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

For many years, in concurrent service with my private practice as an Academic Language Therapist, I have served in positions of advocacy within the specialized credentialing I hold.  My areas of specialized credentialing are Autism, Dyslexia, Cognition, and LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Healthcare.  Due to my parental experiences and then working in religious trauma recovery part-time just over the last 2 years, adding an LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Healthcare credential is serving clients better within my profession. Mainly, the Neurodivergent children, youth,... Read more

As a disability practitioner, and after spending years in toxic traddery and religious fundamentalism, I have come to the conclusion that good mental health is consistent with a healthy and vibrant faith.  In short, a person can only associate with traddery/religious fundamentalism for a certain period of time before involuntary questioning and deconstruction unravels its lies and dangerous elements. The more I learn about mental health and expand my career in this direction which expands my faith, the more I... Read more

Since the day Trump mocked the disabled reporter, my life hasn’t been the same.  Christians criticize other Christians for deconstructing their faith.  When in reality, it is spontaneous.   As a disability practitioner, watching Trump mock a disabled man and then watching Christians defend this action changed my life forever.  This is when I knew for certain that there was something terribly wrong with white Religious Right/Catholic Right although I had my former suspicions.  This is when my journey began out... Read more

Three new words came to my attention during the Trump era, Gaslighting, Patriarchy, and Misogyny.  Since these words were new to me until 2018, I will define them here from Google Dictionary. 1. Gaslighting– manipulating someone using psychological methods into questioning their own sanity or powers of reasoning. The hard right MAGA is a master at this skill, typically doesn’t apologize spontaneously, typically doesn’t want to be held to account for anything, typically turns full blame on the other person he abuses and... Read more

Alright, I am finally coming out with my stance on abortion since I have been asked, “Julie, what is your stance on abortion now?  I mean, you are Catholic. ” The answer is, “I am neither an anti-abortion extremist or a pro-choice extremist now.   I believe in reasonable restrictions which do not endanger the life, health, and/or human dignity of the mother. Here is why.   I was once the director of a progressive pro-life movement.  When Roe was overturned, which... Read more

I’ve been asked by many, “Julie, why have you shifted in theology and politics from conservative trad fundie Catholic circles to progressive urban Catholicism? It was simple; hatred drove me out of hard-core fundie Catholic conservatism and the Republican party while love drew me into progressive urban Catholicism, the Democratic party, Social Justice, and Catholic Social Teaching.  The reasons for shifting both theologically and politically were many listed below. First, the unconditional support for Donald Trump under all and any... Read more

After spending 25 years in very conservative faith communities and the leaving for urban progressive Catholicism during COVID, I have come to a conclusion.  Many Christian and other Catholic mental health practitioners like myself plus theologians have made similar conclusions to mine.  Religious fundamentalism can indeed be dangerous to peoples’  long-term spiritual, emotional, and psychological health and even lives. If the practice of any religious affiliation results in harm, abuse, and even death, especially lasting harm and more than one... Read more

Dear Traditionalist Catholics, Did you know that the Jesuits are saving lives, especially Father James Martin and Pope Francis? I once thought like you, that James Martin was a heretic while Pope Francis is too liberal and too soft on doctrine. I thought the same as you until they saved lives in my own family, the lives of other Catholic families, and people who are not Catholic.  You heard me correctly. Why are we professed Roman Catholics if we constantly... Read more

As a disability practioner, I scratch my head at the idea that the unborn are the lives who either matter most or matter at all to a large bulk of traditional pro-lifers (not all).  Witnessing this in-full bloom during the Trump administration, I had to remind myself of what it means to be holistically pro-life,  not just pro-birth.  The shirt below says, “You’re pro-life until they are: Black, Hispanic, Disabled, Gay, Poor, and Trans.   It is just one way of... Read more