I spent this morning in Washington DC among all the other journalists covering the pope's visit. My interview on Sirius Radio, the Catholic channel, got pretty heated with the listeners who called in, after I spilled the beans about my disagreeing with the whole birth control thing.
Here's the thing: my recovery from bipolar disorder, and also from addiction, depends on my listening to and adhering to my conscience, which sometimes clashes with the Catechism. In 12-step circles, they say you will relapse if you don't have a clear conscience. I think the same is true for recovery from depression.
That is why I have taken so much time and energy to hear what mine is saying.
Add to Del.icio.us
Add to Technorati
Add to Digg
Add to Newsvine
Add to Facebook
Add to StumbleUpon
Subscribe
Dear All,
There is a young lady; named Anne, who needs help.
She posted on:
The APRIL 12th. "On Cherry Blossoms..."
BOB AND JOSEPH:
WATCH YOUR TONES AND ATTITUDES. Leave it to two men to lash out like teen age girls. Neither of you responded to the excerpts re-posted below. Square your thoughts with those of JP II.
JP II wrote about conscience being the sanctuary of the individual, that no Church teaching took precedence over one's conscience. He went as far as to defend the responsibility of an individual to reject the Gospel if for some reason an honest examination of conscience just wouldn't let a person accept the Gospel. Worth thinking about....
Church teaching on birth control seems patently absurd to most people. Curiously, I actually think I 'get' the teaching though I don't follow it. I respect the genius in the teaching. I hope to be in a position to 'give it a go' at some point.
Right now, we live in 21st century USA--the 'Culture of Death' with 'structures of evil' is quite alive, exceptionally well, and taking massive amounts of steroids. We are so embedded in this womb it's essentially impossible to see clearly. People think I'm joking when I say that tv is more dangerous than all the drugs in the world combined.
We are living through the darkest age in history. We are way ahead of the game if we are alive and working to keep our souls alive. Forcing oneself to adhere to Church teaching on birth control would be a self-destructive act for most and result in suicide for many more.
And another thing----what do you know about these matters anyway. More importantly, how come you guys come across like two self-righteous self-anointed Judges.......thought we were to leave that to somebody else.
No free passes for taking jabs at this woman. You have jabs to throw, direct them in my direction. We treat women with respect around here.
You are being 'informed' not 'asked' to behave.
I heard this show (on my way to work) through the first two callers and I was appalled at the how openly you were judged and how evident it was that these men were not hearing you. I respect your ability to cope with this so calmly. Your responses were dignified and eloquent and I just wanted you to know that someone was listening without judgement.
"Run The Race That Is Set Before *+YOU+*..."
(Hebrews 12:1)
I love this passage because it challenges me to run my own race in this life. Not someone else's, but the race that God has specifically designed for Tricia!
I am to keep my eyes on Him, instead of the race someone else might be running beside me; that God may have designed for them, not me!
The race of faith set before each of us is different from our ancestors. Each of us now have additional weights to carry. As any runner knows, the more weight you have on yourself, the harder it is to win and you grow weary.
In addition you can be sure there Will be other people running beside you that will seek ways to add more weight on us:
"You're running the Wrong way!"
"This is the Only Path."
"Run This way."
"Run That way."....
We become distracted and forget about the path in front of us. Because we begin thinking:
"I just want to live for one more step under this monstrous weight!!!"
IF we continue to carry the weight, we may end up saying:
"It's too much. I quit."
Instead, leave the weights with the original runner...they are Not Yours - send them love and move along,running the race that is before You.
For no matter who you are, no matter what your age, no matter what gifts and abilities you have been given - God has a calling, a purpose
and a ministry for You.
Run the race that is set before You by God. Pursue it, run through it, because He has called You to serve Him *+ There+* all along the way.
Tricia -- I appreciate your comment.
Post a Comment
By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.