All Voices.com says that this is the world’s largest human rainbow. Over 31,000 students, faculty, staff and alumni of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) gathered yesterday at the Luneta Grandstand in Manila wearing colorful shirts, caps and Flag…
Monthly Archives: February 2011
Presbyterian Inclusion: Ratification Looks Promising
Last year, the Presbyterian Church of the USA voted to approve changes in the criteria for ordination of clergy, in terms which do not discriminate against partnered gay or lesbian candidates. The resolution removes a paragraph which includes the requirement…
Complicity by silence?
In my last post I thought it fit to raise the subject of Catholic exceptionalism. Terry responded with a very interesting post “A prophet-priest asks: where is the truth?” What really got me to reply here is Fr Owen O’Sullivan’s…
A Prophet-Priest Asks, “Where is the Truth”?
FWhat do you suppose is the “job” of a priest? To say Mass, and dispense the sacraments? To provide a sympathetic ear in time of trouble? To act as a unifying figure in a local congregation? To teach the…
The Catholic Push For Maryland Equality
Catholics have been prominent in the Maryland push for marriage equality - on both sides of the divide. Delegate Heather Mizeur is a Catholic lesbian who married her spouse, Deborah, five years ago - and is a lead sponsor of the legislation…
The Myth of Clerical Celibacy, Revisited
One of the key points in the recent declaration by German theologians (now joined by others, worldwide), is the urgency of ending the current insistence on compulsory clerical celibacy. This is my cue to revisit, and expand on, some points…
Theologians’ Revolt: Add Your Support
In addition to the growing number of professional theologians signing the Memorandum, there are now thousands of ordinary Catholics adding their signatures to an on-line petition, or joining a facebook group. Go to the website of Kirche 2011, for the…
Hawaii Civil Unions Approved; Marriage Equality Update
Three significant news items yesterday illustrated the continuing momentum towards marriage and family equality. In Hawaii, the state senate has now given final approval to civil unions for same sex couples. All that is now required is for the Gobvernor…
Theologians’ Revolt Deepening, Widening
When the German theologians last week released their declaration calling for far-reaching reform of the Catholic Church culture, structures and teaching on sexual morality, it had been signed by 143 leading theologians from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The publication of…
Exceptionalism: failing to learn from history
Exceptionalism (Wikipedia; Collins English Dictionary) is the perception that a country, society, institution, movement, or time period is “exceptional” (i.e., unusual or extraordinary) in some way and thus does not need to conform to normal rules or general principles. In…
