Dear Readers
“Chimp,” acrylic on paper, 12 x 18, Jack Robins-Somerville
I’m putting paid subscriptions on hold for a month. I have been doing quite a lot of behind the scenes Indie Theology work but I can’t post just yet.
In the next two days I will be posting a piece about the pope. No I am never surprised that he voted for Ratzinger in the conclave or by his fluctuating “Love the sinner, hate the sinner” messaging on queer Catholics, or his steadfast “strawberries on the cake” disposition towards women. Pope Francis has been telling us who he is for ten years.
I’m also planning to weigh in on the Eucharistic Revival Shakedown Circus. This is a “New Evangelization” conversion / fund raising campaign and now the bishops have added on a plenary indulgence. My hunch is that the real presence concerns that spurred the idea for a world wide Roman Catholic “real presence” hootenany is the the men in charge came to recognize that many Roman Catholics have been unaware of the difference between real presence and metaphorical presence. If you are a Catholic poet, you may be slower to draw a line between these items. Was the (what I call the) “You can only get it from us” factor concocted (confected?) to keep Catholics with one foot out the door of Roman Catholic Church or Orthodox churches that are in communion with the Latin Church from joining non-Roman Catholic and Protestant churches? I think it is. The Eucharistic Revival is also advertising, and its also the result of a concerted effort on the part of lens louse clerics and Pope John Paul II fans who like the idea of using 700 Club means to obtain Latin Church ends. Take the show on the road, is the big idea. Sell some Hallow Apps. Charge an arm and a leg to attend. Steal a little fire from the Synod. Convert some heathens. Step right up.
I will be stepping up my analysis of the Maryland Attorney General’s Reporton Clergy Sex Abuse of CHildren in Baltimore. The deadline for filing claims, due to Archbishop Lori’s gutlessness and depravity, is May 31st.
If you are a survivor of clergy child rape or clergy sex abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore , you have until May 31st to file a claim. If you can, make your first stop a lawyer’s office. The archdiocese will cheat you if you start with them.
Archbishop Lori must resign.
I send out warm regards. Thank you for reading.
Michele
April 10, 2024
Cambridge, MA