Lost
I was raised Catholic. In fact, during junior and senior high school, I was heavily involved in many church activities, including a youth group that did community service and planned a mass each week as well as two music groups. There was one neighbor who, I think, was truly surprised when I married after college instead of going into a convent.
Over the past 8 or 9 years, I've struggled with the role of organized religion in my life. I've felt abandoned by the institution of The Church, and yet retained my belief in the need for a relationship with a higher power (0r God, or The Divine, or whatever -- the name seems irrelvant at this point). I've shaken my head in sorrow as I've read articles about edicts from the Pope: that pedophile priests are "better" than homosexuals or divorcees because, at least, they're repentant. About the fact that gays and lesbians are "unfit" to minister to the needs of a parish. About how birth control is a threat to the family.
If my local parish had merely been an echo of the Vatican, stopping attendance would have been easy. But one reason I struggled with leaving the church was the pastor of the parish I attended: Father Mike Tegeder. More than once, his sermons and his clear disagreement with "official" church doctrine amazed me.
I remember two instances in particular. First was an incredibly emotional sermon he delivered after the murder of Matthew Shepard, the young gay man in Wyoming. He spoke about fear and hate and tolerance and what Christ would have done. He cried shamelessly in front of the entire congregation as he tried to express his sorrow, frustration and anger, his hope for change, and called for compassion for ALL people.
Another sermon I recall was during the annual appeal for parishoners' time and talent (and of course, money). The local bishop had issued a statement trying to justify the church's rationale for limiting the role of women in the liturgy (ie, trying to explain why women can't be deaconesses). Fr. Mike opposed that statement -- politely and respectfully, of course -- but clearly, saying that the church really couldn't afford to refuse anyone's gifts regardless of gender, income, age, orientation or any other label. During the years I attended his church, Fr. Mike embodied the dictionary definition of the word "catholic," in my opinion, as well as other words like "courageous," "moral" and "strong." In fact, I've wondered more than once if his outspokeness might not cost him his post at the parish.
So I was heartened this morning to read an op-ed piece with his name and title, showing that he is still the pastor at St. Ed's. He hasn't lost his job, and he's still speaking out very publicly when he feels his church has gone astray. And clearly, right now, he feels it has.
Apparently here in Minnesota, the bishops have deemed it necessary to join forces with other "religious" organizations (I use quotes because I don't believe these groups have the slightest grounding in moral or religious teachings) to organize a postcard campaign to state legislators to force a constitutional amendment onto the November ballot to "protect" marriage by defining it as only a bond between a man and a woman. Fr. Mike did a masterful job of pointing out the hypocrisy of the bishops' viewpoint: if same-sex marriage is such a threat to the institution, then are they also going to push for amendments to restrict artificial birth control and divorce? As Fr. Mike pointed out, these two issues are far more threatening, by virtue of their pervasiveness and general societal acceptance, than the same-sex marriage issue. So to be consistent, it really should be all or nothing, right?
Right. They know full well that there's too much money to be lost if the bishops take a stand like that. After all, if families have 5 or 9 or 12 children and only one income, where do you suppose the money will go ? Groceries and shoes and saving for college tuition, or to the church? The truth hurts. (Or it will set you free, depending on your perspective, I suppose.)
Once again, Fr. Mike speaks out as someone who "gets" Christianity more completely than the so-called religious leaders; as someone who listens to the teachings of Jesus and actually tries to live them. Don't get me wrong: the man doesn't walk on water, I'm sure. He'd probably be the last one to claim such a thing. But I admire the fact that he has the courage of his convictions and speaks to the powers that be for a host of us who no longer care enough to get involved. God bless him for that.
I can't help but think that if there were a lot more Fr. Mikes in the world, I might still be able to be a Catholic.
Over the past 8 or 9 years, I've struggled with the role of organized religion in my life. I've felt abandoned by the institution of The Church, and yet retained my belief in the need for a relationship with a higher power (0r God, or The Divine, or whatever -- the name seems irrelvant at this point). I've shaken my head in sorrow as I've read articles about edicts from the Pope: that pedophile priests are "better" than homosexuals or divorcees because, at least, they're repentant. About the fact that gays and lesbians are "unfit" to minister to the needs of a parish. About how birth control is a threat to the family.
If my local parish had merely been an echo of the Vatican, stopping attendance would have been easy. But one reason I struggled with leaving the church was the pastor of the parish I attended: Father Mike Tegeder. More than once, his sermons and his clear disagreement with "official" church doctrine amazed me.
I remember two instances in particular. First was an incredibly emotional sermon he delivered after the murder of Matthew Shepard, the young gay man in Wyoming. He spoke about fear and hate and tolerance and what Christ would have done. He cried shamelessly in front of the entire congregation as he tried to express his sorrow, frustration and anger, his hope for change, and called for compassion for ALL people.
Another sermon I recall was during the annual appeal for parishoners' time and talent (and of course, money). The local bishop had issued a statement trying to justify the church's rationale for limiting the role of women in the liturgy (ie, trying to explain why women can't be deaconesses). Fr. Mike opposed that statement -- politely and respectfully, of course -- but clearly, saying that the church really couldn't afford to refuse anyone's gifts regardless of gender, income, age, orientation or any other label. During the years I attended his church, Fr. Mike embodied the dictionary definition of the word "catholic," in my opinion, as well as other words like "courageous," "moral" and "strong." In fact, I've wondered more than once if his outspokeness might not cost him his post at the parish.
So I was heartened this morning to read an op-ed piece with his name and title, showing that he is still the pastor at St. Ed's. He hasn't lost his job, and he's still speaking out very publicly when he feels his church has gone astray. And clearly, right now, he feels it has.
Apparently here in Minnesota, the bishops have deemed it necessary to join forces with other "religious" organizations (I use quotes because I don't believe these groups have the slightest grounding in moral or religious teachings) to organize a postcard campaign to state legislators to force a constitutional amendment onto the November ballot to "protect" marriage by defining it as only a bond between a man and a woman. Fr. Mike did a masterful job of pointing out the hypocrisy of the bishops' viewpoint: if same-sex marriage is such a threat to the institution, then are they also going to push for amendments to restrict artificial birth control and divorce? As Fr. Mike pointed out, these two issues are far more threatening, by virtue of their pervasiveness and general societal acceptance, than the same-sex marriage issue. So to be consistent, it really should be all or nothing, right?
Right. They know full well that there's too much money to be lost if the bishops take a stand like that. After all, if families have 5 or 9 or 12 children and only one income, where do you suppose the money will go ? Groceries and shoes and saving for college tuition, or to the church? The truth hurts. (Or it will set you free, depending on your perspective, I suppose.)
Once again, Fr. Mike speaks out as someone who "gets" Christianity more completely than the so-called religious leaders; as someone who listens to the teachings of Jesus and actually tries to live them. Don't get me wrong: the man doesn't walk on water, I'm sure. He'd probably be the last one to claim such a thing. But I admire the fact that he has the courage of his convictions and speaks to the powers that be for a host of us who no longer care enough to get involved. God bless him for that.
I can't help but think that if there were a lot more Fr. Mikes in the world, I might still be able to be a Catholic.
posted by Mary at 6:28 PM
1 Comments:
You are gonna burn in...okay, couldn't help myself! You know I'm in total agreement with you on this one. Glad to know that there are truly spiritual and courageous men in the Roman church. Shame there aren't more!
Now, who else have you alerted to your blog?
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