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

I have now been asked this question five times, “Julie, how can you support Amy Grant’s decision to host her niece’s lesbian wedding?”  As I will say again, my support of the LGBTQ+ community has nothing to do with sexual activity, which is none of my business, but the Sanctity of Life and the Dignity of the Human Person which are core tenets of Catholic Social Teaching.  By Amy Grant showing unconditional love, she is placing the sanctity of her... Read more

In the first half of this piece,  I’m paying a special tribute to those who love others without condition which gives a foundation to the second half.  The second half will be story about two Catholic Deacons.  Many Christians have experienced being political refugees because they are looking for the Love of Christ, not a mean and angry god. Christians in particular, people of faith, and especially Church leadership show that God is either a God of love, mercy, and... Read more

I have to comment on these articles from Microsoft Newsweek and from the Human Rights Campaign. Lies, misinformation, and especially politically-motivated hatred have reaped unspeakable damage to disabled, Neurodiverse, and LGBTQIA+ youth and their families, the populations I serve in my profession. When every major medical association in the world comes to a consensus about a topic in any medical field, bucking science and medicine of the collective, especially with extremist rogue ideology through political enforcement, endangers the lives of... Read more

Both political extremes are not equally-dangerous although I once believed this.  Please note that I am not speaking of the majority of Americans who are both Democrat and Republican. When I say extreme, I am speaking of less than 5% on both ends of the political spectrum, especially here in Texas.  As a former moderate Texas Republican until 2016, I once thought that the extreme Left and the Extreme Right were just as bad and very much like each other... Read more

In July, 2022, Pope Francis traveled to Canada to apologize to Indigenous peoples for the Church’s role in the atrocities committed in the residential school system back in the 1950s and 60s.  I do believe The Holy Father’s penitential pilgrimage was a precursor to yesterday’s event at the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio, TX on 12-11-2022. Yesterday my husband and I attended the San Fernando Cathedral together as we regularly do and arrived a little early for the 10:00... Read more

No doubt, a series of events and God moving me to different places over the last six years were absolutely required to open my eyes to full reality, especially coming from my conservative religious background and service in religious education.  God had to first pull my family away from ultra-conservative religious circles by church splitting and COVID force. Serving children with developmental, learning, and cognitive disabilities as an Academic Language Therapist, first in religious education but then into secular society... Read more