Bishop Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger Has Presided at Funerals and Weddings with Roman Catholic Male Priests In Austria- A Step Forward!
Bishop Christine Mayr-Lumetzberger presided at this funeral at which two Roman Catholic male priests also participated. (See photo I am sorry photo would transfer).
The funeral took place in an Austrian parish church (baroque style). The 2 priests are Roman Catholic male priests but even though they protested to the diocese that Bishop Christine was invited to preside, the wishes of the relatives of the deceased took precedence.
This is not the first time that Bishop Christine has made history. Last year she presided at a funeral held in a cathedral. There were 8 Roman Catholic male priests who participated in the liturgy and 500 people attended. Bishop Christine has also co-presided with a male Roman Catholic priest at a wedding in Austria.
This makes sense to me-- let the people choose! And they chose both a Roman Catholic Woman Bishop and Roman Catholic male priests! Three cheers for Austria!! Perhaps, this will be a trend for the future of partnership and equality in the Catholic Church!
Bridget Mary Meehan
Posted by Bridget Mary at 8:31 PM 1 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Life with those once Homeless
Today a college group had promised to take our residents bowling. The Preakness is a lower-economic apartment complex with a pool that is broken and 2 roofs we were told need to be replaced today. At the last minute the college students canceled the outing. I was upset as these folks do not have the money to go bowling or any small pleasure Americans take for granted. These young sorority sisters did not know what they were doing: building expectations then disappointing the residents once again.
Ginny and Carrie directors of the program immediately went to plan B: a BBQ and cook out. The afternoon was cool but sunny so tables could be set up on the porch of the club house so residents could socialize. Some of the apartment folks were invited to come. The owner of the apartments was in from Boston and remembered our dinner was on Wednesday so she dropped in, waited on folks and cleaned up too. She really bonded with the residents when she met them in the fall and was very happy to see "old friends."
JR and Dave did the cooking on the grill and it was the first time I saw JR who is facing major surgery really look happy. I thought "we need to do this all summer, once a week." I spent a long time talking with Walter who is a mystic, for example; "I was recently in the library and saw two men sitting on the bench on the third floor. I knew I was supposed to speak to them." Walter went over began a conversion, "I know you are planning to do something. Please do not do it." He found out that they were planning to commit suicide. He was able to convince them to seek out help at the Catholic Action.
What is amazing to him was he had attempted to commit suicide after returning from the service and unable to find a job to take care of his wife and newborn child. He went to the bridge over the Ohio River and jumped in. On the way to water which Walter said was, "Like hitting a cement wall" he heard, "It is not your time yet." He hit the water and is the first person to live doing so.
During the Christmas store, a local charity, Walter was security and one night kept a robbery from happening. He was awarded a good sum of money, interviewed on TV etc. Walter had plans on purchasing a car with his reward. However his son who does not have health insurance had a serious auto wreck. While driving with his daughter he had to have a seizure "He just froze at the wheel and we hit a wall." This son is 38 and has raised 3 daughters on his own. Two of the children are entering college this fall. Without a thought Walter turned his reward money over to his son to cover the bills.
Walter said, "It is more important to be good, to care for family than to have material possessions." Would that America were as wise as this one-who-has-been homeless is. I felt graced to be in his presence. Walter asked me to pray for him before he left, I felt I needed his prayers.
Michael who had been a brick layer all his life raised five daughters one now a lawyer, one a PHD. Michael spent a long time sharing about the residual suffering from a stroke he had about 4 years ago. "People don't know what it is like. They call me "slow poke." Some days I can't hold a glass, other days I do fine." Michael walks with a cane and loves to read. He is proud of his daughters and he does have his favorites. Michael said, "I set limits with the older girls, but the youngest named Michelle can do no wrong. "She tells me, "I am named after you daddy" and I can't say a thing because she is like me." But his eyes are shining as he talks to me and his voice is strong as he speaks with love in his voice.
I like Michael and it hurts me to hear him say, "It is so hard, I want to do, but I can't do things that used to be easy."
Everyone enjoyed the evening of dinner-hot dogs and beans; some played dominoes. I thought "Those young women lost a lot by not enjoying the company of these very special men and women, my friends."
Blessings everyone. I hope you reach out to those around you and use your gifts to build community with the love who is Jesus.
Ginny and Carrie directors of the program immediately went to plan B: a BBQ and cook out. The afternoon was cool but sunny so tables could be set up on the porch of the club house so residents could socialize. Some of the apartment folks were invited to come. The owner of the apartments was in from Boston and remembered our dinner was on Wednesday so she dropped in, waited on folks and cleaned up too. She really bonded with the residents when she met them in the fall and was very happy to see "old friends."
JR and Dave did the cooking on the grill and it was the first time I saw JR who is facing major surgery really look happy. I thought "we need to do this all summer, once a week." I spent a long time talking with Walter who is a mystic, for example; "I was recently in the library and saw two men sitting on the bench on the third floor. I knew I was supposed to speak to them." Walter went over began a conversion, "I know you are planning to do something. Please do not do it." He found out that they were planning to commit suicide. He was able to convince them to seek out help at the Catholic Action.
What is amazing to him was he had attempted to commit suicide after returning from the service and unable to find a job to take care of his wife and newborn child. He went to the bridge over the Ohio River and jumped in. On the way to water which Walter said was, "Like hitting a cement wall" he heard, "It is not your time yet." He hit the water and is the first person to live doing so.
During the Christmas store, a local charity, Walter was security and one night kept a robbery from happening. He was awarded a good sum of money, interviewed on TV etc. Walter had plans on purchasing a car with his reward. However his son who does not have health insurance had a serious auto wreck. While driving with his daughter he had to have a seizure "He just froze at the wheel and we hit a wall." This son is 38 and has raised 3 daughters on his own. Two of the children are entering college this fall. Without a thought Walter turned his reward money over to his son to cover the bills.
Walter said, "It is more important to be good, to care for family than to have material possessions." Would that America were as wise as this one-who-has-been homeless is. I felt graced to be in his presence. Walter asked me to pray for him before he left, I felt I needed his prayers.
Michael who had been a brick layer all his life raised five daughters one now a lawyer, one a PHD. Michael spent a long time sharing about the residual suffering from a stroke he had about 4 years ago. "People don't know what it is like. They call me "slow poke." Some days I can't hold a glass, other days I do fine." Michael walks with a cane and loves to read. He is proud of his daughters and he does have his favorites. Michael said, "I set limits with the older girls, but the youngest named Michelle can do no wrong. "She tells me, "I am named after you daddy" and I can't say a thing because she is like me." But his eyes are shining as he talks to me and his voice is strong as he speaks with love in his voice.
I like Michael and it hurts me to hear him say, "It is so hard, I want to do, but I can't do things that used to be easy."
Everyone enjoyed the evening of dinner-hot dogs and beans; some played dominoes. I thought "Those young women lost a lot by not enjoying the company of these very special men and women, my friends."
Blessings everyone. I hope you reach out to those around you and use your gifts to build community with the love who is Jesus.
The Story I Read to my Storytelling Class Today
I am taking a course from Pascal Bautte OSB and married priest. He asked us to write a story less than five minutes in length. I chose to write about where and when I was notified that my son, Lt. Jason Scott was injured in Iraq. The two men in the class had served in the Korean War, the three women including myself were grandmothers and peace makers and against war. One of the women asked me for a copy of the story. This is the first time I have written about that phone call and my experience of it.
I chose this event because of my feelings, the setting and the impact it had on my life. This notification started my individuation as a person (Jungian term). I have not stopped yet and will only stop when I die for it is a life long process and I have 62 years of unconsciousness to work on.
The News
I marched against the Vietnam War and in 1967 held my new-born daughter in my arms, “War is not healthy for children and any living thing” was and is my favorite poster saying.
I had a son Jason who joined the Army and was sent to
On an earlier visit to
I decided to spend a long weekend with my grandchildren 8, 7 and 3 in Tampa Fl. On Friday night October 15, we headed out to a Halloween party at the local zoo and went to bed about 10 PM. I read for a while and switched off the light. At about 1 in the morning, my bedroom light turned on.
“Mom, Dad just called Jason has been seriously injured.”
I came up from a deep sleep, “Lisa, What is going on?’
“Dad didn’t know, the army called, said Jason had been Very Seriously Injured VSI. He was on the way to Landstull (
I began to cry.
I got out of bed and we went to the family room where Charlie, Lisa’s husband sat.
A light from the kitchen provided our only illumination.
We were all groggy and in shock.
My only son…
I sat down by Charlie on the sofa.
Lisa and I began to cry.
We sat and hugged each other, reviewing the little information we had.
We cried in fear and our anguish.
“Lisa we don’t know what happened, we don’t know if Jason will live or die. Will he be blind? Will he never walk again? Let’s pray.” I led the prayer “Loving God heal Jason that he might live. Take all our feelings and use them to heal Jason. We choose not be angry but to forgive those who injured Jason.”
I had entered the combat zone and I will never leave.
Monday, April 26, 2010
What A Monday!
Got called for jury duty but was not picked as one of the 13 needed.
Would have been an interesting case. A Muslim supervisor fired a Roman Catholic because the plaintiff argues, "Religious discrimination" The Roman Catholic was a temp worker at a large employer. The firing arose he argues because he did not support the Muslim riots after the publishing of cartoons a couple of years back. Remember some folks were even killed by Muslims.
I can imagine the RC has his job record muddied. There were lots of legal types for the employer. I hope he gets an "impartial hearing" I told the juror, before I knew she would be picked, "I worked for Dept of Corrections. Wardens were always getting PO'd at a guard, firing them for no cause and we at the Director's level would have to defend the mess at arbitration." Same thing here I think.
I have no doubt the Muslim was mad as heck at the cartoon situation, not violent, and firing this RC was a way of showing his loyalty to Islam and expressing his own hostility. Since the RC was a temp, won't get his job back but maybe a settlement of some kind. At least that is my thought as a non-juror.
Then off to the eye MD's for yearly exam. Except this cute young MD said, "Your eyes are great, don't come back for two years!" They had hardly changed but because I did not go back last year when the glasses I did get were not working I headed out to the "ouch zone" I no longer have glasses insurance and ordered up myself a new pair of trifocals! $500 at least for my "afternoon out." Yipes I am so very glad that I have money for health care for now at least.
Came home, ate dinner then off to the YMCA for a treadmill, weights, back exercises and stretches. Now to bed.
I am so grateful for life and all my options. May your lives be so blessed.
I feel as if my soul is still sinking into being a priest.
I do not know what God has in store for me,
but I will be patient as God creates the door for me to walk through.
Would have been an interesting case. A Muslim supervisor fired a Roman Catholic because the plaintiff argues, "Religious discrimination" The Roman Catholic was a temp worker at a large employer. The firing arose he argues because he did not support the Muslim riots after the publishing of cartoons a couple of years back. Remember some folks were even killed by Muslims.
I can imagine the RC has his job record muddied. There were lots of legal types for the employer. I hope he gets an "impartial hearing" I told the juror, before I knew she would be picked, "I worked for Dept of Corrections. Wardens were always getting PO'd at a guard, firing them for no cause and we at the Director's level would have to defend the mess at arbitration." Same thing here I think.
I have no doubt the Muslim was mad as heck at the cartoon situation, not violent, and firing this RC was a way of showing his loyalty to Islam and expressing his own hostility. Since the RC was a temp, won't get his job back but maybe a settlement of some kind. At least that is my thought as a non-juror.
Then off to the eye MD's for yearly exam. Except this cute young MD said, "Your eyes are great, don't come back for two years!" They had hardly changed but because I did not go back last year when the glasses I did get were not working I headed out to the "ouch zone" I no longer have glasses insurance and ordered up myself a new pair of trifocals! $500 at least for my "afternoon out." Yipes I am so very glad that I have money for health care for now at least.
Came home, ate dinner then off to the YMCA for a treadmill, weights, back exercises and stretches. Now to bed.
I am so grateful for life and all my options. May your lives be so blessed.
I feel as if my soul is still sinking into being a priest.
I do not know what God has in store for me,
but I will be patient as God creates the door for me to walk through.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
An Inclusive Liturgy for Healing.
I am feeling mellow and tired after a beautiful day of liturgy.
Got up early to make the wonderful yeast rolls I use for the bread. Since I am on a restricted diet I forgot that I don't use eggs. Opened up the fridge, "NO eggs, yikes" So my yeast proving in a 2 cup measure, I dashed off to the Kroger's. "Wait, the local gas station may have eggs. Everybody sells everything in the 21st century." I stopped and sure enough Amish eggs, even. So I grabbed them and out the door I ran.
Back to the kitchen, the yeast was literally at the top of measuring cup! Happy little one-celled fellows, of course I had given them a "teaspoon full of sugar" to grow on and they sure did. The recipe makes two pans of 12 dinner rolls each. I would take the extra to give away.
Judy who called me to schedule one could not come because her husband who suffers from Parkinson disease had a TIA on Friday and was being released today. She felt badly but we all understood. Her son is a professional horse trainer and is here for the 3 week spring session of racing at Keeneland. Ray her spouse really likes his sons so this was blessing as Ray was confused and out of it. Her son stayed with him so Judy could go home to rest. It is so difficult for families with some of the chronic diseases of seniors. Ray has been ill for over 10 years: stroke, heart attach, Parkinson disease. I asked her was she getting help and she agreed that she would schedule home health care and PT for him. Judy is a lovely saint from Ireland and a true friend.
As I re-read the Scripture readings for the day I saw in synchronicity that today's reading from the AlAnon blue book was perfect for the day. It is a reminder that we cannot change the abuse in the RCC (alcoholic in our relationship). What we can change is our behavior which supports the abuser. As they say in AlAnon; "We didn't cause the behavior, we can't cure it, but we can contribute to it." Which lay Roman Catholics have done and done and done. As they say in AlAnon, we keep doing the same behavior and expect things to change-we are insane, our lives are unmanageable. As adult Roman Catholics must come of age, change our behavior and "stop the abuse" and I am not only talking pedophilia.
As I was thinking on the Good Shepherd I realized that my creche is still up and that I had plenty of sheep and a Shepherd to place on the altar as the center of focus. Which I did, I had my camera and am sorry that I did not take a photo, I will next time.
So six of us gathered at Ann's beautiful home built in 1882. She is an artist and creates masterpieces-that is the size of the painting. She is a long time feminist but always wanted to stay within her Roman Catholic tradition as she converted when she was 15. I will not name all the women as some are connected directly to the Roman Catholic Church and all attend their parishes regularly.
All the women want healing for themselves and and Roman Catholic faith community which was the theme for our Good Shepherd Sunday liturgy. I borrowed from the CTA liturgy of Ann Arbor MI for the gathering of the circle. A lighted candle is passed around and each person brings a joy, gratitude, something that happened this week, intention for the liturgy. This is a quiet time of reflection and acknowledging the needs in our life's circles. We bring these needs to our liturgy.
We used the liturgy written by a RCWP community of San Diego CA. We had used it when I co-celebrated with Bridget Mary in Sarasota at Easter time. I won't type it all but here is the Creed from Sr. Joan Chittester OSB:
We believe in God who made us all and whose divinity infuses life with the sacred.
We believe in multiple revelations of God, alive in every human heart, expressed in every culture, found in all the wisdoms of the world.
We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who leads us to the fullness of humanity, to what we are meant to become.
Through Christ, we become new people, called beyond the consequences of our brokenness, lifted to the fullness of life.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God on earth, who keeps the Christ vision present to souls yet in darkness, gives light to hearts now blind, infuses energy into spirits yet weary, isolated, searching and confused.
We believe in God who is life
Amen to courage, to hope, to spirit of truth, to nature, to happiness, to wholeness, to the partnership of women and men in God's plan, to the Christ who calls us beyond the boundaries of ourselves, to forgiveness, and to everything that stretches our hearts to the dimensions of God.
In all of this, we can surely believe, as God does.
Amen.
For the homily which is always shared when I preside, I wrote this meditation as a "homily starter." I will include it all as a model by which you may write your own. The theme was the Good Shepherd so to by-pass all our "previous learning" I wrote it so Jesus could speak to each of us within our own heart. The Evangelical Christians always ask, "Do you have a personal relationship with our Lord?" This is how we may create the relationship; the St Ignatius Exercises are another way.
Follow my voice, if you wander, focus on my voice again. However this experience follows the Spirit and if she leads you to another place it is okay. All flows from the Spirit.
Close your eyes with your feet on the floor your hands resting comfortably. Your body relaxed, stretch if you need to. Breathe gently in/out, in/out (until the group seems to be relaxed) a 30 seconds or so.
Find yourself in a safe place...
See a bridge before you...
Cross over the bridge...and see the path before you.
Follow the path which leads you back through time...
Until you find yourself in Jerusalem and countryside at the time of Jesus...
Find yourself in a green space with Jesus and with sheep grazing...
Say hello to Jesus...
Share with Jesus your own need for healing...
How does Jesus respond? What does he say?....
Share with Jesus the need for healing in the RCC...
How does Jesus respond? What does he say?...
Share with Jesus anything you have on your heart...
Listen to Jesus' reply...
Ask Jesus for his blessing...
It is time to leave knowing you can return to be with Jesus whenever you choose...
Say goodbye to Jesus, you may give him a hug...
Jesus says good bye to you...
It is time to leave, wave goodbye to Jesus who now stands with the sheep...
Return to the path...
Retrace your footsteps through time till now...
Cross the bridge...
Return to this room...
When you are ready open your eyes...
The women stayed in the silence for a few minutes and then I opened up the circle for sharing. A couple of women wanted "marching orders" from Jesus but instead he said "Feed my lambs, feed my sheep." He asked them to be patient that he knew the situation and was in control. Jesus blessed each one and for women he looked differently. For one he was a young boy in his teens "One who has been molested?" For another a strong vibrant male in his prime. Each woman was affirmed, not told what to do but to trust as the gospel asks us to do. Each woman had her own unique experience...our personal relationship with Jesus.
We blessed the bread and wine, we shared around the circle. We each read paragraphs of the Canon. We all lifted our hands and said the prayers of Consecration together.
At the end of the mass, we opened the circle to "Go in the peace of Christ. Let our service to God and each other begin."
Amen, Alleluia.
May each of you and all of you have a blessed week knowing our Loving Shepherd Jesus watches over us.
Got up early to make the wonderful yeast rolls I use for the bread. Since I am on a restricted diet I forgot that I don't use eggs. Opened up the fridge, "NO eggs, yikes" So my yeast proving in a 2 cup measure, I dashed off to the Kroger's. "Wait, the local gas station may have eggs. Everybody sells everything in the 21st century." I stopped and sure enough Amish eggs, even. So I grabbed them and out the door I ran.
Back to the kitchen, the yeast was literally at the top of measuring cup! Happy little one-celled fellows, of course I had given them a "teaspoon full of sugar" to grow on and they sure did. The recipe makes two pans of 12 dinner rolls each. I would take the extra to give away.
Judy who called me to schedule one could not come because her husband who suffers from Parkinson disease had a TIA on Friday and was being released today. She felt badly but we all understood. Her son is a professional horse trainer and is here for the 3 week spring session of racing at Keeneland. Ray her spouse really likes his sons so this was blessing as Ray was confused and out of it. Her son stayed with him so Judy could go home to rest. It is so difficult for families with some of the chronic diseases of seniors. Ray has been ill for over 10 years: stroke, heart attach, Parkinson disease. I asked her was she getting help and she agreed that she would schedule home health care and PT for him. Judy is a lovely saint from Ireland and a true friend.
As I re-read the Scripture readings for the day I saw in synchronicity that today's reading from the AlAnon blue book was perfect for the day. It is a reminder that we cannot change the abuse in the RCC (alcoholic in our relationship). What we can change is our behavior which supports the abuser. As they say in AlAnon; "We didn't cause the behavior, we can't cure it, but we can contribute to it." Which lay Roman Catholics have done and done and done. As they say in AlAnon, we keep doing the same behavior and expect things to change-we are insane, our lives are unmanageable. As adult Roman Catholics must come of age, change our behavior and "stop the abuse" and I am not only talking pedophilia.
As I was thinking on the Good Shepherd I realized that my creche is still up and that I had plenty of sheep and a Shepherd to place on the altar as the center of focus. Which I did, I had my camera and am sorry that I did not take a photo, I will next time.
So six of us gathered at Ann's beautiful home built in 1882. She is an artist and creates masterpieces-that is the size of the painting. She is a long time feminist but always wanted to stay within her Roman Catholic tradition as she converted when she was 15. I will not name all the women as some are connected directly to the Roman Catholic Church and all attend their parishes regularly.
All the women want healing for themselves and and Roman Catholic faith community which was the theme for our Good Shepherd Sunday liturgy. I borrowed from the CTA liturgy of Ann Arbor MI for the gathering of the circle. A lighted candle is passed around and each person brings a joy, gratitude, something that happened this week, intention for the liturgy. This is a quiet time of reflection and acknowledging the needs in our life's circles. We bring these needs to our liturgy.
We used the liturgy written by a RCWP community of San Diego CA. We had used it when I co-celebrated with Bridget Mary in Sarasota at Easter time. I won't type it all but here is the Creed from Sr. Joan Chittester OSB:
We believe in God who made us all and whose divinity infuses life with the sacred.
We believe in multiple revelations of God, alive in every human heart, expressed in every culture, found in all the wisdoms of the world.
We believe in Jesus, the Christ, who leads us to the fullness of humanity, to what we are meant to become.
Through Christ, we become new people, called beyond the consequences of our brokenness, lifted to the fullness of life.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the breath of God on earth, who keeps the Christ vision present to souls yet in darkness, gives light to hearts now blind, infuses energy into spirits yet weary, isolated, searching and confused.
We believe in God who is life
Amen to courage, to hope, to spirit of truth, to nature, to happiness, to wholeness, to the partnership of women and men in God's plan, to the Christ who calls us beyond the boundaries of ourselves, to forgiveness, and to everything that stretches our hearts to the dimensions of God.
In all of this, we can surely believe, as God does.
Amen.
For the homily which is always shared when I preside, I wrote this meditation as a "homily starter." I will include it all as a model by which you may write your own. The theme was the Good Shepherd so to by-pass all our "previous learning" I wrote it so Jesus could speak to each of us within our own heart. The Evangelical Christians always ask, "Do you have a personal relationship with our Lord?" This is how we may create the relationship; the St Ignatius Exercises are another way.
Follow my voice, if you wander, focus on my voice again. However this experience follows the Spirit and if she leads you to another place it is okay. All flows from the Spirit.
Close your eyes with your feet on the floor your hands resting comfortably. Your body relaxed, stretch if you need to. Breathe gently in/out, in/out (until the group seems to be relaxed) a 30 seconds or so.
Find yourself in a safe place...
See a bridge before you...
Cross over the bridge...and see the path before you.
Follow the path which leads you back through time...
Until you find yourself in Jerusalem and countryside at the time of Jesus...
Find yourself in a green space with Jesus and with sheep grazing...
Say hello to Jesus...
Share with Jesus your own need for healing...
How does Jesus respond? What does he say?....
Share with Jesus the need for healing in the RCC...
How does Jesus respond? What does he say?...
Share with Jesus anything you have on your heart...
Listen to Jesus' reply...
Ask Jesus for his blessing...
It is time to leave knowing you can return to be with Jesus whenever you choose...
Say goodbye to Jesus, you may give him a hug...
Jesus says good bye to you...
It is time to leave, wave goodbye to Jesus who now stands with the sheep...
Return to the path...
Retrace your footsteps through time till now...
Cross the bridge...
Return to this room...
When you are ready open your eyes...
The women stayed in the silence for a few minutes and then I opened up the circle for sharing. A couple of women wanted "marching orders" from Jesus but instead he said "Feed my lambs, feed my sheep." He asked them to be patient that he knew the situation and was in control. Jesus blessed each one and for women he looked differently. For one he was a young boy in his teens "One who has been molested?" For another a strong vibrant male in his prime. Each woman was affirmed, not told what to do but to trust as the gospel asks us to do. Each woman had her own unique experience...our personal relationship with Jesus.
We blessed the bread and wine, we shared around the circle. We each read paragraphs of the Canon. We all lifted our hands and said the prayers of Consecration together.
At the end of the mass, we opened the circle to "Go in the peace of Christ. Let our service to God and each other begin."
Amen, Alleluia.
May each of you and all of you have a blessed week knowing our Loving Shepherd Jesus watches over us.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Suffering of Our Church Who Oppresses
I attended a meeting of pre-VOTF today. Some RC parishioners in Lexington, where the Bishop has his cathedral are so upset they have begun to explore establishing a VOTF chapter. They want to see what actions they may take to force transparency in the Catholic parishes including the diocese itself.
They are looking at possibly forming a VOTF chapter or a least using their resources to attack the problem itself. Four of us met today because some had thought there was a Federal law that requires transparency from non-profits. Doing the research, KY opted out of having its non-profits comply. So we cannot use Federal law to gather the data folks would like to have.
I argued for Call To Action to make a presentation on their resources for parishes and after the meeting I sent Bob Heineman an email asking for such resources or even a visit from him to discuss options with the group. I don't know what he can do if anything but I thought I would give it a try. I like CTA because they are action-oriented.
During the meeting a member began to share confidential stories of the suffering caused by this church especially for gay priests. We were all in shell-shock by the time she ended. The injustice is so great I was speechless and very angry. "We must walk with the priest. We must tell him what we are doing and why. If necessary we must support him financially. Stand with our priests against oppression and injustice."
We were winding down the meeting and I felt called to prayer. We held hands, "Dear Loving Wisdom, Send your wisdom upon us. Provide your guidance that we might choose to do the work of justice. May we stand with those who are hurting." By this time I began to cry, no weep is the word. I had said earlier, "We are at the foot of the cross. We must offer Jesus who suffers all we can do to ease his pain. A cup of water for those who suffer." We must be strong and make the decisions for justice.
I have another quandary. The RCWP who was here was very vocal about being a priest. I do not want to repeat her behavior as it is not about my priesthood but the Way of Jesus. Yet these discussions are so intense I feel I must let the members know as we are speaking of transparency and I feel I am not being transparent with them.
They are looking at possibly forming a VOTF chapter or a least using their resources to attack the problem itself. Four of us met today because some had thought there was a Federal law that requires transparency from non-profits. Doing the research, KY opted out of having its non-profits comply. So we cannot use Federal law to gather the data folks would like to have.
I argued for Call To Action to make a presentation on their resources for parishes and after the meeting I sent Bob Heineman an email asking for such resources or even a visit from him to discuss options with the group. I don't know what he can do if anything but I thought I would give it a try. I like CTA because they are action-oriented.
During the meeting a member began to share confidential stories of the suffering caused by this church especially for gay priests. We were all in shell-shock by the time she ended. The injustice is so great I was speechless and very angry. "We must walk with the priest. We must tell him what we are doing and why. If necessary we must support him financially. Stand with our priests against oppression and injustice."
We were winding down the meeting and I felt called to prayer. We held hands, "Dear Loving Wisdom, Send your wisdom upon us. Provide your guidance that we might choose to do the work of justice. May we stand with those who are hurting." By this time I began to cry, no weep is the word. I had said earlier, "We are at the foot of the cross. We must offer Jesus who suffers all we can do to ease his pain. A cup of water for those who suffer." We must be strong and make the decisions for justice.
I have another quandary. The RCWP who was here was very vocal about being a priest. I do not want to repeat her behavior as it is not about my priesthood but the Way of Jesus. Yet these discussions are so intense I feel I must let the members know as we are speaking of transparency and I feel I am not being transparent with them.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Kindness
I know nothing about digital cameras. My 35mm film camera was dropped once too many times and it quit latching closed. So I asked my sister who owns one then headed off the Office Max where I found that my arthritic fingers could not handle the wee, wee little controls. The OM man was very nice, "try Murphy's they might have something." In yesterday's paper there it was synchronicity: an add for a Canon with $30 off so I headed off to the store.
Don the manager waited on me. I told him my concerns and we looked at the Canon 120 that has larger controls except for the close/far away shot tiny, tiny control roller ball. I seemed to be able to manipulate all the controls and he walked me through taking a photo, reviewing and deleting it. At the same time we talked about RCWP and my becoming a priest. He is not Catholic and says he cannot understand how they could abuse children that way. I said, "When you believe you have absolute power, you become corrupt. We are working to change that." Don approved and wished us well.
I told him I needed the camera because the botanist for the Daniel Boone National Forest said the "lady slippers are blooming this week." I am so excited as I have only seen them once in Blacksburg VA in my 17 years there. So IF I catch them with the digital I will put up a photo if I can get someone to help me with transferring photos from memory to computer.
I want to say "Thank you" to Don and to all the men and women who have jobs in retail and provide kind service to customers such as myself with very little knowledge of a product. Blessings everyone, have a nice week end.
Don the manager waited on me. I told him my concerns and we looked at the Canon 120 that has larger controls except for the close/far away shot tiny, tiny control roller ball. I seemed to be able to manipulate all the controls and he walked me through taking a photo, reviewing and deleting it. At the same time we talked about RCWP and my becoming a priest. He is not Catholic and says he cannot understand how they could abuse children that way. I said, "When you believe you have absolute power, you become corrupt. We are working to change that." Don approved and wished us well.
I told him I needed the camera because the botanist for the Daniel Boone National Forest said the "lady slippers are blooming this week." I am so excited as I have only seen them once in Blacksburg VA in my 17 years there. So IF I catch them with the digital I will put up a photo if I can get someone to help me with transferring photos from memory to computer.
I want to say "Thank you" to Don and to all the men and women who have jobs in retail and provide kind service to customers such as myself with very little knowledge of a product. Blessings everyone, have a nice week end.
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