William Maurice, i.e. Willie Mo, I Baptize You

Column by Bishop John Shelby Spong on 5 March 2015 1 Comments
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Question

You often mention Elaine Pagels and Karen Armstrong. What are your thoughts on the writings of Joan Chittister – especially her book: Called to Question?

Also, I would like your opinion of the Network of Spiritual Progressives.

 

Answer

Dear Carl,

I have great admiration for Joan Chittister. I only met her personally less than ten years ago at a gathering of a lay Roman Catholics, known as “Call to Action.” This is an organization of those Catholics who are alienated from their church over a variety of issues, such as the treatment of women, gay and lesbian people and that church’s apparent inability to engage a rapidly changing world. I was very excited to meet her finally since I had read her work and have read about her for years. She is as gracious in person as she is in her books. In Called to Question, Sister Joan displays the kind of faith I admire, a faith that does not see doubt as its opposite. The real opposite of faith is to cling to yesterday’s answers or yesterday’s security long after it has lost both its power and its persuasiveness because “there is no tomorrow.” Joan Chittister is coming to my parish church, St. Peter’s in Morristown. New Jersey on April 23, 2015 at 7:30 pm to be our featured lecturer of the year. I look forward to seeing her again and to hearing her. Anyone living near Morristown would be welcome to attend.

I refer to Elaine Pagels and Karen Armstrong frequently because I have known them for years, both professionally and personally and consider both to be dear and treasured friends, as well as incredible scholars and impressive writers.

In regard to the Network of Spiritual Progressives, that organization is primarily the expression of an incredible rabbi named Michael Lerner from California. I have spoken at gatherings of his organization on two occasions, once in Washington and once in Berkeley. I have read Michael’s most recent book and have found it both penetrating and insightful.

Michael is a creative and voluminous writer and he keeps in touch with his vast network regularly. I applaud his witness and welcome his point of view. I am not a member of his network, primarily because it offers little opportunity for dialogue or disagreement and, while I admire Michael, I would not be comfortable with the idea that he speaks for me. I am delighted that his words frequently speak to and even inspire me, but I do not want to be identified 100% with anyone’s political perspective.

John Shelby Spong

 

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