Posted on 04/25/2004 11:07:08 AM PDT by StAthanasiustheGreat
Elizabeth Johnson, C.S.J.
She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Discourse
Any Freeper Catholic Information on this person or this book. She is coming to the Center on Tuesday, but I have a rare oppurtunity to stop it, the Cardinal will be saying Mass today at 5:00pm at Sheil, I need responses by 3:30pm.
a l e t t e r f r o m t h e e d i t o r
Because of oppressive patriarchal structures, the new century dawns as “a particularly dark time” for women in the Church, but it is “a time to keep hope alive.” That is the conviction of Sr. Elizabeth Johnson, the eminent feminist theologian who will keynote the CTA National Conference Nov. 4 in Milwaukee.
To nourish that hope, we reprint in these pages a selection from Johnson’s 1993 Madeleva Lecture at St. Mary’s, Notre Dame on eco-feminism. God as Creator Spirit is depicted in female symbols, confirming women’s dignity as images of God. We also share (pp. 4-5) the stirring message of hope for women that Johnson and 15 other U.S. Catholic feminist thinkers issued Apr. 29, 2000 at St. Mary’s as the “Madeleva Manifesto.” Finally, for evidence that women are hearing that message, turn to page 6 for photos from recent public actions for women’s ordination.
Plan now to be in Milwaukee Nov. 3-5 for CTA Conference 2000. We will be celebrating hope that our Church can yet become an inclusive community for all the “Friends of God and Prophets.” The biblical phrase is the title of Johnson’s new book, a reinterpretation of the Communion of Saints that has room for us all.
Bill Thompson
THE MADELEVA MANIFESTO: A Message of Hope and Courage
In the tradition of Sister Madeleva Wolff, CSC, we sixteen Madeleva lecturers have been invited to speak a message of hope and courage to women in the church. Reflecting the diversity of gifts bestowed on us by the Spirit, we speak from our particular experiences and vocations, yet share in a universal vision that is faithful to our catholic tradition.
* To women in ministry and theological studies we say: re-imagine what it means to be the whole body of Christ. The way things are now is not the design of God.
* To young women looking for models of prophetic leadership, we say: walk with us as we seek to follow the way of Jesus Christ, who inspires our hope and guides our concerns. The Spirit calls us to a gospel feminism that respects the human dignity of all, and who inspires us to be faithful disciples, to stay in the struggle to overcome oppression of all kinds whether based on gender, sexual orientation, race, or class.
* To women who are tempted by the demons of despair and indifference, we say: re-imagine what it means to be a full human being made in the image of God, and to live and speak this truth in our daily lives.
* To women who suffer the cost of discipleship we say: you are not alone. We remember those who have gone before us, who first held up for us the pearl of great price, the richness of Catholic thought and spirituality. We give thanks to those who continue to mentor us.
* To the young women of the church we say: carry forward the cause of gospel feminism. We will be with you along the way, sharing what we have learned about the freedom, joy and power of contemplative intimacy with God. We ask you to join us in a commitment to far-reaching transformation of church and society in non-violent ways.
We deplore, and hold ourselves morally bound to protest and resist, in church and society, all actions, customs, laws and structures that treat women or men as less than fully human. We pledge ourselves to carry forth the heritage of biblical justice which mandates that all persons share in right relationship with each other, with the cosmos, and with the Creator.
We hold ourselves responsible to look for the holy in unexpected places and persons, and pledge ourselves to continued energetic dialogue about issues of freedom and responsibility for women. We invite others of all traditions to join us in imagining the great shalom of God.
I believe the Future Church nun is a C.S.J too.
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