Catholics for a Changing Church

Now here's reflection from John Chuchman that might question one of your core Christian beliefs: Is Hope over-rated? It's difficult to know if John is being a bit tongue-in-cheek with this one or deadly serious. It is a reflection that is almost guaranteed to cause you to think.

Hope is Overrated

I'm giving up on Hope.

I have dumped despair,
so I really do not need its struggling opposite,
Hope.

Anyway,
looking back,
it seems Hope was simply
a diversionary tactic
that kept me from truly looking at
the causes for despair.

Hope was dangerous
and misguided.

It was defeatist,
relinquishing my responsibility
to speak out and act against
what is wrong.

Hope allowed me to be passive.

Hope required no talent,
not much thinking,
and no expression of
My True Self.

Hope tricked me,
absolving me of Responsibility.

Ben Franklin had it right,
Live in Hope and you'll die fasting.

Hopium;
I refuse to be addicted.

Love, John

See more reflections on John Chuchman's blog, and on his "Is God Laughing or Crying" cartoon blog.

Thank you to Catholica

The upshot of last year’s first meeting of the Family synod was a document telling the bishops to go back, find out about, and report back to the next meeting on a wide range of issues: on the church’s whole approach to families and modern family life.

Now is your chance to have your say! 

Today, A Call To Action is launching its online questionnaire from its website www.acalltoaction.org.uk to help the widest possible group of lay people and clergy to take part. You can also find reflections and workshop materials there, and a downloadable version of the questionnaire.

This is a fantastic opportunity to share and help the church get the information it needs for the synod. We want a full, meaningful, and relevant consultation, which is why we’ve made these documents both accessible and easy to complete.  

Please complete the questionnaire. You will need to Login in order to complete. The survey is anonymous. Please read the pdf version of the Questionnaire do you can prepare yourself when completing. You can even copy and paste your answers into the online Questionnaire.  The Save button will save what you have done on the page. It does not allow you to go back and complete at a later date. It has to be done in one 'sitting'.

Organise workshops. Encourage your friends to do the same. Let fellow parishioners know about it. Spread the word! 

The closing date for the online questionnaire is 16th April. 

The ACTA Leadership Team

Pope Francis at his weekly General Audience in St Peter's Square on Wednesday opened a new Chapter, a weekly catechesis focusing on the Family.

He began this new cycle by recalling the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family which took place in October.
The Holy Father told the thousands of faithful present that he wanted to share with them what took place and what the Synod has produced.
He continued saying, that during this time there was much media attention on the work being done at the Synod and for that the Pope expressed his thanks. But, Pope Francis added, often the vision of the media was a bit 'in the style of sports or political coverage,: “they often spoke of two teams, pro and con, conservatives and liberals, and so on.”

see also