The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic
Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily
Meditations with Matthew Fox
|
Pope Benedict vs. Signs of Our Times: Einstein, Women 01/05/2023 |
The Second Vatican Council urged Catholics to “read the signs of the times.” Among the signs of our times are scientific discoveries and liberation movements for women. Did Benedict choose to read the signs of our
times? Or to retreat from them? |
For me, the single biggest mistake in Ratzinger’s overall worldview was his rejection of the findings of Einstein about the role of
relativity and creativity in the cosmos. Regarding the latter, he abhorred creativity in theology or in Liturgy. He wanted a static religion that | |
hearkened back to a bygone era and
hardly changed at all. Obedience trumped creativity every time as an important virtue. Ratzinger turned his back on Einstein’s sense of relativity in the universe in favor of a church that mirrors a mechanistic and unchanging
universe. He felt the “Body of Christ” that the Church likes to call itself should be mechanistic and unchanging. Law trumps spirit. He tells us so on numerous occasions by invoking this favorite phrase that became a regular meme and mantra for him: He saw himself fighting “a dictatorship of
relativism.” He preferred a dictatorship of rigidity. This attitude justified his fortress mentality and his call for a “smaller church” and his making war on ecumenism, democracy, women’s rights, gay rights, open theological discourse and more. |
"Equality Under God: Women Priests.” A small group of women are defying the Catholic Church’s prohibition of women’s ordination and becoming priests anyway. Video
by CBC News: The National | We have considered his weak commitment to ecumenism and democracy (and penchant for fascism) in previous Daily Meditations. Regarding women, Pope Benedict followed JP II’s made-up excuse—the Big Lie?– for not ordaining women (alas, Pope Francis has repeated the same |
meme): We must not ordain women because Jesus did not ordain women. The truth is however that Jesus did not ordain anyone, male or female. The ordained priesthood is a second century reality and in the New Testament writings there is ample evidence that women were leaders of many stripes in the first century church. Ratzinger set in motion an
investigation of American sisters' communities whom he considered too progressive. It was dismantled by Pope Francis before it got around to condemning their work entirely– work on behalf of the poor and oppressed such as the “Nuns on the Bus,” a coalition that used both imagination and professionalism (some of the sisters on the bus were lawyers) to bring a justice spirituality alive to American political consciousness. |
It is significant that in his objection to my teachings of creation spirituality, Ratzinger’s first two protests are these: 1. “He is a feminist theologian.” I did not know that listening to the wisdom as well as the suffering of women | Trailer of Nuns on the Bus — The Movie!, starting in 2012 protesting “cuts in programs for the poor and working families in the federal budget.” |
under patriarchy is a heresy. Still don’t. 2. “He calls God ‘Mother.’” The truth is all the great creation centered mystics call God Mother and Julian of Norwich in particular when she says, “God feels great delight to be our Father and
great delight to be our Mother.” Sadly, Cardinal Ratzinger missed out on a lot of delight. It is a pity–and a grave danger–when patriarchy rules a pope’s worldview so completely that he falls into ignorance of his own mystical
heritage. To be continued. |
| To view today's video, please click the image. You will be taken to today's post on the Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox website, where you can see the meditation in a larger version and also view and post your Comments. In the sharing that follows, a kind of community is developing around the DM.
If you can't reach today's post on the website directly, click HERE.
If you can't reach Matthew's video on the website, try his Vimeo channel HERE. |
See Matthew Fox, The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved. And Fox, Confessions: The Making of a Post-denominational Priest. And Fox, Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic—and
Beyond, p. 45-58, 102f. Banner Image: Backs to the people: celebration of the Latin Tridentine Mass, 2016. Retired by Vatican II, restored by Benedict, banned by Francis as a flashpoint for opponents to Vatican II reforms. Photo by Lawrence OP on Flickr. |
Queries for Contemplation Have you made the move from absolutism to relativity in your spirituality and worldview? And from rigid dogma to spiritual experience or relationship/ relativity? Don’t you wish everyone does? |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
The Pope's War: Why Ratzinger's Secret Crusade Has Imperiled
the Church and How It Can Be Saved
The Pope’s War offers a provocative look at three decades of corruption in the Catholic Church, focusing on Josef Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. The final section in the book focuses on birthing a truly catholic christianity.
"This book should be read by everybody, not only for its ferocious courage, but also for its vision for what needs to be saved
from the destructive forces that threaten authentic Christianity." ~ Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope. “In the gripping The Pope’s War, Matthew Fox takes an unwavering look at the layers of corruption in the Catholic Church, holding moral truth against power.” — Jason Berry, author of Vows of Silence: The Abuse of
Power in the Papacy of John Paul II | |
Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest (Revised/Updated Edition) Matthew Fox’s stirring autobiography, Confessions, reveals his personal, intellectual, and spiritual journey from altar boy, to Dominican priest, to his eventual break with the Vatican. Five new chapters in this
revised and updated edition bring added perspective in light of the author’s continued journey, and his reflections on the current changes taking place in church, society and the environment.
“The unfolding story of this irrepressible spiritual revolutionary enlivens the mind and emboldens the heart — must reading for anyone interested in courage, creativity, and the future of religion.”
—Joanna Macy, author
of World as Lover, World as Self | |
Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic–and
Beyond Julian of Norwich lived through the dreadful bubonic plague that killed close to 50% of Europeans. Being an anchoress, she ‘sheltered in place’ and developed a deep wisdom that she shared in her book, Showings, the first book in English by a woman. A theologian way ahead of her
time, Julian develops a feminist understanding of God as mother at the heart of nature’s goodness. Fox shares her teachings in this powerful and timely and inspiring book. “What an utterly magnificent book. The work of Julian of Norwich, lovingly supported by the genius of Matthew Fox, is a roadmap into the heart of the eco-spiritual
truth that all life breathes together.” –Caroline Myss Now also available as an audiobook HERE | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as the Center for Contemporary Mysticism hosts him in a Conversation on “Creation Spirituality: Birthing a New World.” Sunday, January 8, 2023, 11 am PT
(UTC/GMT-7). Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox at the virtual Our Lady of the Prairie retreat, offering a discussion and Q&A on “Naming the Unnameable: 89 Wonderful and Useful Names for God…Including the Unnameable
God.” Thursday, January 19, 4:00pm-6:00pm PT. Register HERE. Creation Spirituality Conversations |
In a podcast episode with the Earth and Spirit Center, Matthew Fox reflects on how creation-centered spirituality, and the marriage of the divine feminine and sacred masculine, can help us respond with hope
to the troubles of our apocalyptic times. Listen HERE. | |
Please share this post! Just click the buttons below.
OR share your insights on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox
|
|
|
|
