Pope Francis Supportive of Aboriginal Theology?

[trickster]

Those of you who know me know about my position(s) on the need to develop theology that addresses reconciliation between native spirituality and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

One of the things that I am observing about the direction that this pope is going to (social justice, an inclusive catholic church, putting specific issues within the more global issue of the message of the church),etc. leave me encouraged about the church being open to the development of eco-theology, aboriginal theology and so forth.

Also the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops - in response to Francis - have reprioritized aboriginal people in Canada which makes me very happy. I am optimistic that the church will start to move again in holistic evangelization of indigenous peoples around the world and our people won’t necessarily “fit into” the status quo formats of the Catholic Church, we will have our own formats I would hope.

Given that Francis will have exercised his Petrine Ministry for a year this March,what are peoples thoughts on Francis and the inclusion of indigenous peoples and the reconciliaton process of indigenous peoples who have historically and continue to be in many cases connected to the Catholic Church?

Trickster
Bruce Ferguson

 

[robert_chacon]

Interesting question, but can you provide some information about the issue that defines exactly what is meant to “incorporate” aboriginal theologies" ? If it means we accept non Christian , not Catholic dogma to incorporate other cultural beliefs, then No , I would not agree to that. But if you mean changes in liturgies that honor other cultures, such as the Anglican Ordinariate, without altering Catholic theology, then I might say that would be welcome to help evangelize people of other cultures.

 

[janeway529]

Interesting question, but can you provide some information about the issue that defines exactly what is meant to “incorporate” aboriginal theologies" ? If it means we accept non Christian , not Catholic dogma to incorporate other cultural beliefs, then No , I would not agree to that. But if you mean changes in liturgies that honor other cultures, such as the Anglican Ordinariate, without altering Catholic theology, then I might say that would be welcome to help evangelize people of other cultures.

I think the OP would might mean and would do well to look at Native American liturgical practices, which were largely accepted and introduced by Bishop Donald Pelotte. Also, there can and is cultural theology within Catholic theology. Take for example, Hispanic Theology.

 

[trickster]

Interesting question, but can you provide some information about the issue that defines exactly what is meant to “incorporate” aboriginal theologies" ? If it means we accept non Christian , not Catholic dogma to incorporate other cultural beliefs, then No , I would not agree to that. But if you mean changes in liturgies that honor other cultures, such as the Anglican Ordinariate, without altering Catholic theology, then I might say that would be welcome to help evangelize people of other cultures.

Hi Robert… Yes I get that question a lot. I also get asked whether I am creating a sycretic religion. or reverting to paganism and so forth. I also cause concerns when people are thinking that I am trying to change the liturgy or met with just plain confusion when I suggest that in addition to indigenous saints like Kateri Tekawitha we can create indigenous sacramentals based on sound theology and strong orthodox teaching.

So in answer to your question: Catholic theology is alterable. Catholic teaching based on the teaching authority of the church is not alterable. So there is room to challenge Catholic theology (but I am not interested in challenging, I am interested in articulating the experiential knowledge of indigenous communities - starting with mine - in our spiritual relationship to the Creator and our 100 or so year history with the Catholic church). I actually went to an Anglican Theology school (as the school is postmodern in terms of theology which I figured out later) and essentially, I believe that your second point "But if you mean changes in liturgies that honor other cultures, such as the Anglican Ordinariate, without altering Catholic theology, then I might say that would be welcome to help evangelize people of other cultures is more along the lines of what I am saying…

Hope that is helpful.

Trickster (which is an anthropological term talking about transformational characters in various traditions: raven amongst the Haida, coyote amongst some American Indian tribes… etc. and so forth… for me my spirit is a transformational spirit which has been led to push the margins between the indigenous community and my church…)

Bruce Ferguson

 

[trickster]

I think the OP would might mean and would do well to look at Native American liturgical practices, which were largely accepted and introduced by Bishop Donald Pelotte. Also, there can and is cultural theology within Catholic theology. Take for example, Hispanic Theology.

Janeway529, thank you for that. I was not aware of Donald Pelotte. I will definitely look up his work …if you know any other indigenous catholic initiatives like this, I am definitely open minded and would be welcoming of such information.

Bruce Ferguson
Trickster

 

[janeway529]

Janeway529, thank you for that. I was not aware of Donald Pelotte. I will definitely look up his work …if you know any other indigenous catholic initiatives like this, I am definitely open minded and would be welcoming of such information.

Bruce Ferguson
Trickster

You’re welcome. I do know of Native American Catholic groups called the Kateri Circle.

Btw, Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap. is a Native American. Here’s a video of him speaking about this side of his family, starting at 50:08 - youtube.com/watch?v=wEMHWy9urzU

Since you’re in Canada, I wonder if you’ve read this book. It’s by Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie, OMI and his experience with native peoples. It’s titled, ‘Drumming From Within: Tales of Hope and Faith from Canada’s North.’
amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Archbishop%20Sylvain%20Lavoie&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AArchbishop%20Sylvain%20Lavoie

EDIT: I just found a link to the Tekakwitha Conference, an Indigenous Catholic religious non-profit international organization.
tekconf.org/

 

[trickster]

You’re welcome. I do know of Native American Catholic groups called the Kateri Circle.

Btw, Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap. is a Native American. Here’s a video of him speaking about this side of his family, starting at 50:08 - youtube.com/watch?v=wEMHWy9urzU

Since you’re in Canada, I wonder if you’ve read this book. It’s by Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie, OMI and his experience with native peoples. It’s titled, ‘Drumming From Within: Tales of Hope and Faith from Canada’s North.’
amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&field-author=Archbishop%20Sylvain%20Lavoie&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AArchbishop%20Sylvain%20Lavoie

EDIT: I just found a link to the Tekakwitha Conference, an Indigenous Catholic religious non-profit international organization.
tekconf.org/

Thanks again Janeway529. I am familiar with Charles Chaput… and the OMI was the religious order that worked in my reserve and so I will definitely look that up. I am involved in our Archdiocesan First Nations group and am familiar with the Tekakwitha Conference…so we are on the same page…I look forward to your continued thoughts and if you think of other sites, feel free to contact me and let me know.

Bruce Ferguson
Trickster

 

[kim_zef]

While attending a Novus Ordo Mass in honor of Kateri,I was “smudged”
by a Native American in front of the altar. Everybody
lined up for this like it was Communion. Is this
the kind of stuff you’re talking about?

 

[trickster]

While attending a Novus Ordo Mass in honor of Kateri,I was “smudged”
by a Native American in front of the altar. Everybody
lined up for this like it was Communion. Is this
the kind of stuff you’re talking about?

No, not really. I am talking about "aboriginal theology’ in a wholistic context. As an example, I am working through St. Augustine’s City of God and a lot of other doctors of the church, church teaching on inculturation (since Vat II) as well as looking at writing from pre-Vatican II days (i.e. Jesuits, and other missionary orders) and seeing how they see the conversation between culture, pre-contact notions of the divine, and Christianity to see how a) dialogue was introduced, b) cultural friendly tools were utilized (I.e.Coast Salish “talking stick” which contained the history of salvation, or the eagle feather, etc.), c) rationalization of mission work for approaches etc.

In otherwords I am interested in developing a theological base that would inform the development of indigenous based expressions of faith (i.e. sacramentals, complimentary services that support the theme of the liturgy, an understanding of the ancestors within the framework similar to the communion of saints and so forth).

I smudge myself and it is simply a way of ensuring that bad spirits aren’t in the physical space you are in. I believe the value lies in its context as understood by indigenous culture and purpose. I believe God honors our intentions. I also believe that there are spiritual medicines attached to things; plants have their medicinal uses that’s a fact, there are psychological medicines (i.e positive images, messsages) etc. However, my problem with smudging in the context of the mass is that without an informing theological base it is fragmented, disconnected with the purpose, spirit of the mass and it is weak in supporting the communion with Jesus and the salvational work happening in our masses.

The smudging as you describe it is problematic to me because it seems to be taking bits and pieces of one culture and cut and pasting it into another culture or the mass itself and from cultural contexts that don’t necessarily say the same thing. I have the same problem with the outward appearance of “indigenous inculturation” (sweat lodge tabernacles, vestments designed in Indingenous motif), etc. In otherwords applying indigenous symbolism on western based dynamics (Roman based) is going in the right direction but I am all about building strong theological proposals for the chruch’s consideration to anchor my experiential knowledge as an indigenous person with my love for Jesus and my being part of a Christian catholic faith community

Hope that starts to delve into your observation…but yeah, smudging is a very important thing to our people. I also participated in sweat lodges and sun dances as well as west coast long-house memorials as many of the west coast oblates do…these are very sacred moments and moments that need to be respected as spiritual and God is certainly a player in what happens in our people’s traditional spirituality.

Hope that is a start in conversing about your observations.

Bruce Ferguson
Trickster

 

[Brendan]

On the US Side, there is also Fr. Maurice (Henry) Sands, who is Ojibway. He is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and grew up on the Walpole Island Reserve on Lake St. Clair

He is also on the USCCB Committee for Cultural Diversity.

He is also a past member of the Tekawitha Conference which Janeway mentioned.

You might do well to reach out to Fr. Sands.

 

[janeway529]

No, not really. I am talking about "aboriginal theology’ in a wholistic context. As an example, I am working through St. Augustine’s City of God and a lot of other doctors of the church, church teaching on inculturation (since Vat II) as well as looking at writing from pre-Vatican II days (i.e. Jesuits, and other missionary orders) and seeing how they see the conversation between culture, pre-contact notions of the divine, and Christianity to see how a) dialogue was introduced, b) cultural friendly tools were utilized (I.e.Coast Salish “talking stick” which contained the history of salvation, or the eagle feather, etc.), c) rationalization of mission work for approaches etc.

In otherwords I am interested in developing a theological base that would inform the development of indigenous based expressions of faith (i.e. sacramentals, complimentary services that support the theme of the liturgy, an understanding of the ancestors within the framework similar to the communion of saints and so forth).

I smudge myself and it is simply a way of ensuring that bad spirits aren’t in the physical space you are in. I believe the value lies in its context as understood by indigenous culture and purpose. I believe God honors our intentions. I also believe that there are spiritual medicines attached to things; plants have their medicinal uses that’s a fact, there are psychological medicines (i.e positive images, messsages) etc. However, my problem with smudging in the context of the mass is that without an informing theological base it is fragmented, disconnected with the purpose, spirit of the mass and it is weak in supporting the communion with Jesus and the salvational work happening in our masses.

The smudging as you describe it is problematic to me because it seems to be taking bits and pieces of one culture and cut and pasting it into another culture or the mass itself and from cultural contexts that don’t necessarily say the same thing. I have the same problem with the outward appearance of “indigenous inculturation” (sweat lodge tabernacles, vestments designed in Indingenous motif), etc. In otherwords applying indigenous symbolism on western based dynamics (Roman based) is going in the right direction but I am all about building strong theological proposals for the chruch’s consideration to anchor my experiential knowledge as an indigenous person with my love for Jesus and my being part of a Christian catholic faith community

Hope that starts to delve into your observation…but yeah, smudging is a very important thing to our people. I also participated in sweat lodges and sun dances as well as west coast long-house memorials as many of the west coast oblates do…these are very sacred moments and moments that need to be respected as spiritual and God is certainly a player in what happens in our people’s traditional spirituality.

Hope that is a start in conversing about your observations.

Bruce Ferguson
Trickster

I would look at Aylward Shorter’s book Toward a Theology of Inculturation as well as several books by Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB. He literally wrote the book on liturgical studies.

 

[trickster]

On the US Side, there is also Fr. Maurice (Henry) Sands, who is Ojibway. He is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and grew up on the Walpole Island Reserve on Lake St. Clair

He is also on the USCCB Committee for Cultural Diversity.

He is also a past member of the Tekawitha Conference which Janeway mentioned.

You might do well to reach out to Fr. Sands.

Thank you so much Brendon… will do that…never heard of Fr. Maurice.

Bruce
trickste

 

[trickster]

I would look at Aylward Shorter’s book Toward a Theology of Inculturation as well as several books by Fr. Anscar Chupungco, OSB. He literally wrote the book on liturgical studies.

Now that is what I am talking about…Toward a Theology of Inculturation… you hit it on the head of the nail there janeway529…thank you.

Bruce