The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Pope
Francis Blesses Gay Unions 12/20/2023 |
Pope Francis has now signed off on Catholic priests blessing gay couples. It is a major step forward in recognizing that gay people exist and gay love happens and gay unions are real and gay love is love and, after all, didn’t someone once say that “God is love”? (See 1 Jn
4.16). |
And Love comes in many and diverse expressions and the Bible does not say “God is heterosexual love” exclusively. And a majority of thoughtful people (Catholics included) have made up their minds that homosexual love can be as real as heterosexual love and besides, “Who are we to judge?” as Pope Francis asked back in 2013. |
The Vatican has announced a policy change allowing Catholic priests to bless same-sex couples, as long as the blessings are not seen as a marriage. MSNBC |
The Declaration called “Fiducia Supplicans” on “the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings” was signed by its new prefect, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, the new head of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. Pope Francis signed off on it and is cited 20 times in the formal document. The document is about blessings, of which it distinguishes between descending ones (coming from God directly such as creation) and ascending ones (humans thanking and blessing God) and it acknowledges that blessing a gay couple combines both. |
The Bay Area Catholic community reacts to the Vatican’s same-sex blessing. ABC7 News Bay Area | There are many caveats in the document about not confusing an informal blessing with a liturgical one, etc. etc. And an admonition NOT to
overly formalize or ritualize the blessing at hand. Most gay couples I know would welcome that invite to creativity. |
One issue left out is that priests offer a blessing in marriages and are witnesses to it but the couple themselves are the agents of the sacrament. Marriage is a sacrament that couples bestow on one another. Gay marriage is no different. Another lacuna is that, while creation is
invoked nicely as one of the important blessings from the Creator, there is no reference to science that tells us that homosexuality is altogether natural for about 8-10% of any given human population. Also, that 484 other species have gay and lesbian populations. |
There
is no mention of the spiritual leadership that indigenous peoples the world over recognize in gay people. But it is a step forward and one welcomes how even church doctrines evolve as Saint Henry Newman wrote about 175 years ago.* Science also evolves. |
Indigenous people look to revive traditional LGBTQ terms and understanding. CBCSaskatchewan |
Praising
Pope Francis for his courage, one also looks to further steps in the future as the word gets out that sexuality, itself a blessing, is diverse like so much else in creation. |
Queries for Contemplation What is your response to Pope Francis allowing blessings of gay unions? |
Responses are welcomed. To add
your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Wrestling with the Prophets: Essays on Creation Spirituality and Everyday Life
In one of his foundational works, Fox engages with some of history’s greatest mystics, philosophers, and prophets in
profound and hard-hitting essays on such varied topics as Eco-Spirituality, AIDS, homosexuality, spiritual feminism, environmental revolution, Native American spirituality, Christian mysticism, Art and Spirituality, Art as Meditation, Interfaith or Deep Ecumenism and more.
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Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Matthew Fox lays out a whole new direction for Christianity—a direction that is in fact very ancient and very grounded in Jewish thinking (the fact that Jesus was a Jew
is often neglected by Christian theology): the Four Paths of Creation Spirituality, the Vias Positiva, Negativa, Creativa and Transformativa in an extended and deeply developed way.
“Original Blessing makes available to the Christian world and to the human community a radical cure for all dark and derogatory views of the natural world wherever these may have originated.” –Thomas Berry, author,
The Dream of the Earth; The Great Work; co-author, The Universe Story |
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In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how humans fit into the awesome, fantastical,
cosmic picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "Matthew Fox does it again, here for our young ones, who so need a positive, cosmic
vision to thrive, or even survive, in a sad time." - Father Richard Rohr, Author of The Universal Christ "Matthew Fox offers a resounding affirmation of what our souls have always suspected: we are made for joy." - Mirabai Starr, Author of God of Love and Wild Mercy Receive a 20% discount when you buy this and one other book from Matthew Fox’s store! Use Promo Code 20% at checkout. |
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________________________________________________________________ UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
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SPECIAL EVENT: 5-DAY WORKSHOP IN AQUINAS’ HOMETOWN OF ORVIETO, ITALY
WITH MATTHEW FOX, MESHI CHAVEZ, AND CLAUDIA PICARDI
JUNE 9-14, 2024
LEARN MORE HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest ” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat.Thursday, January 18, 4:00-6:00 pm PT Register HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he lectures on “What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying “ at the Conference on Death, Grief and Belief, “Emerging Spiritualities: Death and Bereavement Across the Spiritual Spectrum,” Saturday, January 20, 9:00am – 5:00pm PT Register HERE |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “The Lotus & The Rose” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, February 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT Register HERE |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Hunger for Wholeness:
What is Wholeness in the Midst of Crisis with Matthew Fox (Part 1) In the midst of increased violence between Israel and Palestine, Ilia Delio and theologian Matthew Fox discuss the state of the world today and how to have courage in Part 1 of their conversation. Ilia and Matt discuss his mentor, Marie Dominique Chenu, the influence of liberation theology
on social justice in the church today, and what can still be learned.
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