Two of a Perfect Pair: Joan Chittister Named 2015 John Shelby Spong Lectureship Speaker

This is a match made in Progressive Christianity heaven, right? Sr Joan Chittister, as progressive as they come in the Catholyc world, afforded this recognition, named for the retired Episcopal bishop who doesn’t believe in original sin, Christ’s atoning death on the cross, or the Resurrection.

With so much in common, they’ll make a cute couple.

Here’s a bit of the announcement:

It is with great pleasure that we announce a new project to honor our friend, the Right Reverend John Shelby Spong.

John Shelby Spong has made breaking through confined and narrow theological structures his life’s work. He has brought thousands of grateful people on the journey with him: people of faith and people who doubt – but all people with serious religious and intellectual inclinations.

Since his retirement as Bishop of the Diocese of Newark in 2000, Jack Spong has continued articulating his point of view all over the world. In his writing, in his lectures, and in his preaching, he asks his listeners to open their minds to scientific reality, their hearts to compassion for one another and their souls to the love of a God not bound by narrow interpretation. Bishop Spong’s themes have not been without controversy. The slings and arrows of religious dogmatism have been plentiful. Throughout this journey, he’s had the unfailing support of his wife, Christine; as a pair they have been unafraid to keep on teaching what they believe to be true.

[…]

“WHO IS GOD IN AN EVOLUTIONARY WORLD?”

Sister Joan Chittister, O.S. B. of the Roman Catholic Benedictine Sisters of Erie, PA,  is a prominent author and speaker who has published 50 books and 700 articles addressing the burning issues of our time — women in the church and society, human rights, and peace and justice in the areas of war and poverty and religious life, spirituality and the survival of the planet. 

I don’t get Progressive Catholicism, I really don’t. Just what are they progressing towards? And how will they know when they get there? Theological structures appear “confined and narrow” because the sins we want to enjoy run contrary to living a holy and virtuous life.  It’s not the teachings and basis of the faith that must change to meet an “evolutionary world” – we have to allow ourselves be changed and transformed by Christ. Christ is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I don’t get why that is so hard to understand. Actually, I do. Little thing called pride. It’s easier to say “My will be done” than “Thy will be done.”

Progressive Catholics practice Jenga Catholicism – they erect their tower of belief by pulling out stones from the foundation. Inevitably, it will all come tumbling down.

HT to Curt Jester