Author: Laurie Chilko
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Human growth and faith development
In a recent essay, the historical theologian John Dick draws on James W. Fowler’s Stages of Faith to explore how our faith changes and develops throughout life. Dick’s final questions seem particularly relevant to those of us interested in Church reform. Do our Church practices – liturgy, theology, doctrines and homilies – encourage faith development, or do…
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Religion and Structural collapse
I came across this article by the historian Francis Young. The examples he gives of what he calls structural collapse seem to me to be particularly relevant to our interest in Church reform. I think his examples are well worth considering.
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I’m a Catholic woman who was allowed to preach at Mass—until it was banned
The Vatican has rejected a request from the German bishops for special permission to allow lay men and women to preach homilies during Mass. Although the following article focuses specifically on women, it helps us appreciate what lay people can bring to preaching, and what is lost when their voices are silenced by the institution.