippies whose current reform efforts within the Church are being rejected by the younger generation.

Is this true? Do only middle-aged and older women care if the priesthood excludes them? Do movements like Call to Action, We are Church or Voice of the Faithful speak only to baby-boomers?

Traditionalists and liberals come in all ages, but are we facing a new trend in our church? Baby boomers led many of the protest movements of the latter half of the 20th century. They were the young voice challenging the traditions of the older generations. Are we now facing an era where the younger generation takes up the banner of traditionalism while the voice of reform and protest comes from the elders?

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February 9, 2011 · 6:00 am

holy optimism

In the beginning, God saw that it was good! These simple words, in the first chapter of Genesis, show a loving God affirming the goodness in all creation, delighting in bringing something out of nothingness and loving the results. All of the words attributed to God in scripture aren’t so optimistic, but these are the first words. This is how it SHOULD be!

One of the dangers of a zealous faith is becoming so committed to your vision of how things should be that you forget to see the goodness in what already is. A pessimistic lens not only clouds your vision to the goodness, but it feeds a judgmental mind and heart. It seeks out people and events that are not in tune with your own world-view in order to criticize, diminish, and demean them. It is the classic strategy of attacking another in order to build yourself up, or to rationalize your way of thinking and acting.

We see this zealous pessimism on both extremes of the trad-lib scale, in both the church and in the world. Traditionalists in the church can be so committed to their preferred style of worship and doctrinal interpretation, that they feel it is their divine call to criticize all others. In their criticism, they vehemently hurl accusations of unfaithfulness and unorthodoxy. Theirs is the right way. Theirs is the only way.

Liberals are just as capable of zealous pessimism. In our eagerness for reform, we often fail to stop and see the good that is worth keeping in our tradition and culture. In our anger at the inequalities, scandals, and bullying power games, we are quick to throw a blanket of judgment over all our leaders and the institutional structure in its entirety.

We need to see the holiness in optimism, in stopping to acknowledge God’s grace and gifts given freely and generously to all. Holy optimism is not being a Pollyanna, closing your eyes to anything that is evil or makes us uncomfortable. Sadly, sin IS present in the world and we mustn’t go through life with blinders on. We need to stand up to injustice and work for change. But, we must also remember to look at the half full glass with the eyes of our God who delighted in the act of creating.  And, with that same delight, we can raise the glass in a toast to all that is good!

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