Friday, May 30, 2008

Pre-Dialogue: The "Convention for the Common Good"

What: A prelude to The Convention for the Common Good* to be held in Philadelphia this coming July.

Why: To have an opportunity to articulate and clarify positions on issues relevant in the November election in light of Catholic Social Teaching. The outcome of the evening will be a statement that our board will submit to the convention organizers. This evening will also hopefully begin an ongoing process of discussion and action planning to engage other voters, candidates and elected officials, even beyond the election. Aside from all that . . . it will simply be a good opportunity to share your views and hear from others!

When: Friday, May 30, 2008, 6:30 to 9:00 PM.

Where: Holy Rosary Sisters house, 741 Polo Rd. Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, 610-520-1976 (off of Haverford Rd. between Buck Lane and County Line Rd.)

RSVP: E-mail us: ctaphiladelphia@comcast.net or call 484.437.3979

This is an outdoor event, so please bring a folding chair. Come enjoy good fellowship, light refreshments, and the warm summer breeze (well, almost summer!). A small donation will help us cover the expenses of the gathering.

For more information about the Convention for the Common Good, visit: www.commongoodconvention.org

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Topic: Shaping the God of Today, Contemporary Theological Insights - What’s in and What’s out.

Facilitator: Fr. Michael Scanlon OSA, Villanova University

9:30 to 11:00 AM, Collenbrook United Church, 5290 Township Line Rd., Drexel Hill, PA.

Flyer (MS Word)

Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 7:00 pm at St. Joseph's University Chapel

Theme: "Preparing for the Birth of a Homeless God"

Presenter: Tony Medwid, Director of Comunity Life,
Bethesda Project, Philadelphia, PA

Tony Medwid shares his reflections at the service.

Thanks to all who planned, participated, and attended!

CTA invites you once again to expand your theological horizons and think outside the box with Fr. Michael Scanlon, OSA (former president of the Catholic Theological Society of America). Join us in this two part exploration of contemporary Christian thought.

Saturday October 20, 9:30 to 11:00 am

Topics: Theology of war, sacramentality and life experience, Catholic identiy in relation to the parish, school, and workplace.

November 10, 2007, 9:30 to 11:00 am

Topics: What would Karl Rahner SJ, prominent Catholic theologian of the 20th century, say about non-Catholic tradition being defective? The impact of the book by the Australian Catholic bishop, Geoffrey Robinson, on church structure and practice, Catholic social teaching - the church's best kept secret.

The presentations are designed to be highly interactive. A question will be stated. The presenter will give a 15 minute theological overview to the question, after which the audience will engage presenter or each other.

Collenbrook United Church,
5290 Township Line Rd., Drexel Hill, Pa 19026

Directions to Collenbrook

Join Call to Action ~ Philadelphia for a day of service, reflection and community on Saturday, April 28th, 2007 at The Romero Center. Space is limited, so spots are available on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED basis!

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS (MS Word Document)

or e-mail us at ctaphiladelphia@comcast.net.

Thanks to all who attended our
CTA-Philadelphia Fall Conference on October 28, 2006!

Eileen McCafferty DiFranco, M.A.Ed., RN, is a writer, a registered nurse that works at a busy urban high school and teaches nursing part time at a local university. Eileen was active in her parish community for many years and is currently involved in building an intentional church community in the Philadelphia area. She is a core member of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Women's Ordination Conference, and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest by Roman Catholic Womenpriests July 31, 2006.

Eileen's Homily from the conference.

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Call To Action ~ Philadelphia
On the Ordination of Eileen McCafferty DiFranco
We Say, "YES", O Lord!

Call to Action - Philadelphia stands in solidarity with the Wisdom of God, the affirmation of the People of God, and the embrace of her husband and children in calling Eileen McCafferty DiFranco to ordained priesthood and ministry. We believe in a God Who welcomes everyone to discern and share their God-given gifts at every level of Church life. We respect Eileen’s Baptismal journey of Prayer, Discernment, Conscience, Call, Response, and Ordination. Eileen has a heart for the poor, and a spirituality rooted in Biblical Justice. In that light, she will proclaim the Gospel with integrity, authenticity, and courage. Our great missionary, St. Paul, reminds us that “in Christ, there is no male or female”… We believe that God called and ordained Eileen in Spirit and in Truth.

We respect that Cardinal Justin Rigali has denounced Eileen’s ordination as an invalid and illicit call from God. The Cardinal, in conscience, has notified Rome that Eileen’s ordination falls beyond the boundaries of the law. However, we, in conscience, place our trust, not in a codified, limited God, but, rather, in a God whose “love knows no bounds” – not in a Truth Who is static and contained, but, in a Truth Who continually breathes fresh air, creates new vision, encourages dialogue, stirs the stale waters of complacency, and enlarges our hearts to make room for those considered “ruled out” and silenced.

In thanksgiving to God, Call to Action humbly and joyfully embraces Eileen McCafferty DiFranco’s ordination. May Eileen continue to preside, preach, and witness with the heart and mind of Christ. Eileen is, in Word and Deed, a Real Presence among us.

PRESENTER: Dr. Joseph Hough, Jr., President of Union Theological Seminary.

Thanks to all who attended our fall workshop,
"The Poor and the Children of Abraham" on September 17, 2005

Presenter: Dr. Joseph, Hough, Jr.,
President, The Union Theological Seminary

Panelists: (l to r) Paul Stubenbort (moderator), Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Dr. Joseph Hough, Jr. , Larry DiPaul (CTA-Philadelphia President), and S. Zakiya Islam

Dr. Hough has been outspoken in his call to religious people to let go of the dangerous belief that “you alone are right.” He has written: “Until Christians confess that their exclusionary theology has led Christian groups, church leaders, and churches as a whole to unspeakable sins against other Christians, other religions, and against God, there can be no possibility for the church to be an unequivocal force for peace and justice in a pluralistic age.” His topic: The Poor and the Children of Abraham: Christians, Jews, and Muslims – all children of Abraham -- have from their religious traditions the common obligation to attend to the needs of the poorest and most marginal people in our communities. This obligation to God for the healing of the world is the common ground for interfaith dialogue, and most of all, for action. This insight regarding our common obligation to heal the world should shape our lives as citizens called to work for the common good.

Sample of one of Dr. Hough's sermons

Bill Moyers Interview with Joseph Hough, Jr. (October 2003)

Death - and Reconciliation by Rabbi Arthur Waskow (workshop panelist)

PRESENTER:  John Dear, S.J.

John Dear is a Jesuit Priest who has made his life’s calling to follow radically the life and message of Jesus. He challenges all of us to do this by living a life in defense of Peace and Justice. This is not an easy calling but one that requires causing trouble in the midst of a culture of complacency in the face of poverty and war. He will talk about our call to become Troublemakers for Peace & Justice.

CTA invites you once again to expand your theological horizons and think outside the box with Fr. Michael Scanlon, OSA. Join us in this two part exploration of contemporary Christian thought on the theology of Redemption and Resurrection.

Session 1: Our Lenten Meditation: Why Did Jesus HAVE to die? Fr. Michael will help us join in spirit with the disciples on the road to Emmaus to discover why “the Christ had to suffer these things and enter his glory.” Medieval theologians explained the death of Jesus in terms of feudal justice. Man, by sinning against the infinite God, incurred a debt beyond his finite ability to repay. And so the Son had to become man in order to repay the debt. The downside of ‘vicarious satisfaction’ and ‘Substitution’ theology is that the Cross comes to be pictured as God’s anger -- which we deserve – falling on Jesus. Fr. Michael will help us explore the meaning of the Cross for our call to be apostles of non-violence and advocates for the powerless and oppressed.

Session 2:  A Resurrection People: There is viewpoint, still common enough among Catholics, that the Resurrection is merely an epilogue. The act of redemption was completed on Good Friday; Easter simply tells us of Jesus’ fate after his work was done. Not much is different about the Risen Jesus except that he now pass through doors unopened, and miraculously appear to his astonished disciples. This, however, is not viewpoint of Scripture. Fr. Michael will explore with us the theology of the Resurrection: How is the Church really the Body of the Risen Christ? How are we to live as a truly Pentecostal Church?

Fr. Michael Scanlon, OSA has held the Josephine C. Connelly Chair in Christian Theology at Villanova University since 1992. He is a Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. He is a past President of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

Back by popular demand! CTA invites you once again to expand your theological horizons and think outside the box with Fr. Michael Scanlon, OSA. Take part in this two part exploration of contemporary Christian thought on the Sacraments and Eucharist.

Session 1: Jesus Christ, Sacrament of God for us, and the History of Seven Sacraments: How did we get to seven? Have the Sacraments always been seen as celebration of Christ’s saving presence within the community rather than as an exercise of magical power? How has clericalization affected our understanding of the Sacraments? What are the implications for nourishing a sacramental spirituality in today’s world?

Session 2: Eucharist and Community: Fr. Scanlon will present an overview of the highs and lows in popular understanding of the Eucharist over 20 centuries, followed by a discussion of critical issues for today’s faith community. Is it proper to make the Sacrament of unity a tool for exclusion? What makes a Eucharistic celebration ‘valid’? What is the link between Eucharist and Social Justice?

Fr. Michael Scanlon, OSA has held the Josephine C. Connelly Chair in Christian Theology at Villanova University since 1992. He is a Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. He is a past President of the Catholic Theological Society of America. He has lectured throughout the United States and Canada. He teaches the Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Thought, as well as the Modern and Contemporary Thought courses in the Core Humanities Program. His graduate courses at Villanova include "Christian Anthropology," "Christian Eschatology," and "Postmodernism and Theology.”

Thanks to all who attended the CTA Annual Fall Conference. The featured speaker was Sr. Jeannine Gramick, subject of the award-winning documentary, “In Good Conscience: Sister Jeannine Gramick’s Journey of Faith.”

Sr. Jeannine Gramick’s story is important because of the groundbreaking nature of her 30+ year ministry of reaching out to gay and lesbian Catholics and because of tirelessly advocating a more inclusive Catholic Church.

In 1999, after a 10-year investigation, the Vatican required her to publicly embrace the ‘official’ teaching that all homosexual acts are “intrinsically evil.” The following year, the Vatican urged her community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame to command her “never to speak or write about homosexuality, never to criticize the Vatican publicly or privately, and never to speak or write about the ecclesiastical processes that led to her silencing.” She responded, "I choose not to collaborate in my own oppression by restricting a basic human right. To me this is a matter of conscience. Is this [command] not a violation of the basic human right to self-defense? A woman religious does not surrender her human rights by virtue of her state of life."

Sr. Jeannine has witnessed to the primacy of individual conscience, which, she suggests, “is one of the best kept secrets of Catholic theology.” She has paid a steep price. Sr. Jeannine transferred from her community of 40 years, which had supported her ministry until that time, to the Sisters of Loretto, where she continues to speak out about homosexuality and human rights in the Church.

Synopsis of the film "In Good Conscience"

In February and March Fr. Michael Scanlon, OSA, presented a series of three lecture/discussions designed to offer insight into important theological developments of the past 45 years. Fr. Scanlon holds the Josephine C. Connelly Chair in Christian Theology at Villanova University since 1992. He is a Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies. He is a Past President of the Catholic Theological Society of America. He has lectured throughout the United States and Canada. He teaches both the Ancient, Medieval, and Renaissance Thought and the Modern and Contemporary Thought courses in the Core Humanities Program. His graduate courses at Villanova include "Christian Anthropology," "Christian Eschatology," and "Postmodernism and Theology."

On Saturday March 6th, Revs. Jim Callan and Mary Ramerman of the Spiritus Christi pastoral team shared with CTA-Philadelphia the origin and growth of this remarkable Faith Community. The initiative for the founding of this free-standing Faith Community came not from Jim or Mary, but from the Corpus Christi parishioners, who found themselves as exiles when the Diocese fired their pastoral team and put an end to inclusive pastoral practices which had become a hallmark of their parish. After recounting their inspiring journey, there was a period of questions and answers, and the program concluded with a joyous celebration of the Eucharist.

MANY THANKS to Jim and Mary and all who planned and attended the event!

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