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So much of the Catholic tradition is presented to us as black and white, right and wrong, one side or another. But as with the complexity of being a human, we live in the grey area - nothing is cut and dry or perfectly clear to us - and that’s okay. What would the world look like if more people took the time to talk about it?
Last week Tricia Bruce PhD gave a presentation that discussed how Americans (Don’t) Talk About Abortion. And it’s true, many do not actually talk about it. Some assert sides and the reasons they identify with them, but often don’t give voice to the varying perspectives, experiences, and curiosities human beings carry when discussing the issue.
The Catholic Church asserts an unapologetic pro-life stance. We know this, we have known this, but what happens when a Catholic we know and love needs an abortion, when we are the ones carrying an unsafe pregnancy, when a woman does not consent to the sex that makes her pregnant, when a woman needs to make a choice about her life and body? Dr. Bruce shared with us a variety of approaches that might reframe and alter the way we understand this issue, and more importantly revealed to us that behind every opinion is a human being who is grappling with just how complicated being a human really is.
We also know that many Catholics believe, after consulting their consciences, that abortion should be safe and legal; and as Dr. Bruce notes, despite this stance, they have varying thoughts and questions that need addressing. Dr. Bruce’s talk is a reminder that within our theological perspectives there is room for disagreement and questioning, room for criticism and critical conversation, and the need to make space for listening attentively.
Let us approach these conversations with compassion, openness, and love - seeing the real, human people and the stories that accompany them. After all, isn't that what synodality is all about?
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The Just Word
Today, Marcus Hyde invites us to to explore Job’s suffering and the healing story in Mark through the lens of disability theology; engage Catholic thought on the human Christ, and the reality of ableism in our churches; and embody a better understanding of disability with the help of St. Martín De Porres, the first Black saint to be canonized from the Americas, who embodied the ethic of disability Justice, and Mary Lou Williams’s Black Christ of the Andes.
"Healing throughout all of these episodes is never merely about restoring some physical function of an impaired individual, but about restoring a person to social participation and religious inclusion. (see Acts 3:1-10). But while healings are always symbolic, they are never impersonal. Thus, Mark depicts Jesus here as beginning his public ministry by offering care to a woman, Simon’s mother in law, within the intimacy of her home. (1:29-31)."
Marcus Hyde came to Catholicism through the Catholic Worker Movement. Catholic Workers fed him when he was homeless, gave him a copy of their paper, prayed with him, let him wash some dishes, and invited him to round table discussions “for the clarification of thought.” He eventually realized that the Catholic Church, with all its faults and warts, was still the church of the poor, and thus, where God dwells. After much foot-dragging, he converted. He now works as a public defender in New York City and rants often about theology and prison abolition.
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Catholic Women Preach
Preaching for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Mary Anne Sladich-Lantz offers a reflection on healing:
"Certainly, each one of us could use a dose of healing in our lives. You know where that is inside of yourself. Our whole world needs healing, too. Brokenness and division is everywhere. Can we take the very human interaction between Jesus and Simon’s mother-in-law as a model of how to be a healing presence wherever brokenness resides."
Mary Anne Sladich-Lants has been a leader of Mission and Formation for Providence St. Joseph Health for over 25 years. In her various roles within Providence St. Joseph Health, she has worked with leaders, physicians and all caregivers on personal, spiritual and professional development. Born and raised in Anaconda, MT, she graduated from the University of Providence with a BA in Sociology/Psychology. She holds a Master’s degree in Theology and Personal Spirituality from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA. Mary Anne and her husband Reggie enjoy the great outdoors and the big sky of Montana.
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Last week FutureChurch welcomed sociologist Dr. Tricia C. Bruce, Ph.D. to present on the findings of her qualitative study of American views on abortion. Using data from in-depth interviews with hundreds of everyday Americans, Dr. Bruce underscores the imperative of productive conversations about abortion in a post Roe v. Wade era. Her research exposes the limitations of available labels, assumptions, and boundaries separating Americans’ moral and legal views. Study insights help to forge pathways beyond polarization, making room for greater complexity, ambiguity, understanding, and cross-cutting collaborations. Learn more about and read the study here.
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| Join Us for Our 2024 Lenten Retreat! |
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| February 24; 1:00 pm-4:00 pm EST |
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| From Unfathomable Grief to Unsurpassed Joy – Women of Lent and Easter |
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Join FutureChurch on Saturday, February 24th from 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm EST as we welcome author, storyteller, and Episcopal priest, Rev. Lindsay Hardin Freeman, who will guide us on a beautiful journey with Mary and Martha of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, and Mary, Jesus’ mother. Accompany them as they each offer gifts: sheltering Jesus, standing with him at the Cross, and witnessing the greatest miracle of all — the Resurrection.
This afternoon of reflection at the beginning of Lent will offer presentations from Rev. Hardin Freeman, time for optional small group conversation, and prompts for personal reflection. All are welcome!
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| Upcoming FutureChurch Events |
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February 20 at 7pm ET
Co-Creating Beauty: Queer Bodies and Queer Loves Beyond the Anathemas with Craig Ford, Ph.D.
Dr. Ford's presentation, "Co-Creating Beauty: Queer Bodies and Queer Loves Beyond the Anathemas" explores how our roles as co-creators with God allows for new ways to understand the truth revealed by sexuality and gender identity beyond the boundaries of heteronormativity. Such redeployment of this theological status as co-creator, Ford argues, may provide a pathway beyond the impasse currently experienced at the level of official church teaching with respect to these topics.
Craig A. Ford, Jr., is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Saint Norbert College, where he teaches courses in Christian Ethics, Ecclesiology, and on Race, Gender and Sexuality while also serving as Co-Director for the Peace and Justice Interdisciplinary Minor. He is also on the faculty at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies—hosted at Xavier University of Louisiana, the nation’s only Catholic HBCU— where he teaches courses on Black Theology as well as on Topics in Moral Theology from a Black Perspective. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Boston College, Dr. Ford writes on topics at the intersection of queer theory, blac studies, and the Catholic moral tradition. His most recent book project, All of Us: The Future of Catholic Theology From the Perspectives of Queer Theologians of Color is a co-edited volume with Bryan Massingale and Miguel Diaz, drawing scholars and activists from North and South America, the Pacific Islands, Australia, and Europe who seek to chart new directions for Catholic theology when the oppressive realities of racism, heteronormativity, and sexism within church and world are engaged equally and fiercely. This volume is currently under contract with Fortress Press.
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February 29 at 7pm ET
Lenten Fasting and Body Hatred: A Feminist Critique with Jessica Coblentz, Ph.D.
Join us as Jessica Coblentz presents on her article “Catholic Fasting Literature in a Context of Body Hatred: A Feminist Critique” in which she argues that the social conditions of misogynistic body hatred and the culture of fasting during Lent perpetuates disordered eating.
Jessica Coblentz, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Department of Religious Studies and Theology at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, where her research and teaching focuses on Catholic systematic theology, feminist theologies, and mental health in theological perspective. She is a graduate of Santa Clara University and Harvard Divinity School, and received her PhD from Boston College. She was previously a resident scholar at the Collegeville Institute in Collegeville, Minnesota, and has taught at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California.
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April 2 at 7pm ET
Mary Magdalene, Her Easter Proclamation, and Why it Matters
On Easter Tuesday this year, FutureChurch Program Associate, Olivia Hastie, will moderate an intergenerational panel of women in scholarship and ministry to explore how Mary Magdalene continues to inspire today, why it is important that we reclaim and tell her true story, and what difference it would make in the lives of people of faith to hear the full story on Easter Sunday.
About our Panelists:
Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ was professor of New Testament at Catholic Theological Union at Chicago for 26 years, and is professor emerita from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. She is the author or editor of many books and articles on topics of New Testament and Early Church.
Laura Boysen-Aragón is the Development Director at the Loyola Institute for Spirituality (LIS) in Orange, CA where she brings to her work a deep commitment to Ignatian spirituality and a faith that seeks justice. Laura has felt a strong call to the priesthood for many years. She continues discerning how to live out that call.
Molly Cahill is an assistant editor at America Media, where she previously completed a one-year media fellowship after her graduation from Boston College. She is passionate about theology, activism, journalism, and the arts.
Martha Ligas is a spiritual director, lay minister, preacher, and educator. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Ministry at Fordham University, serves as pastoral minister at the Community of St. Peter in Cleveland, OH, and is communications coordinator for FutureChurch.
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| A New Course from Our Friends at STM Online: Crossroads |
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Lent 2024: Reflecting Together
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February 7, 2024-March 19, 2024
Enrich your Lenten experience by enrolling in this new Boston College STM Online: Crossroads course. You will have an opportunity to read and reflect on the Sunday readings during the first five weeks of Lent, and be provided with links to reflections - including preaching from Catholic Women Preach - on the Lectionary readings (Cycle B), by a selection of commentators. Each week there will be a discussion forum so that course participants can share and discuss their insights about the Sunday readings.
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| Program Director, Mercy Center Burlingame |
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This role is responsible for the creation, development, and oversight of all program functions, and ensuring quality programming in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy charism and Mercy Ministry Corporation values. The Program Director will further the mission of Mercy Center Burlingame through program design, implementation, and evaluation while collaborating with current staff to promote retreats and programs.
Learn More/Apply Here.
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| Executive Director, Centre for Biblical Formation in Jerusalem |
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CBF, affiliated with Notre Dame de Sion (NDS, Rome), promotes understanding of scripture and interfaith peace. It's focus is: the Bible, the People, and the Land. Responsibilities of the job include: Lead CBF, uphold its values, strategize, manage operations, ensure fundraising, and support staff/volunteers.
Learn more here.
To apply, email Sister Margaret Zdunich at director@biblical-program.com.
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| What Happened at the Synod? The Call to Dialogue on Co-responsibility and Women’s Participation in Our Church |
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Wednesday, February 7 | 3:00-4:30PM EST
Join this special conversation in the Spirit hosted by the AUSCP Women in the Church Working Group, featuring Cynthia Bailey Manns, DMin, Bishop John Stowe, and YOU!
Register Here.
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| Toward a Constitutively Synodal Church |
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March 2-14, 2024
This March, Boston College is excited to offer its third Intercontinental Massive Online Course (MOOC). This time the MOOC will address the theme Toward a Constitutively Synodal Church. All videos will be facilitated virtually during the month of March 2024 and will be offered at no cost to participants worldwide. Boston College uses a fully online asynchronous format. Lectures which are pre-recorded and available in Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, Italian, Polish and German can be watched at any time throughout the month of March
Learn More and Access Recordings Here.
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| Becoming a Synodal Church: A Conversation with Massimo Faggioli and Maureen Sullivan, OP at The Center at Mariandale |
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Saturday, March 23 | 2:00-3:30PM, In-Person or via Zoom
The Roman Catholic Church is engaged in a three-year process of listening and dialogue, “The Synod on the Synodality,” which will conclude in October 2024.
This historic time for Catholicism raises important questions about the future direction of the church. Synodality implies a commitment to dialogue and an openness to voices that have been marginalized. Where is the Church now in the Synod process? What is the impact so far? Where does the Church seem to be moving in preparing for October 2024? What may be the implications for the future of the church if a model of synodality takes root in the leadership and day to day life of the church?
Please join The Center at Mariandale for a discussion with a leading church historian, Massimo Faggioli, and an expert on Vatican II, Maureen Sullivan, OP. This 90-minute session will provide opportunity to learn from key scholars, dialogue with people of the faith, and to ask questions important to you.
Fee: $20 Donation
Register Here.
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| We seek changes that will provide all Roman Catholics the opportunity to participate fully in Church life and leadership. |
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FutureChurch is a national 501(c)(3) organization and your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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