From his first hours as pope, Francis has re-enacted or spoken of the great pastoral transformation of Vatican II as his own agenda. Eugene Kennedy agendumenactfrancis Change image and share on social
Pope Francis has aimed a blow at what the whole hierarchical system is built on: a graded system with the higher clergy in the skyboxes, the devoted religious in festival seating, as they say of the crowds at rock concerts, and, on the bottom, the laity in standing room only. Eugene Kennedy aimblowbottom share on social
Human experience resembles the battered moon that tracks us in cycles of light and darkness, of life and death, now seeking out and now stealing away from the sun that gives it light and symbolizes eternity. Eugene Kennedy battercycledarkness share on social
The seminary of the future must relate itself to flesh-and-blood men, or it provides a framework that only talks about the people of God but never really shares life with them. Eugene Kennedy bloodfleshframework Change image and share on social
Catholicism actually resembles a family that survives because even as it aspires to holiness, it understands and can live with sin and imperfection. Eugene Kennedy aspirecatholicismfamily Change image and share on social
9/11 revealed that those about to die do not seem afraid or plead for forgiveness for their sins, if they think about them at all. They all have one thing in mind - those they love - and they all do the same thing: They call them up - spouses, family or friends - to tell them they love them. Eugene Kennedy afraidcalldie share on social
Hierarchical formulations died because their wedding cake levels posited a multiply fractured cosmos that does not match the Space Age revelation of a unified universe in which the earth is clearly in, rather than separated from, the heavens. Hierarchical representations do not reflect what either the world or we are like. Eugene Kennedy agecakecosmos share on social