By Rev John Cunningham
CLERGY CORNER -- Aug 23, 2003 -- Link to Article
The Rev. John Cunningham is pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church of Higley, which currently meets in the Williams Community School gym of the Arizona State University East campus, 7006 E. Union St., Mesa.
There are two spiritual paths we can follow. One path emphasizes the emulation of a hero or sage - whose life invites imitation. The other path lies in the realization that what we seek to imitate is already within us.
The first path locates salvation elsewhere, the other reveals it as here and now. One way requires a savior - the other calls for selftransformation. Most follow the first path, unaware that the other leads to the real treasure.
When we say somebody is an inspiration to us, we mean that such a person leaves an indelible impression. Some inspire us so much that we feel we would not be who we are without them. But I'm convinced we could not recognize this inspiration or be changed by it, if the same capacity and qualities were not, in fact, present within us.
For example, my late father had a quiet temperament and calm nerves. At times when I feel anxious, I think of him and how steady he was, and the worries subside.
What I think happens is: Those we consider inspirational activate or awaken similar energies within us.
In this role, they don't supply something we are lacking, but open our eyes to see the gifts we already have. The spirit of those who inspire us sparks our own undiscovered inner power. On the highest spiritual plane, this leads to the discovery of our inner divinity.
With gratitude for the teachers and guides along the way, ultimately we must grow up and claim our own spiritual authority.
History's religious giants all knew this. They did not teach childish dependence or slavish imitation, but encouraged us as partners to get on with the journey.
Though we cannot walk in one another's shoes, we can share the light that shines through many lamps.
Would the content of the above articles and Background Information give you confidence in Fr. John as a pastor of a Catholic parish? Why or why not?
Given the admittedly limited amount of information above, would you be willing to entrust the religious formation of your Catholic children unto his leadership? Why or why not?
Note: Bolds and underlines in all of the above are added for emphasis.
John Cunningham was an ass't pastor in my parish in the late 70's. Several teens,in addition to my three,called him fr.Showboater and did not like him. He was pretty young and very nice looking and although I thought his Catholicism weak,I was surprised that teens did not like him. I thought that he might have been gay,boys frequently sense those things.
I asked a couple of women and they assured me,he was not gay. They said he was a womanizer and flagrant.
He must have been bisexual because we have recently learned that as the ass't diocesan vocations director he had been called on the carpet. He had taken the seminarians out to dinner and left a $500.00 tip. When queationed he told the vocations director,that the waiter "provided good service and was 'cute'". Shortly thereafter he became the vocations director for the diocese.
He was frequently the "catholic authority" the newspapers quoted because they were sure he would never utter a Catholic thought or position to poison the minds of the public. He was also the founding pastor of a parish in the east valley,St.Brigit's where they have something that looks like stonehenge with mazes and odd rocks etc. The parish was into enneagrams and new age spirituality and luv and peace and justice retreats and woman's rights. He invited the Jesus Seminar group to give a symposium which was moved off site by order of the bishop,much to his chagrin.
Three years ago or so,we heard he had his priveleges suspended for concelebrating Mass with an Episcopalian priestess. The case went to Rome but we heard that there was furious lobbying and nothing happened. Next thing we knew he was given the oppurtunity to start a new parish.
Last year he signed the Phoenix Declaration and then evidently had this new difficulty with permitting some type of eucharistic abuse at a wedding. I have a suspicion that this second abuse may be more serious because there were probably some conditions placed on him after the priestess brouhaha. Watching fr.Cunningham is a full time job for a Bishop and I hope and pray that fr. will either repent or resign,since out new Bishop has a lot of other work to do. I have heard that all heresy starts south of the belt,I would say if it doesn't start there,it does nd there. John Cunnigham is the perfect example.