Experiencing the dangers of Donald Trump and watching the battle between the progressive left and conservative right laity and clergy from within the Catholic Church are some of the best and worst things I’ve ever experienced.  If you want to see the “central brewing hub” of Christian Nationalism and what happens when people (mainly men) try to use and abuse the church for political gain, watch the battle between the Catholic progressive social justice wing and the ultra-traditionalist conservative... Read more

To all of the pro-choice people who heard me identify as “pro-life” at one point, I owe you a big apology because you were right about everything.  Identifying as “pro-life” is something I never should have identified with because I didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of it or the entire definition. I also hope I never applied it in any way that caused moral injury, but I think I have before. Until the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which is... Read more

This morning I had a conversation with my husband Grant about the current state of events.  If you haven’t noticed in both the USA and in other countries, an effort to preserve traditional family structures and traditional religious cultures are occurring globally. This is happening primarily by force through a dangerous union between the right wing of a government and a conservative religious sect. It’s happening by Hindu Nationalism in India, through Jewish Nationalism in Israel, through Eastern Orthodox Nationalism... Read more

We undoubtedly are living in a politically-hostile world, not just here in the United States, but abroad.  From the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, to the Russian threats towards Ukraine, and our own divisions domestically here in the US, various emotions and various levels of emotions are impacting most of us to one degree or another. At this stage of my Parkinson’s journey, I must still be empathetic and care about vulnerable people, but I must do it with the absence... Read more

I voted third party in 2016 when I should have voted for Hillary Clinton who I was not fond of at the time. I was wrong in my perception of her, and she was right about Trump and so many other issues. Presidential Historian Alan Lichtman has correctly “nailed” a prediction about every single presidential prediction since 1984. The only election Alan Lichtman was unsure of was the election between Al Gore and George W. Bush which is understandable. Lichtman... Read more

 I’m going to confess something. I’ve been dealing with a good amount of building anger since 2016. The day Trump mocked the disabled reporter, and then watching many White Christians give him unlimited passes for his behavior, I allowed this to ignite things which were both positive and negative from within me.    I think opening eyes to injustices in their very nature are liberating yet painful and even anger-inducing all-at-once.  Overt racism and mocking a disabled person were the... Read more

I’m trying to return to my writing, but I will say, it hasn’t been easy.  The combination of professionally expanding my Educational Therapy practice, reconciling my own family to each other, and spiritually surviving the struggles of the Church at-large have been a series of growing pains which are finally bearing fruit. This past weekend was a real turning point for me. I experienced an event which made me realize, reconciling nuclear and extended biological family is of the greatest... Read more

As I speak with more people and reflect upon the callous statement from JD Vance, “The Democrat ladies are a bunch of childless cat ladies with miserable lives,” I want you to know that I stand with you, not with JD Vance.  I can think of people I deeply love who fit this category, my own children, Catholics nuns, women who couldn’t have children, women who chose not to have children, and women who were capable of having less children... Read more

A 30th wedding anniversary tribute to the daily struggle of remaining in organized religion –no parent should have to choose between the lives and well-being of their family or the Church ———————————————————— Last night I watched a documentary film of a current-day Russian Orthodox family living under the leadership of Vladimir Putin in Russia. The father is a Russian Orthodox priest while the mother birthed, cares for 18 typical and healthy biological children (for the most part), the wife doesn’t... Read more

My life-long faith journey has shown me many truths.  The largest truth I’ve come to know is, Christianity is supposed to give life, not take it away–Dr. David Gushee.  Dr. David Gushee is a world-renowned Christian Ethicist who has written a number of books about the dangers of Christian Nationalism, or what he calls Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity. Gushee also came to an LGBTQ+ affirming position and wrote a book called Changing My Mind.  His reason is, our faith is not... Read more