Just Deal!
Below is an article from Commonweal blog about the latest censure of a female theologian Sr. Margaret Farley author of Just Love. Personally, with this particular hierarchy, I would feel like I was walking on the right side of the street if I were being censured. There are some issues I can understand being brought to bear, but to censure one of the most respected theologians of our time because she puts sexuality and justice squarely together is interesting. I have not read the book, so I am going on this article. And I am sure, as with any work I would sift and take from it what I wanted and leave what I didn’t. http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/?p=19254So why is this important to me? Well, because it speaks to the ability to be a spiritual seeker while remaining true to the church. Sr. Farley is addressing the ethics and morality of human sexuality. In it’s center is justice. How do we live justly. Ironically, I was listening to the Diane Rehm show today where Jordan Smoller, author of “The Other Side of Normal” was the guest and one point made was that until the 1970’s homosexuality was considered an abnormal behavior. Now, with the benefits of sciencehttp://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-06-04/jordan-smoller-other-side-normal-how-biology-providing-clues-unlock-secrets-normal–we can see that this is the way humans are made. We have changed the way we view sexual behavior because God has empowered us with the science to understand more. Having said that, Sr, Farley is perhaps challenging us as members of the Catholic faith to look more deeply at what justice entails in our sexual lives. Like I said, I haven’t read the book so I really shouldn’t try to speak to that (it actually feels a little irresponsible to even comment about this) but I am concerned with the recent target on female theologians. By venturing into areas that the male hierarchy is uncomfortable going, our women religious theologians are striking up their ire and in return thier credibility and effectiveness is being called into question. Furthermore, on Fr. Martins FB page, there have been some pretty harsh words about this well respected sister. There have also been harsh words about people like me by others who think differently and are therefore better Catholics. This matters to me because our Catholic tradition has always held in tension the traditional and progressive approach to Catholicism. But there are some that think there is no room to think beyond what is told us. That is a dangerous and fruitless path. God calls us to go ever more deeply into relationship with him. Sometimes, we will be wrong in what we think but it will still have drawn us deeper into relationship because we stopped and thought about it. Moreover, our tradition is a brilliant one that has called us to use our imagination and consider where God would be in all of this. Personally, I can only see Jesus chuckling at our foolishness.Anyway, read the article and you be the judge for yourself. I have a book to buy. 🙂
Annette, I had just finished reading the article prior to checking your blog. It seems to me that Sr. Farley clearly states that these are her opinions. She doesn’t claim to espouse Catholic doctrine. It is very troubling to find this kind of censure of a well-respected theologian. I find it interesting that the Bishops are concerned about freedom of religion in the U.S. and also in Canada and yet Catholics don’t seem to have freedom of expression within our own church. Thank you for your reflection.
Wow, Lynda, I don’t know how I didn’t really put them together before you said that! I am so tired of hearing about the “war on religion” and you are oh so right about the double standard. And that is what it is…just a double standard. I was reading a book by Anthony Ciorra, “Everyday Mysticism” and one line that struck me was how some people are meant to speak from the edge…maybe I will blog that later. But that to me is what she is guilty of, and only that, speaking from the edge. Thanks, as always, for your insight Lynda!