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Pictures from Morristown Ordinations

4/29/2015

 
Morristown Green has published some great pictures form the April 25th RCWP ordinations in Morristown, New Jersey -- enjoy.

The unique gifts women can bring

4/29/2015

 
From NCR: The unique gifts women can bring to the role of pastor by Bill Tammeus:
My congregation has just done something currently impossible for a Catholic congregation to replicate: It has voted to call a woman as our associate pastor. She'll be the fourth woman to serve in that capacity in our congregation's 150-year history.

My job here is not to tell the Catholic church it should ordain women as priests, though that would be my position if I were Catholic. Rather, I'm going to try to give Catholics a sense of what having female clergy can do to create a full and wholesome approach to ministry.  continue reading

Really Francis?  Do you mean what you say?

4/29/2015

 
From NCR: Francis firmly backs equal pay for women, citing Christian 'radical equality':
VATICAN CITY Pope Francis on Wednesday backed efforts for equal pay for men and women who perform the same work, saying that continuing disparities in pay for women are a "pure scandal."
Reflecting during his weekly general audience on the "radical equality" he said Christianity proposes between husbands and wives, Francis said Christians around the world "must become more demanding" in emphasizing that equality.

"For example: supporting with conviction the right of equal compensation for equal work," he said.

"Why is it expected that women must earn less than men?" he asked. "No! They have the same rights. The disparity is a pure scandal."  continue reading
It’s interesting to hear Francis promote “radical equality” for women while the vast religious organization he leads discriminates against women in PROFOUND ways.  Apparently, Francis has no sense of irony and is blind to the hypocrisy inherent in his statements.  We think it's "pure scandal" that the Roman Church refuses to treat women with "radical equality".  How long must we wait for justice?

His words will mean something when he insists that women priests be paid the same salary as male priests.  

Love, Marriage and Music

4/29/2015

 
From NYT columnist Frank Bruni: Love, Marriage and Music
At some point in my childhood, just before my teens, I was struck by the fact that almost all of the songs that I was hearing on the radio, half-consciously humming along to or committing to memory were about love.  continue reading

Religious views on marriage equality

4/28/2015

 
From Huffington Post: Religious Views On Same-Sex Marriage Have Radically Changed by Carol Kuruvilla
When Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003, America's major religious denominations didn’t offer much support.

Now, more than a decade later, religious attitudes toward LGBT rights have shifted dramatically. Not only are people of faith more vocal about their support for marriage equality, but they are, at times, willing to contradict official church doctrine to express those views.  

...Despite the Catholic Church’s prohibitive stance, the Public Religion Research Institute did find that the majority of both white and Hispanic Catholics were in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage.
continue reading
This article includes a great graph charting the approval of marriage equality across multiple religious denominations in the US.

Homily by Mary McGlone

4/27/2015

 
Homily on:
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 4:8-12
Psalm 118
1 John 3:1-2
John 10:11-18
In his name
It happens to everybody at some point. You do someone a good turn, and you get in big trouble for it. Today, we hear Peter defending himself before the guardians of orthodoxy. Poor Peter is accused of healing a crippled beggar in the name of Jesus. (See the whole account in Acts 3-4.) As the story goes, Peter's responses culminate with the question of choosing whether to obey God or men, even -- or especially -- when the men claim the sanction of religious authority.
continue to full homily
Mary McGlone homily archive

Seven new priests

4/27/2015

 
Roman Catholic Women Priests (RCWP) is please to announce the Ordination of seven new Priests:
Barbara Ann Beadles
Norma Harrington 
Patricia Shannon Jones 
Susan Marie Schlessler
Kathleen Gibbons Schuck 
Ann Therese Searing and 
Mary Steinmetz 
The Ordination ceremony took place in Morristown, New Jersey on Saturday April 25th. The presiding Bishop was Andrea Johnson, Bishop of the Eastern Region of RCWP-USA.

We congratulate each of these women and pray for continued blessings in their ministries.

Homily at Brecksville UCC

4/26/2015

 
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 26, 2015

For the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Ann was invited to preach at the Brecksville United Church of Christ. She used the gospel from the common lectionary (the Good Shepherd), but chose the first reading and the “Continuing Testament” (a UCC tradition) from other sources as noted. 

The First Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10.
The Gospel: John 10:11-18
Continuing Testament: Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi, Richard Rohr, pp. 183-88.

What image comes to mind when we hear “the Good Shepherd”? Lots of us may see some sweet, Sunday school picture of meek and mild Jesus. It’s an image many like to share with children. 
continue to full homily

Churches support marriage equality

4/25/2015

 
From NYT: It’s Not Gay Marriage vs. the Church Anymore By William N. Eskridge, Jr.
NEW HAVEN — THIS week, committed gay couples seeking the right to marry will take their case to the Supreme Court. The plaintiffs in Obergefell v. Hodges are supported by amicus briefs submitted by a variety of institutions and people, from the former N.F.L. player Chris Kluwe to Ken Mehlman, a past chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Religious groups are on their side, too. While several prominent religious organizations have filed briefs in opposition, leaders in the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ, the Unitarian Universalist Association, the official organizations of conservative and reform Judaism, and more than 1,900 theologians signed a brief urging the court to legalize same-sex marriage. continue reading
The Roman Catholic Church remains solidly opposed to justice with respect to marriage equality. While Rome’s Cardinals cling to a stunted version of morality, a strong majority of Catholic People in the US now support full legal marriage equality. With their position on this issue, the Roman Catholic Church has put themselves out of the main-stream by taking a stand that is seen, by increasing majorities of Catholics, as immoral.

Cleveland City Council passes marriage equality resolution

4/21/2015

 
From WKYC: Marriage equality bill passed by Cleveland City Council
CLEVELAND -- City Council passed a resolution supporting gay marriage (Marriage equality) in the state of Ohio Monday evening.  The resolution passed by a vote of 14 to two.

Cleveland now joins Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton and other cities that have adopted similar resolutions stating they support marriage between same-sex couples.  continue reading
We thank Cleveland for joining the other large Ohio cities in their support of this major social justice issue. The US Supreme Court will hear oral argument next Tuesday in a case which is widely expected to guarantee marriage equality rights nationwide.  Thirty-seven US States currently have legal marriage equality.

The Vatican’s misguided investigation

4/18/2015

 
From the NYT: Pope Stops Investigating the Good Sisters
The Vatican’s misguided investigation of American Catholic nuns seemed thoroughly steeped in chauvinism from its inception three years ago by the church’s male-dominated bureaucracy. Rome’s move against widely respected churchwomen was puzzling and provocative in an era of scandal by male priests committing child rape and being repeatedly shielded by their male superiors. continue reading

Francis - you should oust San Francisco Archbishop

4/16/2015

 
From the San Francisco Chronicle: Prominent Catholics call on pope to oust S.F. archbishop by Matier & Ross
In an unprecedented move, more than 100 prominent Roman Catholic donors and church members signed a full-page ad running Thursday in The Chronicle that calls on Pope Francis to replace San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone for fostering “an atmosphere of division and intolerance.”
continue reading.  Full text of open letter to the Pope.
We agree completely.  Sal Cordileone has proven himself entirely incapable of being a good pastor to the San Francisco Archdiocese.  He should be demoted to a position in which he can do less harm.

Vatican ends "investigation"/bullying of US nuns

4/16/2015

 
(RNS) The Vatican on Thursday (April 16) officially ended a controversial investigation of American nuns with a face-saving compromise that allows Pope Francis to close the book on one of the more troubled episodes from the pontificate of his predecessor, Benedict XVI.  continue reading
From Religion News Services (RNS):  Vatican ends controversial investigation of U.S. nuns with olive branch by David Gibson 

Pope Francis - biblical creation story is not literally true

4/14/2015

 
This is a big step in the right direction...

From the British national morning newspaper The Independent:  Pope Francis declares evolution and Big Bang theory are real and God is not 'a magician with a magic wand'
The theories of evolution and the Big Bang are real and God is not “a magician with a magic wand”, Pope Francis has declared.

Speaking at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Pope made comments which experts said put an end to the “pseudo theories” of creationism and intelligent design that some argue were encouraged by his predecessor, Benedict XVI…

“When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so,” Francis said. 

“The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it.

“Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.”  continue reading

200 Ohio ministers to preach in support of marriage equality

4/11/2015

 
From The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio ministers’ sermons to support same-sex marriage By JoAnne Viviano
In her 12 years as an ordained minister, the Rev. Sarah Reed has concentrated on a core message, one that she preaches 50 different ways a year.

She said that message — about God’s love and inclusiveness — won’t change when she takes the pulpit next weekend to participate in Sermon Sunday sponsored by Why Marriage Matters Ohio.

Reed will preach at the Downtown First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, joining more than 200 other clergy members around the state who are expected to speak to congregations in support of same-sex marriage.  continue reading
We thank these Ohio ministers for supporting the gospel values of love and inclusion.

Ordination of Kathleen Bean

4/11/2015

 
Roman Catholic Womanpriest (RCWP) is pleased to announce that Kathleen Bean will be ordained to the priesthood Saturday, April 11 at 1:30 pm at Harmony Creek Church, 5280 Bigger Road, Dayton, Ohio 45440. Bishop Joan Clark Houk is the ordaining bishop. All are very welcome!

Read Kathleen’s profile at LGBT Religious Archives Network

Sexism in the Catholic Church

4/9/2015

 
From Iglesia Descalza:  Colombian woman priest denounces sexism in the Catholic Church
Caracol Radio (English translation by Rebel Girl)
April 3, 2015

Olga Lucía Álvarez from Antioquia, the first ordained woman priest in Latin America and one of four [translator's note: now five] women priests in Colombia, laments the sin of sexism that still exists in Catholicism, that applies canon 1024, according to which only baptized men can be ordained.

"Is the water with which they baptized men different or is it that we don't need baptism," Álvarez wonders in a conversation with 6 AM Hoy por hoy.

She said that although the Catholic hierarchy says they are excommunicated, "we don't accept it, because they can't take away our baptism nor can they throw us out of the Church."   continue reading

Brecksville United Church of Christ

4/6/2015

 
Our love and gratitude to Brecksville United Church of Christ...

It is with much Easter joy that the Community of St. Bridget, an inclusive Catholic community, expresses much gratitude to you for your open and generous sharing of the Paschal mysteries with us. Our shared Holy Week celebrations were especially meaningful to us precisely because they were shared. This sort of cooperation demands extra effort that some folks may not be aware of, but the generosity of a few makes for a deeper experience for all. Thank you!

May Easter blessings rain upon you throughout this holy season!
In gratitude, Mary Collingwood and Ann Klonowski and the Community of St. Bridget

Holy Week worship schedule

4/5/2015

 
The Community of St. Bridget will be celebrating Holy Week and sharing the celebration with the Brecksville UCC. As usual, all liturgies are open to all so please invite friends and family! 

Palm (Passion) Sunday: Saturday, March 28 at 5 pm
Holy Thursday: April 2, soup supper at 6:30. At 7 pm, a shared service with the BUCC community 
Good Friday: April 3 services at 7 pm 
The Great Vigil/Easter will be celebrated on Saturday April 4 at 8:30 pm.
(address and map)

Philadelphia catholics say - ordain Women...

4/3/2015

 
From CBS Philly: Annual Vigil Outside Philadelphia Cathedral Demands Ordination of Women as Catholic Priests:
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A group of Catholic women stood witness today outside the home of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, calling once again for the ordination of women as priests in the Catholic Church.

Catholic women with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Women’s Ordination Conference stood across the street from the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul, holding signs demanding that the church ordain women priests.  continue
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