H
HagiaSophia
Guest
AmChurch and Stockholm Syndrome
Welcome to St. Joan of Arc’s in Minneapolis, Minnesota (www.stjoan.com), the quintessential “AmChurch” parish.
See Happy Pastor Rev. George Wertin profiled by an adoring parishioner on their Web site. He’s a courageous rebel who "loves the cutting edge.” Quotable quote: "He talked about loving Rome and his repeated visits to Italy—I asked him, ‘Could you say, all roads lead to Rome?’ He said, ‘Yes, but not necessarily to the Vatican.’” Har har. The Old Guy in Rome is a joke, of course. He’s not in touch and aware like Padre is.
Hear the Baby Boomer “History Begins and Ends with Us” story of Vatican II (“The excitement was tangible in those days and he says he knew he ‘was witnessing history being made’ during the years of John Kennedy and Pope John the twenty-third.”)
See the self-congratulation: “We are ‘not a parish just trying to protect ourselves and taking care of our own souls and being a holy and pious people—but a people involved and caring.’” (Being involved and caring, you see, is the opposite of holiness and piety.)
See the enlightened reading selections full of Deep Insight for Thoughtful People:
·***** John Dominic Crossan, who informs us the body of Jesus was eaten by wild dogs.
·***** “The ministry of Jesus was first and only a social ministry.”
·***** “Eisler takes us way back to the time of Goddess worship.”
·***** “With the advent of a male god and the creation of the world’s major religions we moved into a time, and continue to be in that time, of domination.”
It’s a beehive of activity at St. Joan’s. No pro-life work, adoration, or ordinary Christian prayer, of course. But there is the neo-pagan eco-spirituality task force, the ingenious readings from Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Megan McKenna substituted for Scripture during Mass, the weekly guest homilist, the Hatha Yoga in the sanctuary, the staff bursting with gay pride, the mission statement indistinguishable from a Unitarian committee on Spelling Reform for Guatemala, the lectures asking “Is Jesus God?” with the refreshingly straightforward condescension of the apostate:
Our tradition teaches that Jesus was God come down to make up for and overcome this inaccessibility. Jesus “won back” for us that which was lost due to Original Sin. Jesus, therefore, has to be more than human…for if He is not actually God, then we are not really saved.
But the images of our childhood can no longer always work within our faith. The Roman Catholic “institutional leadership,” however, continues to uphold these images.
And let’s not forget the Confirmation graduates who boast that their faith is "a mix of Eastern Religion and Christianity. My beliefs and I have found a home. I am so proud that I was confirmed at SJA!’”
crisismagazine.com/guest.htm
Welcome to St. Joan of Arc’s in Minneapolis, Minnesota (www.stjoan.com), the quintessential “AmChurch” parish.
See Happy Pastor Rev. George Wertin profiled by an adoring parishioner on their Web site. He’s a courageous rebel who "loves the cutting edge.” Quotable quote: "He talked about loving Rome and his repeated visits to Italy—I asked him, ‘Could you say, all roads lead to Rome?’ He said, ‘Yes, but not necessarily to the Vatican.’” Har har. The Old Guy in Rome is a joke, of course. He’s not in touch and aware like Padre is.
Hear the Baby Boomer “History Begins and Ends with Us” story of Vatican II (“The excitement was tangible in those days and he says he knew he ‘was witnessing history being made’ during the years of John Kennedy and Pope John the twenty-third.”)
See the self-congratulation: “We are ‘not a parish just trying to protect ourselves and taking care of our own souls and being a holy and pious people—but a people involved and caring.’” (Being involved and caring, you see, is the opposite of holiness and piety.)
See the enlightened reading selections full of Deep Insight for Thoughtful People:
·***** John Dominic Crossan, who informs us the body of Jesus was eaten by wild dogs.
·***** “The ministry of Jesus was first and only a social ministry.”
·***** “Eisler takes us way back to the time of Goddess worship.”
·***** “With the advent of a male god and the creation of the world’s major religions we moved into a time, and continue to be in that time, of domination.”
It’s a beehive of activity at St. Joan’s. No pro-life work, adoration, or ordinary Christian prayer, of course. But there is the neo-pagan eco-spirituality task force, the ingenious readings from Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Megan McKenna substituted for Scripture during Mass, the weekly guest homilist, the Hatha Yoga in the sanctuary, the staff bursting with gay pride, the mission statement indistinguishable from a Unitarian committee on Spelling Reform for Guatemala, the lectures asking “Is Jesus God?” with the refreshingly straightforward condescension of the apostate:
Our tradition teaches that Jesus was God come down to make up for and overcome this inaccessibility. Jesus “won back” for us that which was lost due to Original Sin. Jesus, therefore, has to be more than human…for if He is not actually God, then we are not really saved.
But the images of our childhood can no longer always work within our faith. The Roman Catholic “institutional leadership,” however, continues to uphold these images.
And let’s not forget the Confirmation graduates who boast that their faith is "a mix of Eastern Religion and Christianity. My beliefs and I have found a home. I am so proud that I was confirmed at SJA!’”
crisismagazine.com/guest.htm
