Month: June 2018

I’m sure you know that in Greek mythology the Amazons were a tribe of warrior women, located in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean. The name and concept persists in Europe through the Medieval and early Renaissance periods. Then it’s applied to a whole area of South America drained by a massive river system…
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(Content warning: This post mentions sexual violence and rape.) The Sunday, June 17, 2018, New York Times published an opinion piece by Lutheran pastor, Emily M. D. Scott, called “The Bible’s #MeToo Problem.” She used as her examples three very short (part of her point) stories from the Old Testament about violence against women. One…
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When I started this blog, I wrote a lot about the Bishops. I am about to do so today, and I want to explain myself. “This is what democracy looks like,” that chant at many demonstrations, echoes in my mind. We are in a power struggle to ordain women. I never object when people say,…
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The first image that comes to mind when I hear “summer solstice” is one of druids, female priests mostly, sliding through darkening forests to host rituals of enthrallment and enchantment. Imagine: women as priests in ancient celebration of the communion of the body and bounty and promise of nature and the blood of life-giving fertility.…
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I am fascinated by the choice of Catholic publications to have long articles on Humanae Vitae (HV), the 1968 encyclical prohibiting any artificial method of birth control. I question whether is it useful to celebrate this anniversary, but then I read a lot and realized even I (ironic shrug) could learn more. NCR’s founding publisher, Robert Hoyt,…
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In this graduation and other end of year tributes season, suppose we in the women’s ordination and church renewal movements actually did receive an award – a prestigious award – and public acclaim – and applause – for what we have done to attain justice for women in the church? After we got over the…
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What I wish is that someone in Rome can get Pope Francis to watch the new documentary, RBG. Those who made this movie have chosen brilliantly from the briefs and opinions of Ruth Bader Ginsburg to express clearly the argument for women’s equality and how any different treatment harms them. For men’s equality, too, and…
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What on earth am I talking about, you well may ask. Happiness: that shallow, ephemeral, fleeting condition? Is that the place to start creating a new church for a new day? And yet, if we did want to go on a journey of envisioning the kind of church full inclusive ministry and leadership might create,…
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From across the pond, as they say, it’s very bold of me to speculate on the meaning of the Irish referendum on #8 to make abortion legal. Probably unwise, too. But that’s never stopped me. And I have been feeling more than thinking about it all. Most interpretations focus on another radical change in a…
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