An institution reduced to effective silence on key issues people would like discussed.... (Main Forum)

by Jerome , Tuesday, October 25, 2011, 21:33 (574 days ago) @ flagrantheretic

Today I have read some posts on the forum that have special impact.
I think that they need re-reading and reflection.
I think we should all make attempts personally to answer the challenges in them.

John Churchman http://www.catholica.com.au/specials/exitstories/006_exitstories_251011.php

‘Instead of pay-pray-obey,
I chose to follow the call of the Holy Spirit
(out of the comfort zone onto a Great Adventure)
and to
Go, Grow, and Glow.’

flagrantheretic #87540

‘My parish priest is a great pastor, and has no time for the temple police, but he manages to successfully walk the fine line with his bishop.
So what you are saying suggests that we the laity need to find ways to speak out in our parishes, not just on discussion forums preaching to each other.
In what ways can we evangelise within our parish so that others who think the way we do, know that they are not alone.
That is a challenge.’

Enda #87566

‘How do bishops stand up to a pope who is wrong?’

PJgov #87569

‘We will not change the Church by walking away.’

These 3 posts in particular have occupied my mind, because they seek action rather than talk.
I would love to see a lot more posts that suggest ‘out of the box’ actions.
It would be interesting to learn about the results of every action that originated from a post on the forum.
What if all members of this forum actually approached their parish priest and asked the question: ‘How do bishops stand up to a pope who is wrong?’
Then all members would post on this forum the responses they received.
The ratings might go through the roof, Brian!

In the ‘Emerging Church’ discussions many times actions are mentioned that are about ‘social justice’ and ‘caring and sharing.’ Aren’t they the actions of people who put into practice the essence of last Sunday’s gospel:

"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
and with all your mind.
This is the greatest and the first commandment.
The second is like it:
You shall love your neighbour as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

Ynot wrote: #87320

‘If there is a problem in loving God
it does not lie in that mysterious doubt about whether god really exists or not;
it is found in our reluctance to go the whole way in living in truth, or in truly living.’

Thank you all for such thought-provoking posts.
Let us follow up with actions rather than ‘walking away’.
That, to me, is the action of an 'emerging church'.