Tidbits from St Cronan's Parish bulletins:

Fromn the March 30th issue, we read:

Parishioners’ Politics A small study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found huge differences in the types of political messages being emphasized from one parish to another, which may come as no surprise to anyone. But whichever subjects their priests address, said author Gregory Smith, people clearly are being influenced in their political thinking by what they hear from the pulpit and read in their parish bulletins. For instance, parishioners were more likely to have strict standards “for what it takes to be a ‘true Catholic” if they were in parishes where the priest regularly emphasized abortion and stem-cell research but rarely brought up messages such as poverty or the environment. In addition, there was a very close match between the information conveyed in the bulletins and the response from priests about what they said they emphasized.

It is not surprising to see a subtle attempt (by quoting others) to blur that which is always and everywhere evil - abortion and ESCR, with works of mercy and stewardship that we also need to do - caring for the poor and protecting God's creation from deliberate misuse and abuse. A 'true Catholic' would necessarily be able to make the distinctions where others, perhaps nominally Catholic cannot or will not, in a manner of looking at these things as "either/or" rather than "both/and"....

We also read in the Pastor's Peace by Sr. Louis Lears (or in this case, the 'co-pastor's peace') the following comments:

...only the women remained with Jesus at the foot of the cross....

St John wasn't there?

...everything had changed. Jesus had risen from the dead, appeared to his followers and breathed the Spirit on them. Note that this change, both in the individual disciples and in the faith community, didn’t start with guidelines from a catechism or dogmas pronounced by church leaders....

Are we to understand from this that a 'true Catholic' doesn't need dogmas pronounced by the hierarchy or to be reminded to read or study a catechism?

...What came first for the early followers and what still comes first for us, is our relationship with the Risen Christ, who returned to give us his abiding, guiding, and strengthening Spirit. That is the foundation of our faith.

Our relationship with Jesus, our Saviour, can be in accord with His will for us or it can be a relationship opposed to His will. He did, in fact, leave His chosen Apostles and His Church to teach us what He taught them - to faithfully hand on to us what He handed on to them...If one rejects that, his 'relationship' with the Lord is not in accord with right reason or a true, humble faith. One can, indeed, reject His graces and blessings - we witness that daily.

So where are we going with Sister Lears' commentary?

Like those first disciples, we need the peace that Jesus offers. We need the Spirit and her breath of new life if we are to do what Jesus sends us to do. [my emphasis]

We need the Spirit and HER breath of new life....Profound - no wonder she considers herself co-pastor...What insights into scripture...It's odd that our Lord did not speak of the Paraclete in this manner...but then, He did not ordain women as bishopresses or priestesses either...evidently an oversight on His part, yes?

Some might find it odd that this reflection comes two weeks after a Communal Letter of Support for our sister Louise was made available Palm Sunday weekend for review and signatures.

Perhaps this was a letter to be sent to Archbishop Burke to demonstrate how much support the good 'sister' has from the St Cronan parish family - as if that has any bearing on her open support for women priests...Sad.