Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2012)
Street roots Aug. 17, 2012 ORDINATION, fro m page 9 just ignored. J.Z.: When you were ordained a priest, did you think that this was ju st an experiment o f some sort? Did you think - as a movement - that this was going to stick? T.T.: We all knew that we would likely be excommunicated. However, what does that mean? The Vatican can issue an excommunication order and say you can no longer receive the sacraments. However, when you’re a priest and you can offer the sacraments, what difference does that rule make? Also, what does it mean to be excommunicated? You’re not no longer a catholic. Once you’re a baptized Catholic, you’re always a Catholic. They can’t kick you out of the church. It meant something when you were part of little village and there was a village church, and the next village was 100 miles away, and everyone knew you were excommunicated and therefore the priest would not give you the sacraments. But in a time like this, who knows? It makes no sense. Plus, you have to buy into being excommunicated for a justice issue. I know that I’ve been called to ordination by God, and you men are telling me no, when your biblical commission says there’s nothing to stand in the way of my ordination. You’re making this decision based on something that makes no sense to anybody that because I’m a woman and I don’t have a penis, I can’t be a priest. So it’s a justice issue. You’re the hierarchy — you’re not the whole church. Most, over 58 percent of the Catholic population, believe that women should be ordained, and here I am as part of this church saying this is what God is calling us to. I firmly believe this. J.Z.: Did you get any backlash from people when you were ordained? T.T.: Yes. I had a couple of letters, e-mail. The first time I said mass in Eugene, The Register-Guard newspaper picked up the story before the mass and there were picketers outside the church. I know where people are coming from, and it doesn’t really bother me. J.Z.: You have likened the impact o f the Vatican’s crackdown on the Leadership Conference o f Women Religious not ju st on the individual level but at its broadest - fr o m congregations to politics. Do you think the approach the bishops are taking disproportionately hurts poor people more than people o f wealth? T.T.: Oh, yes. We know from studies and research that’s been done. That if you educate and empower the women, the water of the society rises. Things get better in that society if you empower the women. Yet, what is happening politically, but also with the church, is they’re trying to keep women down. Which runs counter to what culture and society needs in order to become more just, more whole, more compassionate, more supportive of one another. Because when you have people who are just taking care of their own survival needs, and that’s all they can do, they don’t have time to take care of their children, to educate their children, they’re not even able to be present to their children. It’s a sad thing. Talking about the ultra right, it’s weird how there are people who make it their calling to go to churches and listen to anything that is the least bit liberal, the least bit progressive and then report it. Report it to Rome, report it to the bishop, and the sad thing is, that those are the voices that are getting listened to and supported and empowered. J.Z.: What do you think is their motivation? T.T.: I think it’s fear. Fear of change. I think it’s a very narrow view of what is correct, and as long as we stay right here then everything is going to be all right. But if we get out here, well, we’re going to go to hell in a hand basket. Society is going to fall apart. So they’re trying to make sure we stay on the straight and narrow. And a little bit of that can be useful. Because the progressive side can get kind of crazy and frenetic and kind of scattered. So a little bit of that, and you have a balance. But when you emphasize that and only support that, then that becomes out of balance, There’s a breaking point. We can’t rein it all in. J.Z.: What is to happen for the church to move beyond this conflict? T.T.: I don’t know. I think one thing that’s happening is we have a grassroots church. And that grassroots church is growing and it’s developing and experimenting, and who knows what will happen with that grassroots church as it grows in its connectedness. As coalitions are formed between Roman Catholic Womenpriests and the Ecumenical, and some of the protestant churches that are also experimenting with faith based home churches. I see a lot of ferment happening at the grassroots. People are not satisfied with what the institutions are telling them any more — across the board. We’re not trusting the institutions, we’re not trusting the political institutions, certainly not the churches. But underneath all of that, there is a spirituality that is trying to find its way. It’s healthy. We don’t know what it is. We can’t name it yet. But it’s there. While the institutions are crumbling, will the Catholic Church institution crumble? I doubt it. I think there probably will be something that carries it on. The institution will survive, and the grassroots will continue developing,* and it may be a parallel univèrse. Maybe thé two will meet down the road. Sidewalk By Michone Nettles Here we go, side stepping Looking down onto the vest Of deep space Let one be one! Do you keep with Or do you keep without? Not being such a thing to be real Side stepping through deep space Moment after moment Not knowing what will be done In next seconds of time Hoping all will be on my knees Side stepping in deep space. What’s coming our way today in the side step On the sidewalk Of planet Earth? Wishing well fore each Life’s turns and twists, The sidewalk prevails. The faces you can’t forget Appear out of the deep That separates us as individuals Side stepping through deep space What else is there? Their unforgettable memories that go on living In the heart and soul Looking around you find your place To fit inside upside down deep space Stepping, wishing and hoping for that one and only True love for life Being alive in deep space, Side stepping on the sidewalk of planet Earth’s deep, historic beauty And a wonder for life’s ongoing hopes and dreams Keep on keeping on. International Overdose Awareness Day Memorial Nearly 100 people die every' dav from overdose. We would like to lake a moment to honor those we have lost and ask you to join us for a candle light memorial. Please feel free to bring pic tures. letters, flowers, or candles to honor those who are gone. Outside (EsDecially if you or your business are a frequent traveller!) Check out the Hotels4Change link on the Street Roots home page: www.streetroots.org ln^%
