“How many times have you been locked up?” was a question journalists often asked social activist Daniel Berrigan. “Not enough” was his usual response. Wisdom Wednesday has some issues this week that call for public action and witness.
Responding to Covid-19, Rich countries — and all of us as individuals — have some items on the “should-list.” Other features this week include “Weaponizing the Eucharist,” a collection of things we should know about Catholic teaching, and personal memories of Hans Küng and Daniel Berrigan. But first and foremost this week, we start with slavery.
Acknowledgment: Catholics bought and sold people
A Georgetown panel recently discussed the Jesuits’ acknowledgment that they owned and sold people to benefit Georgetown. A recording of the discussion is available on Youtube, and articles were published by National Catholic Reporter and The Catholic Standard. In a related commentary, Jesuit Thomas Reese said we need more from Catholic bishops than a mixed response to racism.
Read more:
COVID-19: Knowing vs. Doing
Pope Francis said Covid vaccination should be considered a “universal common good.” From a Vatican report. Will rich countries do what they should do to prevent the next India? From America. And what is happening among American teens that priests and counselors ought to be aware of? The New York Times says kids are worried about more than just the lockdown.
Read more:
- Pope addresses Covid crisis in message to Ibero-American Summit
- Rich countries could prevent the next India. Will they?
- Teens Are Struggling, and It’s Not Just Lockdown
Two more items about Covid-19. NCR reports that Dr. Fauci will tell a Vatican conference that response to a pandemic requires “a novel coordinated and collaborative global effort of scientists, industry, and community partners.” The Washington Post examines the emotions and uncertainties of Americans who are returning to in-church worship and fellowship.
Catholic Church News
Michael Sean Winters concludes that the “bishops, not Biden” are causing scandal as they weaponize the Eucharist. Rebecca Bratten Weiss, writing in NCR says the support of Trump within the church has driven some Catholics to the exits. Pope Francis confronts clericalism and decrees that cardinals and bishops can be tried by lay judges. And a Kentucky priest accused of sex abuse has been reinstated by the Vatican.
Read more:
- Weaponizing the Eucharist: The bishops, not Biden, cause scandal
- Support of Trump within church has driven some Catholics to the exits
- Pope Francis decrees cardinals and bishops can be tried by lay judges
- A Kentucky priest accused of sex abuse reinstated by the Vatican
In other news, going back to work after the pandemic restrictions ease allows us to examine the value of work from a Catholic perspective, according to an article in U.S. Catholic.
Finally, what is Catholic teaching about the death penalty? It still needs to be said, according to U.S. Catholic, that all lives are sacred and worthy of a chance for repentance and reconciliation.
Two Personal Notes
Before he died, the Catholic theologian Hans Küng who questioned papal infallibility said he had been “informally rehabilitated ecclesiastically.” Today’s American Catholic has a personal reflection by Joseph Prabhu.
In America, Jim Forest writes about “Celebrating the Eucharist with Daniel Berrigan: ‘A Communion I will never forget.’” He begins with the famous answer to the frequently asked question: “How many times have you been locked up?”
From the AUSCP Archives
WATCH – Rome journalist Bob Mickens had a singular challenge, back in 2013, to predict the future of the Church under the new Pope Francis. How did he do? Check out the archival video.
And as a reminder, you can watch keynote presentations from all of our past assemblies on our Past Assembly Videos page.
We hope you have enjoyed this roundup of recent news about faith, politics, and culture. We will return next week with another edition of Wisdom Wednesday.
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