Many of you are aware of my relationship as a former Catholic and niece of a long deceased nun. While time has continued to march on I think my Aunt would have been happy with this press release that I received today from a nun friend of mine.
Link to my blog about my Aunt:
http://open.salon.com/blog/sheilatgtg55/2010/03/24/a_nun_among_us
I have written before about Donna Quinn here on OS.
I have to be very frank with all of you. I have not been a practicing Catholic for some time. However, I never get tired of hearing about how hard the nuns and priests who work in the Church hope to make changes within it for the betterment of it. I think this is a case of that wisdom and energy. There are a couple of schools of thought about the Church. One is that it is somewhat fluid and change is possible. The other is that it is rigid and it is not possible to make change. I have personally felt that it depends on the leaders in the Church, just how sensitive change can be to the real needs of the collective church and it's people. That is the problem. The Church is lead by who it is lead by and the definition of that person's experience and character, and each section of the church is also led by its leader and their personality, structured to respond within a certain perimeter, but none the less not fluid to the real needs of the people as one might hope.
NATIONAL COALITION OF AMERICAN NUNS
FOUNDED TO STUDY AND SPEAK OUT ON ISSUES OF JUSTICE
IN CHURCH AND SOCIETY
FOUNDED TO STUDY AND SPEAK OUT ON ISSUES OF JUSTICE
IN CHURCH AND SOCIETY
November 16, 2010
Contact:
Contact:
Jeannine Gramick, SL (301-864-3604)
Donna Quinn, OP (708-974-4220)
Beth Rindler, SFP (313-891-2192)
Donna Quinn, OP (708-974-4220)
Beth Rindler, SFP (313-891-2192)
Nuns to Bishops: Condemn Bullying, not Marriage Equality
On behalf of GLBT Catholics, their families and friends, and thoughtful Catholics across the United States, the National Coalition of American Nuns is appalled at the lack of sensitivity of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to lesbian and gay persons.
More than a month has gone by since the media broke the news about a series of gay suicides. During that time, the US Catholic Bishops failed to make a single statement regarding these tragic, preventable deaths. Not one bishop's voice was raised to condemn a culture where youths are bullied for being who God created them to be and are sometimes pushed by society's judgments to attempt suicide. Many people have accused certain segments of organized religion, including the Catholic hierarchy, of fueling these attacks and contributing to suicides.
The annual meeting in Baltimore of the US Catholic Bishops this week offered an opportunity to decry these horrendous events. Instead, the bishops have chosen to discuss "the defense of marriage," their well-funded attack on same-gender couples.
Like blinded Pharisees, they fail to see that the Catholic community is embarrassed by their silence in the face of brutality and incensed by their push of a political agenda against marriage equality—all at a time when their credibility on sexual matters is at a record low.
The bishops have not learned from the Minnesota experience, where Catholics returned the anti-gay DVD's the hierarchy sent to each household in the state. The anger of Minnesota Catholics is erupting all across our country. Faithful Catholics believe their bishops should be preaching a message of concern and understanding, instead of rejection and hate.
The National Coalition of American Nuns calls on all US Catholics to rise up and say, "Enough, enough! No more discriminatory rhetoric and repressive measures from men who lay heavy burdens on the shoulders of others and do not lift one finger of human kindness and compassion.
*****
I would like to leave you with some words by actor, comedian John Fugelsang. He is a FB friend of mine and in this piece I believe he says something important, that especially applies in the nuns words above. John is the son of a former nun and Franciscan Brother.
Copyright 2010 SheilaTGTG55, all content unless otherwise attributed.
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Comments
She got really close to them and had nothing but good words about them. I am off to read taht blog of yours.
Rated with hugs
Lezlie
Linda: I will have a look for Wanita's work on the Newfoundland Nuns. Always good to know about the work of good women.
L: Donna is very supportive of her beliefs and she is not alone. Many nuns join her in supporting their wish for human rights under the cloak of the church's work in social justice. She has been brought under scrutiny for her work escorting at women's clinics by her own order. She helped women access all kinds of healthcare that was offered in clinics where abortions were also offered. She has tremendous courage.
Scanner: I so agree with you! If that kind of change could occur I would probably be able to participate. But, the whole set up is wrong for strong, independent women to begin with and also the men who love them find it difficult to go down hook line and sinker with all the dogma.....
rated with love
PS-Love your new avatar.
Rated.
rated
Thank you Sheila... this one was A GREAT ONE
Rated
Jon: Thank you Jon, I have something else to post probably today or tomorrow about New York that might be of interest. I am waiting to get some permissions.
Mauricio: You have said a very true thing, "Love does not have borders." We can share and give it freely and the difference that makes in many lives is very good for our souls. Sometimes we wonder what we do that makes a difference to others, here we can see that some people are very brave and do not hold back their knowledge of what is right or wrong, what is good or bad, they are the lightening rods of change sometimes. They are first on the front lines too. Thank you for your compliment and for reading Mauricio.
No god know peace
Know god no peace
I often think of those lines.....