tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73482406269098637192012-02-21T21:37:59.287-05:00Questions from a Ewe"Test everything; retain what is good.” (1 Thes 5:21) A laywoman expresses concerns about issues in the Roman Catholic Church to foster positive dialogue by posing and exploring questions.
Please remember that Canon Law says it is not only a right but a duty to question the church. Also, Canon Law provides an over-riding power to the sensus fidelium (sense of the faithful). By this, Canon Law says that if the sensus fidelium (collective of the faithful) reject a law, it is not valid.Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.comBlogger841100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-63436693279076853022012-02-18T06:21:00.000-05:002012-02-18T06:21:24.068-05:00The U.S. Bishops' response to the contraceptive coverage mandate.<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-75726061787707393612012-02-13T06:22:00.003-05:002012-02-21T04:54:40.007-05:00My letter to Pope Benedict XVIOn January 17, 2012 I met with my bishop, Earl Boyea, for over an hour. I requested the meeting to discuss concerns before his ad limina visit with the pope. We had a very friendly and respectful discussion, and agreed on some items while disagreeing on others. The net outcome was his expressing agreement to the reinstatement of ordaining female deacons and his willingness to discuss this withQuestions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-86773521787784822442012-01-28T08:29:00.000-05:002012-01-28T08:29:24.978-05:00Arrogance and humility...<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-36273457163275983912012-01-16T17:24:00.001-05:002012-01-16T17:31:02.340-05:00More Reactions to the New Missal TranslationThe new Mass translation inspired me to revitalize my Latin skills and examine the source Latin text. Using literal translation techniques (the approach used by translators in rendering this new translation), I translated the Mass to see what it actually says and make my own assessment as to its accuracy. The net is, it contains many inaccuracies. I was going to include the full source Latin Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-58306428528685356962012-01-02T10:22:00.001-05:002012-01-02T10:30:26.311-05:00Reactions to the New Roman Missal TranslationVatican officials forced the new Roman Missal English translation claiming it will increase reverence during Mass. Much like townspeople admiring the Emperor’s new clothes in Hans Christian Andersen’s fairytale, predictably some very orthodox Catholics already eagerly agree. However, though most people seem to comply with the new translation, enthusiastic belief that it increases reverence Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-87295930591327072672011-12-29T08:32:00.001-05:002011-12-30T08:59:16.696-05:00Obedience to AuthorityAfter hearing Nazi War criminal Adolph Eichmann claim he “simply followed orders” as his defense for ordering millions of Jews’ deaths, Yale psychologist Stanley Milgram conducted an experiment to measure obedience. Milgram asked participants to electrically shock a student with increasing voltage levels (30 to 450 volts) whenever the student responded incorrectly. The “student” was actually Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-64434926715146745862011-12-25T07:09:00.000-05:002011-12-25T07:09:40.062-05:00Come let us adore and follow...<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-79841160035140022232011-12-17T08:50:00.000-05:002011-12-17T08:50:56.990-05:00An Advent Reflection<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-38904204496358876142011-12-06T07:25:00.001-05:002011-12-06T07:35:49.380-05:00What should be held bound?Last week the Detroit Archdiocese announced recommendations to close 9 parishes and merge 39 of 60 other parishes into 21 parishes. The Detroit Archdiocese undertook a similar effort about 20 years ago, closing and merging dozens of parishes. Detroit is not unique. Many dioceses and archdioceses, including mine, have undertaken similar efforts. The result has been larger, more centralized Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-74956714719987066732011-11-20T09:52:00.000-05:002011-11-20T09:52:51.060-05:00Christ the King<!--[if !mso]>
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<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-75166557197693240942011-11-19T07:53:00.000-05:002011-11-19T07:53:39.670-05:00The Chair of Peter<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-54371602995731920582011-11-09T00:19:00.000-05:002011-11-09T00:19:02.141-05:00Things that make me go "hmmmm"....<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-12771418298763499362011-10-21T07:35:00.000-04:002011-10-21T07:35:52.619-04:00"Much to learn, you still have..."<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-51260745873740807882011-10-14T08:25:00.001-04:002011-10-14T20:48:20.981-04:00The Bride of ChristChurch leaders seem very preoccupied with marriage, a state of life most clergy do not experience. For example, in the United States, one of the bishops' five published priorities and 6 of their 25 published objectives are on marriage. Their marriage priority includes two goals: one to increase Catholics’ value of marriage and one to influence civil legislation pertaining to marriage. Their Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-62978186749455706772011-10-06T07:45:00.000-04:002011-10-06T07:45:11.326-04:00"Nemo dat quod non habet"<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-71098509710469396022011-10-01T06:34:00.000-04:002011-10-01T06:34:00.020-04:00"...and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 9:11)"<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-36132032523757855472011-09-26T07:21:00.001-04:002011-09-26T07:24:30.008-04:00How are we answering the call to heal?I once learned that the words “heal” and “cure” mean different things in the New Testament. Though today’s speech interchanges these terms as synonyms, they meant distinctly different things in Jesus’ time. People who were “cured” got rid of their physical afflictions. People who were “healed” became at peace about their physical or mental afflictions.
A person can be both healed and cured Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-13048626057897804692011-09-10T09:55:00.001-04:002011-09-28T14:38:48.010-04:00Harassment and Bullying in the ChurchHarassment and bullying are not tolerated in most secular jobs and societies. Many secular governments and institutions enact laws and rules not only protecting people from harassment and bullying but giving recourse for victims and society to hold aggressors accountable. This is true whether the aggressor is an individual, group, or official.
Since church leaders promote themselves as Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-91887191137476456092011-08-26T07:13:00.001-04:002011-08-26T07:54:54.884-04:00We belong together...
I write this on a plane flying from Madrid to Chicago, returning from a business trip. Many Catholics returning from World Youth Day (WYD) are also on this flight. I’m sitting behind kids from the Sioux City, Iowa diocese in the United States. Some of them are wearing t-shirts that advertise their diocese and commemorate their WYD trip. Their shirt backs sport a quote from St. Paul about Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-71164914951300529452011-08-18T09:48:00.002-04:002011-09-28T14:50:43.276-04:00Codependency and the church...Codependency interweaves with abuse. It is a form of addiction revolving around approval, usually from another addict, rather than around a substance or behavior. Some codependents enable addicts. Some codependents have other addictions as well.
Addictive and codependent behaviors conflict with and undermine gospel principles. Yet according to Philip St. Romain, church leadership has a much Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-30486481562119495252011-08-04T09:10:00.000-04:002011-08-04T09:10:52.329-04:00What is the best posture for receiving communion?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-26046594459137832722011-07-27T08:31:00.001-04:002011-07-27T10:30:56.365-04:00The Church is the People of God...July 19, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Philadelphia’s Cardinal Rigali and named Charles Chaput as its new Archbishop in the wake of recent rampant clergy sex abuse issues there. Chaput has a reputation for zero-tolerance of clergy sexual impropriety yet vigorously lobbies against extending the statue of limitations for criminally prosecuting those who sexually abuse minors.Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-20636327386427808692011-07-16T08:23:00.000-04:002011-07-16T08:23:32.227-04:00What is childlike faith?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-35302359293056406712011-07-13T06:37:00.000-04:002011-07-13T06:37:24.497-04:00Why do the bishops of Ohio oppose the Susan G. Komen foundation and its "Race for the Cure"?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-53100018630056313342011-07-03T11:51:00.000-04:002011-07-03T11:51:47.440-04:00Reflections on the Vatican's annual financial report...<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-9950516624809442352011-06-25T22:18:00.001-04:002011-06-26T04:03:36.478-04:00Reflections on a diocesan budgetCathedraticum, a Latin word, is the name for the tax each Catholic parish must pay its bishop. This diocesan assessment fee equates to a percentage of the weekly parish collection plate. Canon law says the assessment rate should be determined by local custom or provincial council. In U.S. dioceses, the assessment tax rate is anywhere from 5% - 15% typically.
The bishop also conducts a Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-59439393152750654822011-06-18T11:15:00.000-04:002011-06-18T11:15:10.981-04:00An alternate universe...<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-31991772042498582242011-06-13T13:12:00.000-04:002011-06-13T13:12:14.890-04:00What priest shortage?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-26920127035701955842011-06-10T08:23:00.000-04:002011-06-10T08:23:57.649-04:00Who would fear a Catholic Bill of Rights?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-34719480992748830612011-05-21T09:10:00.000-04:002011-05-21T09:10:13.023-04:00Do we remember Mary Magdalene as Jesus instructed us to?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
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mso-padding-alt:0in Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-41349270611216909312011-05-14T08:05:00.002-04:002011-05-14T08:12:48.590-04:00Do sheep flee from good shepherds?This weekend we read in John 10 where Jesus excoriates the religious leaders of his day, the Pharisees, for being false shepherds who expel those whom Jesus calls. Specifically the gospel passage refers to the Pharisees expelling from the synagogue the blind beggar whom Jesus personally touched and healed (John 9).
Church leaders increasingly expel people for questioning traditions Jesus neverQuestions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-49062051813347410552011-05-08T22:26:00.000-04:002011-05-08T22:26:46.527-04:00If the clergy have teaching authority but parents have primary teaching responsibility, why can’t parents hold clergy accountable?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-41099648979902592952011-05-01T10:36:00.001-04:002011-05-02T06:44:11.780-04:00What would happen if today's apostles were as courageous Christ followers as Thomas?Today’s gospel reading is about Thomas, often referred to as, “doubting Thomas”. Since all the disciples and apostles doubted until they had a direct resurrection encounter with Jesus, why is only Thomas labeled a “doubter”?
Scripture indicates Thomas actually exhibited more loyalty, wisdom and courage than the others. For example, just before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, a feat that Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-31826864607207760042011-04-29T22:57:00.001-04:002011-04-30T06:06:42.341-04:00"Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward."This Sunday we read from Acts 2:44-45 where it says, “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need.” Acts 4:32-35 repeats this theme, “The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-4918484939805214052011-04-23T09:46:00.000-04:002011-04-23T09:46:20.307-04:00Standing in the garden....<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-46309998660758338032011-04-16T08:19:00.000-04:002011-04-16T08:19:00.396-04:00Who attended the Last Supper?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-12736664085757804232011-04-11T06:09:00.001-04:002011-04-11T06:18:11.245-04:00"And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” MT 15:3Last week I was in Prague, Czech Republic. During my visit, I learned about the underground Catholic Church that operated there during the communist era. The underground church helped the Catholic faith and church survive while the country lived under the Iron Curtain’s rule.
The situation was very dangerous for Catholics then, especially for clergy. Ordination in the official Catholic Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-31427980464589064152011-03-27T22:16:00.000-04:002011-03-27T22:16:02.360-04:00Why should we be fussier than Jesus?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-58651879506375601402011-03-19T01:12:00.002-04:002011-03-21T06:39:29.169-04:00Scriptural Stations of the Cross Dedicated to the Clergy Abuse VictimsIn 2007, Pope Benedict XVI approved the use of the Scriptural Way of the Cross. In this version, all the stations are based upon scripture whereas only eight of the fourteen traditional stations occur in scripture. Given the massive clergy abuse issues that surfaced worldwide since last Easter and the recent clergy abuse cover-up scandal in Philadelphia exposed by a February, 2011 Grand Jury Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-70608162003336311802011-03-12T12:23:00.000-05:002011-03-12T12:23:51.046-05:00Do church leaders think it is worse to molest a child or ordain a woman?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-43192063400036187262011-03-09T06:37:00.001-05:002011-04-13T06:08:52.071-04:00Why do church leaders continue to be more concerned about protecting their brotherhood than protecting children?Yesterday the Archdiocese of Philadelphia put 21 priests on administrative leave due to credible claims against them for sexual misconduct with children. Events leading to these actions are summarized as follows:
In 2005 the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office publicly issued a Grand Jury report from a 2003 investigation. The report revealed that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia permitted Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-67144297133335131592011-03-04T07:26:00.000-05:002011-03-04T07:26:29.223-05:00If we were not supposed to add to the law, why do we have 1,752 Canon laws?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-72173468272137875342011-02-28T13:08:00.000-05:002011-02-28T13:08:06.665-05:00Should "fathers" be financially dependent upon their “children”?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-89161594781668305202011-02-22T10:43:00.001-05:002011-02-22T11:34:30.056-05:00Should church leaders reconsider their zero tolerance policy for pedophile priests?Thomas Guarino’s January 4, 2011 essay entitled, “The Priesthood and Justice” argues against the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s (USCCB’s) zero tolerance policy on pedophile priests. In his essay Gaurino, a priest and theologian, presents several points:
1. He questions holding priests accountable who aren’t caught until decades after they violated children. He wonders if holding such menQuestions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-32271788784504873022011-02-15T07:30:00.001-05:002011-02-15T10:12:12.256-05:00Why didn't someone tell me deacons got a demotion in 2009?Why didn’t somebody tell me that deacons got a demotion in 2009? On October 26, 2009 Pope Benedict XVI issued a motu proprio (one of his papal decree options) that demoted deacons to being mere mortals like the rest of laity.
How did he do this? He changed the wording of Canon Law. Previously Canon 1008 said that anyone ordained to Holy Orders operated in persona Christi, in the person of Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-35598015042943222972011-02-12T09:40:00.001-05:002011-02-13T07:25:52.448-05:00What happened to "being imitators of Christ"?St. Paul instructs all faithful to "be imitators of Christ". However, by their own declaration, priests and church leaders especially are supposed to remind people of Jesus, a man the gospels indicate:Healed and fed people
Cared for the poor
Owned almost nothing
Humbly served others
Humbled the self-important, the self-aggrandized and especially religious leaders
Rendered dignity to the outcast Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-69739848988931288672011-02-05T07:31:00.002-05:002011-03-31T05:49:29.935-04:00Would Pope Benedict XVI have excommunicated himself?Last week the German newspaper, Die Sueddeutsche, reported on a letter sent to German bishops in 1970 that encouraged permitting Catholic priests to marry. Several German priests signed the letter, including a few future cardinals and a 43 year-old man named, Fr. Joseph Ratzinger. Yes, that would be the same Joseph Ratzinger who is now Pope Benedict XVI.
Also last week, numerous Roman Catholic Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-79609291050837402332011-02-01T07:25:00.000-05:002011-02-01T07:25:01.933-05:00What is a “Catholic Identity”?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-3559035065007530222011-01-30T07:25:00.000-05:002011-01-30T07:25:39.940-05:00What burdens do church leaders place upon their own shoulders?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-85328165860413093822011-01-23T09:35:00.000-05:002011-01-23T09:35:38.562-05:00Are church leaders "emptying the cross of its meaning"?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-79623863870167421722011-01-22T08:00:00.001-05:002011-01-30T07:59:47.497-05:00What is the impact of removing married people from church leadership and leadership selection processes?My last blog posting reflected upon the genesis of the 1054 A.D. church schism where Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholic leaders divorced ecclesiastically. For almost 1,000 years power and stubbornness have prevented reconciliation. I asked if this ecclesial disunity offered laity a good example for humbly setting aside entrenched positions to maintain marital unity.
Tying the East/West Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-5855884238400278332011-01-15T14:45:00.000-05:002011-01-15T14:45:27.645-05:00Do church leaders promote unity or division?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
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mso-padding-alt:0in Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-67714873710287312832011-01-08T09:56:00.000-05:002011-01-08T09:56:42.589-05:00Does seminary formation develop skills aligned with those needed for priestly ministry?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-62187702965169275062010-12-31T07:52:00.002-05:002011-01-09T06:27:19.844-05:00Reflections of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy and his name choiceHappy New Year and best wishes for 2011!
My last blog posting reflected upon Pope Benedict XVI’s Urbi et Orbi address where he spoke about the world’s suffering while dressed in ermine trimmed wraps. According to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website, the pope chose the name Benedict inspired by St. Benedict, the founder of Benedictine spirituality in addition to Pope Benedict XV’s Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-23527148703717251452010-12-26T19:54:00.000-05:002010-12-26T19:54:42.807-05:00Perhaps more people would “know and hear” the pope’s voice as a shepherd if he dressed more like one?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-68150260803241058182010-12-26T08:43:00.001-05:002010-12-28T06:25:12.369-05:00Can we and should we model our families after the Holy Family?Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. In a few hours I will attend Mass and likely hear again from an unmarried, childless priest how I should model my family after the Holy Family. My question today simply is, why?
In marriage preparation I learned the foundational elements of marriage include husband and wife sharing common views on faith, family, finances, sexuality and child-rearing. Let’Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-55705451503168337952010-12-24T09:55:00.002-05:002011-08-16T16:33:16.046-04:00Was it through an umbilical cord that God intermingled with humanity?
Merry Christmas! At Christmas we celebrate the incarnation, remembering when Jesus was born fully God and fully human.
Being all-powerful, God could have just whipped up a god-man without involving the human biological processes of conception, pregnancy or neo-natal development. But both the Apostles’ and Nicene creeds speak of Jesus being conceived through the union of the Holy Spirit Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-5023453786299260202010-12-21T07:33:00.000-05:002010-12-21T07:33:32.949-05:00Have delusions of self-virtue blinded church leaders from recognizing Jesus’ selection of a female apostle whose reputation resembles the early apostles’ … and their own?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-19042750754184232582010-12-17T10:21:00.000-05:002010-12-17T10:21:19.806-05:00If barring female ordinations fails the test of thinking with heart and mind, why does this practice continue?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-63203324398598554852010-12-09T10:35:00.000-05:002010-12-09T10:35:30.005-05:00Do church leaders expect to be held to a lesser standard than teenagers serving them coffee in a fast-food restaurant?My last posting discussed putting the newspaper next to the Bible in order to live the gospel, serving people in their present condition. Part of people’s present condition is their job environment. What is the predominant business culture people experience and how does this culture influence people’s relationship with the church?
Statistics from the U.S.’s Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-81322764296498894832010-12-05T08:11:00.000-05:002010-12-05T08:11:59.656-05:00What newspapers are church leaders reading?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-19536546638710587462010-11-29T22:33:00.001-05:002010-12-21T05:08:36.653-05:00"...and upon this rock I will build my church..."Church leaders base papal authority largely upon the statement in MT 16:18, “…you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…” The original Greek text of Matthew’s gospel actually uses two forms of the word “rock”, one masculine (petros) and one feminine (petra). Re-inserting just the Greek words used for “rock”, the statement would read something like, “…you are Petros and upon thisQuestions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-14998723719224918012010-11-21T07:22:00.000-05:002010-11-21T07:22:53.192-05:00Is the error of structural violence over the interpretation of scripture occurring again?<!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-36893775304171165752010-11-20T08:59:00.000-05:002010-11-20T08:59:09.925-05:00Does the church need to remove the wooden beam of structural violence from its own eye?Johan Galtung coined the term “structural violence” in his 1969 journal article on peace and violence. This article became a cornerstone in modern peace and justice work. The article describes structural versus personal violence and their correlation. It also differentiates between physical and emotional violence. Social justice is the work to eliminate structural and personal violence Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-51237346933961295072010-11-15T21:04:00.003-05:002010-11-16T05:14:08.762-05:00Is it time for Holy Mother Church to update her parenting skills?As a parent, Holy Mother Church’s parenting technique of excommunication greatly confuses me. My confusion stems from my experiences as an actual versus mystical mother: watching what does or doesn’t work in correcting real children’s behavior, what is or isn’t a socially acceptable technique, what harms or hurts a child. Perhaps a real parent’s reflections have a valid place guiding and Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-8941791255934580972010-11-11T23:02:00.001-05:002010-11-12T06:26:24.014-05:00Does the church decry bullying or use it as a tool of choice for controlling behavior?Recently a Catholic priest preached against bullying at a children’s Mass I attended. He said this particular parish would say “no” to bullies and reassured students that bullies would be told to leave. That was a great message for the kids to hear.
I applaud him for addressing the topic especially against the U.S. bishops’ backdrop of thunderous silence. Despite numerous bullied youth Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-1174749887971028852010-11-08T00:19:00.000-05:002010-11-08T00:19:17.820-05:00R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find out what it means to me...<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
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I didn’t know what to expect since I’ve attended fewer religious conferences than I have fingers on one hand. I found people of all ages Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-10096271452772990712010-11-05T02:13:00.002-04:002010-11-07T14:30:46.499-05:00How do I excommunicate thee? Let me count the ways...When I began my research for this posting, I thought I would write an article entitled, “101 Ways to be Excommunicated”. Bad news. There are well over 400 ways to be excommunicated. Who knew?
As I researched all the ways to be ex-communicated a few things struck me. Most of the offenses subject to excommunication have to do with teachings felt to be in conflict with the church’s teachings. Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-84964336383964312402010-10-31T23:36:00.000-04:002010-11-01T09:40:51.548-04:00Does the infallibility doctrine drive people away from the church?My previous posting discussed how the Vatican partially attributes the U.S. church’s pedophilia problem to priests not clearly understanding their hierarchical superiority over laity. It also discussed the pope’s concern about people leaving the church and his belief that it ties to people not hearing enough of the church’s catechism.
I’ve continued reflecting on the concept of hierarchical Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-73396373531536943682010-10-31T00:08:00.000-04:002010-10-31T07:53:31.152-04:00What drives people from the church?In June, 2010 Pope Benedict XVI established the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization. He created this organization out of concern for what he considers the de-Christianization of historically Catholic countries, especially in Europe.
On October 12, 2010 the pope issued an apostolic letter pertaining to the same topic and outlined his hypotheses for factors contributing to the Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-11350827754723071912010-10-29T09:19:00.000-04:002010-10-29T09:19:49.683-04:00Where is our focus?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
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mso-padding-alt:0in Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-87102266587385301052010-10-22T22:49:00.000-04:002010-10-22T22:49:30.764-04:00Why is Paul accepted as an apostle but not Mary Magdalene?An apostle (one who is sent) is different from a disciple (a follower). The Catholic Church considers ordained clergy to be apostles while laity and avowed religious nuns and brothers are disciples.
According to church teaching, to be an apostle, one must be baptized and then receive "laying on of hands" from another apostle. This is the foundation of the church's apostolic succession, tying Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-70033967336021173062010-10-18T23:04:00.000-04:002010-10-18T23:04:10.054-04:00Why are ex-communication and public shame used on politicians that commit no grave delict or secular crime but not used on priests who commit both?I thought I would continue on this theme reflecting upon grave delicts.
As a consultant I am trained to examine what someone doesn't say as much or more than what they do say. What a person omits can sometimes be as profound of a statement as what they verbalize.
My last posting focused on that. I compared what was stated in the grave delicts with what was not stated in them. There is a Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-35988371185291343922010-10-16T22:30:00.000-04:002010-10-16T22:36:55.507-04:00Is it a worse crime for clergy to objectify, rape, kill or ordain a woman, according to the Catholic Church?As I mentioned in my previous blog posting, inspired by the church naming female ordination as a grave delict, I’ve read and been thinking about the Vatican’s substantive norms enumerating all the grave delicts, the gravest infractions according to Roman Catholic Canon Law. I embarked on this process to understand through comparison what is or isn’t considered “really bad” by the church as well Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-74274517446146704242010-10-12T23:20:00.000-04:002010-10-13T14:43:25.599-04:00Bless me Father for I have sinned… but at least I used your endorsed product?Today, I was thinking about the Roman Catholic norm published in July that classified ordaining women as the same sin gravity as priests raping children. The classification is called graviora delicta, translated as “grave delict”. For those of you like me who don’t regularly use “delict” in everyday speech, it’s an offense that injures another. A “grave delict” is the most serious kind of Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-16183272824019715372010-10-10T06:39:00.000-04:002010-10-10T06:39:31.556-04:00Who anointed Jesus to make him the Christ?Jesus' last name is not "Christ". The word "christ" means "anointed one". Being anointed indicated God's hand in the matter choosing a person for a special role. Thus, the term "Jesus Christ" says, "Jesus, the Anointed one of God."
Since humans do not have the mind of God, sometimes the person chosen to be anointed caused people to scratch their heads a bit and wonder. For example, Jesse Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-83812205728144053702010-10-07T20:12:00.000-04:002010-10-07T20:12:38.142-04:00Who do you say that I am?“Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29) Jesus asked this of his disciples. That’s an interesting question and a foundational element of spirituality because faith is a relationship. And, it’s difficult to have a healthy relationship without knowing the other party. It’s also difficult to have a healthy relationship without knowing yourself. “Who am I?”
Before Jesus asked the disciples who Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-58231982494437322932010-10-06T00:29:00.000-04:002010-10-06T00:29:22.884-04:00I Sent This Blog's Link to Church Leaders TodayAs I mentioned before, I began this blog as a forum for healthy dialogue, not for ranting. Since much of what the blog discusses is trying to express the female voice to the cast of all-male church leaders, I sent the blog's link to some church leaders. I hope they will enter into the dialogue and perhaps they already have through comments.
I sent church leaders to whom I sent my book Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-36937670789665552622010-10-05T23:16:00.000-04:002010-10-06T00:12:17.874-04:00Reflections on Martha and MaryAs they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha,Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-73066840191700586742010-10-04T22:59:00.000-04:002010-10-04T23:00:11.345-04:00Holy and Courageous WomenDuring his September 9, 2010 papal address, Pope Benedict asked the Holy Spirit to, “raise up wise, holy and courageous women” like St. Hildegard of Bingen to help address issues like clergy abuse. That same week we also learned clergy abuse and absence of accountability in Belgium linked directly to at least 13 abuse victims’ suicides.
However, the pope clarified in his address that he Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-77250728937050124652010-10-03T20:13:00.000-04:002010-10-03T20:13:13.015-04:00Mothering tips for Holy Mother ChurchThe Catholic church refers to itself as "Holy Mother Church". As I mentioned yesterday, Holy Mother Church's official voices all proceedeth from the mouths of men, most of whom have no children. I have three children and almost 25 years of parenting experience. Despite Holy Mother Church being around for over 2,000 years, I seem to have more practical parenting experience than the guys in Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7348240626909863719.post-88897767277013319422010-10-02T08:47:00.000-04:002010-10-02T08:47:19.792-04:00Questions from a EweI have been encouraged to start a blog on the topic of the role of women in the Roman Catholic Church. I'm new to blogging so let's see how this goes. This is meant to foster positive dialogue through posing and exploring questions.
Before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, please be aware that Canon Law says it is not only a right but a duty to question the church. Furthermore, Canon Law Questions from a Ewehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06505411853075740722noreply@blogger.com6