JOHN MCNEILL & GAY LIBERATION THEOLOGY

By coincidence, one of the books I was reading at the time of Luciani's election, was John McNeill's pioneering study, The Church and the Homosexual. It formed an essential part of my own acceptance as a lovable, worthwhile...

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Saint Francis and the Shroud in Krakow

The photo is of Stanislaw Wyspianski's stained glass masterpiece, 'Let It BE, which shows G-D emerging from the cosmos in the act of creation. It adorns the western entrance to the Basilica of St. Francis in Krakow, Poland...

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PAPA LUCIANI AND I

I seem to have wandered off the path of personal reflections on being Gay and Catholic, but just as a reminder I've placed this rather sweet photo of JPI (in one of his more fey poses) permanently to the left as a symbol...

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NEW EVIDENCE FOR THE SHROUD OF TURIN

Read the full article from The Sun(The "evidence" is not new (2002-5), but the film (50 min) is relatively recent. I intend to return to this issue in another posting, linking it to reflections about religious pluralism...

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Spiritual Teacher Eckhart Tolle

A living spiritual master of our day, Eckhart Tolle, who achieved his spiritual breakthrough outside of any traditional religious or spiritual tradition, but who now draws upon them all for insight and clarity. I offer the video, not simply for its content, but for the peaceful, serene, manner of this gentle, integrated, spiritual ma...

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Ramakrishna and Devotion to Christ

Rare photos of Ramakrishna, patron saint of all religious pluralists. He once had a vision of the divine master of Nazareth who walked towards him and then mysteriously passed through his being....

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The Black Madonna of Czestochowa

The great image of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa, to which I have a special devotion. Patron of Catholic Poland, she inhabits her monastery in the rather grey city of Czestochowa as a prisoner (so to speak) of patriarchal...

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Full Enlightenment, Reincarnation, Redemptive Suffering

Rare footage of another of India's (and the world's) great sages, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. According to his own admission, he achieved 'full enlightenment' at the age of 16, without any guidance...

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Another Incarnation?

My third and last post on Ammachi (for the time being). I must confess I'm being rather mischievous and naughty here, delighting in making the 'shocking' suggestion that the rare 'oneness with God' we Christians tradionally credit Jesus with possessing (making him ontologically distinct from the rest of the human race) may now be manifesting itself...

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An Incarnation of the Divine Feminine

When You Go Beyond the Ego You Become an Offering to the World"Known around the world as a radiant embodiment of unconditional love, Ammachi literally hugs everyone who comes to see her. This captivating interview with one...

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Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

The great Swedish soprano, Kirsten Flagstad, singingJesu, Joy of Man's Desiringat the age of ...

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India's Hugging Saint

Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi or AmmaAlan Steinfeld's interview with India's extraordinary hugging saint, Amma. It is estimated she has embraced in blessing over 36 million people worldwide over the past 25 years. The two...

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Roman Catholic Women Priests and Brother Roger of Taize

This may seem like a strange link to make, between the status of the Roman Catholic Women Priests' movement and Brother Roger of the ecumenical community of Taize. Brother Roger, one of the most extraordinary...

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Roman Catholic Women Priests

Here is a short comment I posted on The Progressive Catholic Voice regarding Roman Catholic Women Priests: I find the whole phenomenon deeply moving and inspiring. Do labels really matter at this point in...

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THE FLOATING NUN

As the Catholic community absorbs the impact of the 'Roman Catholic Women Priests' movement and debates the pros and cons, I offer this lovely video from Thailand of the "Floating Nun' of Kanchanaburi. A simple, spiritual woman in her 60's when this film was made, she floats in salt water and meditates in poses of the Buddha. It is very much pure theatre...

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Thai Buddhist Master Ajahn Cha

Rare footage of Thai Buddhist master, Ajahn Cha, one of the great saints of the Thai Buddhist forest tradition of the past century. When we get too caught up in the scandals of present day Catholicism, it is refreshing for...

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Plum Village Buddhist Retreat Center, France

Photos from Plum Village, the spiritual retreat center founded by Vietnamese master, Thich Nhat Hanh, prominent member of the Vietnamese Buddhist peace movement during the Vietnam War and friend of Daniel Berrigan and Thomas...

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BAT NHA MONASTERY UNDER SEIGE

Beautiful photo from Bat Nha Monastery in Vietnam, currently under siege and very much in need of international help. Please check out their website:http://helpbatnha.org/category/ne...

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St.Thomas Church, Prague: An Inclusive Community

Photos of the stunning Baroque church of St. Thomas in the old quarter of Prague. Run by the Augustinian friars, at the end of each Sunday 11am English mass the priest usually gives a welcome to all disaffected Catholics,...

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Spiritual Retreat Centers, Chiengmai, Thailand

Buddhist Forest Monastery of Wat Umong and Seven Fountains Jesuit Retreat Center in Chiengmai, capitol of northern Thaila...

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EASTON MOUNTAIN

http://www.eastonmountain.com/This is the website of a gay men's spiritual retreat center in the Hudson Valley in upper state New York. Quite a beautiful and inspiring place. What I find interesting about it is that many...

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TIBETAN PRAYER

A beautiful Tibetan Buddhist prayer that I've always admired:THE EIGHT VERSES OF MIND TRAININGDetermined to obtain the greatest possible benefit from all sentient beings, who are more precious than a wish-fulfilling jewel, I shall at all times practice holding them most dear.When in the company of others, I shall at all times practice considering myself...

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FORGING NEW WAYS FORWARD

Interview with Diarmuid O'Murchu http://www.catholica.com.au/media/006_do_010207.php INTERVIEWER: What happens to those (in the church) who don't get it, who can't move on. DIARMUID O'MURCHU: There's certainly a part of me as a human being, a part entirely of being a Christian, that feels I don't want to abandon any sister or brother on the journey...

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SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

Here is a moving quote from spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle's book A New Earth which I feel is relevant to the present state of Roman Catholicism. I remain convinced that the failure of leadership within the church over the past 30 years has been a providential, if painful, gift of purification weaning us away from over-dependence upon ecclesiastical...

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