As anyone who knows me knows, I have a deep and abiding love for the Church. The Catholic faith that has been lovingly passed down to me from my ancestors; the wisdom & traditions of the Church; the profound stance of welcome and love for ALL people (and especially those who have been excluded from full access to the the richness of the tradition) as communicated by Jesus Christ have become THE guiding principles of my life, the communities of which I am a part, the ways I have chosen to live as a professional woman, and how I have tried (both personally and professionally) to pass these truths down to the next generation. Being a faithful Catholic is manifest in every sphere of my life.
And yet, there have been some things happening in our local Catholic community that have been profoundly distressing. Specifically, there is a new document on the Catechesis and Policy of Gender Theory that has caused a disruption to my soul's equilibrium. As I read the document, it seems to communicate a rigid exclusion of LGBTQIA+ individuals from their ability to express their sense of identity, as they experience it, as being beloved by God, as God has created them. This is deeply troubling to me.
As I continue to find my way in this unsettling time, I am returning, daily, to the practices that support and sustain the care of my soul: morning prayer with God's word and sitting in the presence of Jesus; tracking my experience in my journal as often as energy allows; silence; and connecting with a community that knows me and loves me.
It is my intention to write and post more frequently, with as much authenticity as I can withstand. One of my core values is authenticity, so it's important for me to share with you. I know I'm not alone in this struggle and I want to serve this community that I love, and help us all move towards spiritual care & wellness.
And so I return, yet again, to God's word which tells us, "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God." (1 John 4:7)
I'm going to continue to love and to work for Love.
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