I do know that I left bothered by what I had done or, in this case, not done. Wasn’t the message of Jesus that we are supposed to be bothered by people around us in need? Didn’t he tell us that no one is to be left out? And I gave voice to that message when I called out “hospitality” as being a sign of God at work within the human community.
Author Archives: joestoutzenberger
Woke Catholicism
I realized that I could not write about “Catholicism” without recognizing the reality of sexual abuse that has taken place in the church in the recent past and today. I looked at other books that described themselves as offering an introduction to or an overview of Catholicism. None that I found addressed this dark side of Catholicism.
What about Angels?
Angels are messengers from God who serve as protectors and heralds of good news. In the Old Testament, they tend to appear as human beings, often unexpectedly.
Aidan’s Grandpas
All of a sudden, that person in front of us is not just an isolated individual separate from us but is someone who wishes us peace, as we wish them peace as well. In some more progressive settings, people actually move out of their pew and wander around, offering peace to as many people as they can reach. The symbolism is clear: We are family.
“It’s Only a Story”
by Joseph Stoutzenberger Whenever I brought up Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden in my college teaching, a student from a Catholic high school invariably would say: “My religion teacher told us that it’s only a story.” I knew what they meant: the bible isn’t giving us a factual account of the creationContinue reading ““It’s Only a Story” “
Vatican Council II: Evolution or Revolution?
Vatican II ended in 1965 and ushered in not only external changes but also changes in attitude and ambiance as well. I noticed the transformation that took place over the next decade and presumed that this was unanticipated and unprecedented for Catholicism, not just a renovation but a revolution.
Can Christmas Survive the Hype?
Noted scholar of religions Alan Watts suggests that some bible stories are better understood if they began with the words “Once upon a time.” When we read those four words, we immediately know that the story to follow is not factual but offers a window into truth or a slice of life couched in metaphorContinue reading “Can Christmas Survive the Hype?”
Compassion vs. Dispassion
I saw a value to general principles providing guidance for moral decision making, but I also feared that this top-down approach could miss the rich variety that exists among individual persons and the complexity of situations in which they find themselves.
Body of Christ, Then and Now
by Joseph Stoutzenberger One of the most spiritually moving experiences of my life happened when I first served as a Eucharistic minister, distributing Communion at Mass. Before the changes brought on by Vatican Council II, only priests gave out Communion. In the1970s, laypeople were invited to serve as “extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist.” The firstContinue reading “Body of Christ, Then and Now “
The Holiness of the Ordinary
It struck me that what my friend was doing was reminding people that holiness wasn’t just present with the birth of Jesus two thousand years ago but that the holy exists in our world today, and in very ordinary circumstances.
Joseph Stoutzenberger 