Controversial Feminist Theologian Speaks at Nuns’ Final Assembly Without Vatican Oversight

[Htom Sirveaux]

The Outstanding Leadership Award at the LCWR’s last annual assembly without the direct supervision of Vatican overseer Archbishop J. Peter Sartain was presented to Sister Elizabeth Johnson, the feminist theologian whose writings exploring Christianity caused CDF head Cardinal Gerhard Müller to make a harsh public rebuke of the organization (and insist that Sartain review all speakers and conference materials going forward).

(SNIP)

In her acceptance speech (which Sartain skipped after briefly addressing the assembly), Johnson said she practiced a theology that encouraged others to “think, raise questions, make connections, learn the tradition, see for yourselves how beautiful the faith is, as a step toward encountering and living out the love of the holy mystery of God.”

At the same time, noting the absence of women’s voices in traditional theology, she said she was committed to “using the human dignity of women as one lens through which think about other religious and ethical subjects,” noting that the “submerged female half of the church, indeed of the human race, is rising, and the faith we pass on to the next generations will be poorer if women’s insights are ignored.”

http://religiondispatches.org/controversial-feminist-theologian-speaks-at-nuns-final-assembly-without-vatican-oversight/

If we ever had a religion forum book club, Sister Elizabeth Johnson's Quest for the Living God looks like it would be a good candidate as one of the selections.

[cbayer]

1. I hope these women continue to defiantly push forward.

They are brave and what they are doing is not without risk.

A book club might be fun. I'm not sure it would fly in this group, but if we pick the right material, it might.

[Htom Sirveaux]

2. Any books come to mind that you would nominate? nt

[cbayer]

4. Well, I am a fan of fiction and top of my list would be "The Sparrow".

If you haven't read it, it is about the first manned trip to the first known inhabited planet. The crew consists of a variety of people, but very importantly has a number of jesuits priests aboard.

It sounds a little corny, but it is not. The jesuits play a critical role and there are a lot of ethical dilemmas that arise.

[Htom Sirveaux]

6. I have not read it, but I may have to take a look now.

Fiction is unusual for me, although I did recently restart War and Peace (bit of a nostalgia thing: when I was in middle school, I got about half way through it and understood none of it. As Woody Allen once said, "it's about Russia&quot .

[cbayer]

7. No thanks on the War and Peace. Not into torturing myself.

The Sparrow, and the sequel Children of God, might really appeal to you. Take a look and tell me what you think.

[okasha]

3. Probably not here,

but we could do it in Interfaith.

[cbayer]

5. I would love to do it here, but I agree that it's probably not going to happen.

Interfaith would be a good place to try it though. Do you have any book suggestions?