I apologize that it has taken me too long to understand the magnitude of today’s title, especially with my background in educational therapy.  Raising a son with Autism, developing Parkinson’s Disease in my late 20s, serving in the field of educational therapy, and then having other experiences gave me the ability to eventually see the whole truth, that a human’s worth and value are not based on anything except that they are all equally-created in God’s image, no exceptions.   My... Read more

As I sat in on the Ash Wednesday service with my family last night, I did something many Catholic parents of LGBTQIA+ children do.  We question and hyper-analyze if what we are doing is right and good in God’s eyes and in the eyes of the Church. A recent European Bishop named Archbishop Giraud praised Pope Francis for his growing awareness for justice for LGBGTIQ+ people and their families. Here is a quote from New Ways LGBTQ+ Catholic ministry.  “For... Read more

For many years, I was both a theological and religious moderate-leaning conservative until the day that Trump mocked the disabled reporter. I have always loved people and never did approve of racial and disability discrimination.  But I never knew just how bad the demons of racism and bigotry were in America until Donald Trump and his base gave them permission to fully reveal themselves. It started when the first Robert E. Lee statue came down and even before that when... Read more

Today’s Patheos piece serves two purposes. One, it’s an open letter to Pope Francis because I have written him several times in private now.  He is a good and humble man who takes open praise and also open critique well. Two, I have reached a huge roadblock in my ability to advocate for Neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ lives within and even outside the Catholic Church.  I believe it’s mostly due to our current political climate. At this point in time,  I... Read more

For about the 20th time over the last 6 years, I was again contacted about my political and theological shifts in private messages. Most of this has been in the spirit of “Christian correction” by other Christians who still identify as conservative Trump/GOP supporters.  I certainly am not severing my relationships with all conservatives since my husband is still a true conservative.  But he, like millions of other conservatives, can no longer give full-throated unconditional support to Donald Trump and... Read more

Today I am going to take a rest from addressing injustices, oppression, and marginalization of Neurodiverse and other minority related populations since they are core in who I serve as a professional.  The inspiration for this piece today comes directly from my parents, Margie and Charlie Neuenschwander, of Lakeway, Texas.    I am shifting gears to thank them for the core ethics they taught me, primarily in the areas of “The Work Ethic” and “Not Giving Up” which are hallmark... Read more

We have approached a point in US History and even in other parts of the world where Church politics, civil politics, and voting are coming down to two choices, Abortion-on-Demand and benefitting the Common Good of Society on the Democratic side or Authoritarianism and Fascism on the Republican side.  Please note than not all people who are either Democrat or Republican hold to everything their party supports.  Most Americans fall within the middle of the political spectrum. For someone who... Read more

Right now, I am completing a lay ministry certification program through my local Catholic Archdiocese in San Antonio, TX.  Last night through Zoom, the instructor taught extensively on moral teachings of marriage and sexuality. As I have stated many times, I do appreciate a moral framework for sexuality and encourage young adults to find life-long monogamous spouses if they are incapable of a celibate life which are most people.  This is true because most people, heterosexual or homosexual,  are incapable... Read more

As any religious person knows, especially in the American Catholic and broader Christian world, Church/Biblical teaching can be applied in different ways. In our current American political culture, Church/Biblical teaching from the alt-right is being used to harm and endanger peoples’ lives through politics, especially towards LGBTQIA+ people and their families.  This also means a large percentage of these LGBTQIA+ people are also Neurodivergent,  such as Autistic.  According to Autism Speaks, one of the leading Autism institutes, people with Autism... Read more

I don’t think it’s coincidental that both our Cathedral priest earlier Sunday morning and then the Dignity priest later Sunday evening spoke about justice, humility, oppression, and the marginalization of others. I know that undoubtedly, our local clergy and Catholic clergy and in other places are starting to listen and wake up to the grave marginalization, oppression, violence, and even death that historically oppressed people are experiencing. This is where Catholic Social Teaching should be applied.  Many trads want to... Read more