[Oe List ...] Matt Fox and the pope

[LAURELCG at aol.com]

I'm forwarding a couple of responses to Matthew Fox's 22 questions.  They 
were on the D.Min list serve today, from current students in the program.  The 
first is from a recent convert to Roman Catholicism; she has found the church 
quite meaningful to her.  Below that is a letter from Jim Garrison, who 
succeeded Fox as the president of the University of Creation Spirituality, and changed 
the name to Wisdom University. 

I don't know what happened to the NPR interview.  Will let you know if I hear.

Blessings,
Jann McGuire



In the spirit of constructive comment/conscience, would recommend 

Matt's 22 questions be compared to the original petitions presented 

by Martin Luther against the church, and written in a similar manner.


While the drama might be important and significant, this could also 

backfire.  Especially, if it is not handled in such a manner as to 

promote truly open dialog.  As currently designed, it will put the 

Vatican on an immediate, reactionary, defense.  Does UCS/WU believe 

that by personally attacking Ratzinger (the new Pope), open dialog 

will happen?  At a minimum, separate the accusations personally 

against Ratzinger, from those issues with the RC church as a whole.  


Where reform is called for, state it in "visionary, desired 

outcomes", rather than it's present form -- condemning and critizing.

e.g. 

1.  We believe in a church where all are welcome and affirmed as 

original blessings from God our Creator.

2.  We believe God is both male and female, adult and child, 

indivisible from all created beings.


I once heard that the real cause for Martin Luther breaking from 

the "Mother Church", was that Rome sent a group of experts to debate 

with Martin Luther and "to publically prove him wrong".   If Rome 

had instead taken the approach of reconcilliation, and addressed 

Luther's orginal petitions/call for reformation, then perhaps the 

Christian church would have remained "one, holy, universal" church.  

Would it not be a novel approach for UCS/WU be the leaders for 

church reformation in "peace, compassion, wisdom, and love" as 

opposed to criticism, condemning and media drama?


UCS/WU teaches "we are all one", and that we are all connected 

through "sacred unity".  It would be refreshing to see whether or 

not UCS/WU could approach this new drama in a spirit of 

reconcilliation (without compromising what UCS/WU teaches), as 

opposed to creating a new confrontation and media drama based on a 

polarization of views.  Why go to war with the vatican?  Violence is 

not the solution to disputes.  Would a constructive approach be more 

appropriate than a condemning approach?  Can UCS/WU embody what it 

teaches? 


my thoughts.  Janis Burns Buyarski

I would also suggest reframing the issue as fundamentalism in particular, 
rather than the Catholic church in general. When I look beneath Matt's anger 
toward Ratzinger, perhaps appropriately directed at him though it may be, I 
see 
the deeper issue of fundamentalism. 


Dear Students and Alumni,


There are many exciting things happening to which I would like to 

draw to your attention.  


We are developing an extraordinary and provocative strategy for Matt, 

given the fact that his nemesis Josef Ratzinger is now Pope.  Matt is 

wring a letter to Ratzinger challenging him to make good on his 

assertion in his first mass after his installation on April 24th  

to "listen to the whole church" by meeting first with all those he 

expelled or silenced while he was Head of the Congregation of the 

Doctrine of the Faith. As you know, scores of other leading 

theologians and priests besides Matt were silenced or expelled by 

Ratzinger in the squelching of dissent while he was Head of the 

Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, including Hans Kung, a 

German theologian, and Leonardo Boeff, a Brazilian Jesuit.   All of 

them are being invited to co-sign Fox's letter.  


Additionally, Matt is preparing a manifesto called "The New 

Reformation:  Toward a Mature Christianity," in which he proclaims 

that we are in fact confronted with two churches: one dominated by 

the image of the punitive father, personified by the long and harsh 

career of Ratzinger himself and his long suppression of internal 

dissent, rejection of other religions, and protection of pedophile 

priests; and the other expressed by the feminine spirit of Wisdom and 

personified by a compassionate mother/father god of justice and 

compassion.  It is time for the church to choose whom it will 

follow:  an angry exclusionary god or the loving open path of 

wisdom.  


To dramatize his letter and his Proclamation, Matthew will be 

preaching a sermon on Pentacost Sunday May 15 in Germany near 

Frankfurt. He will proclaim the need for a new reformation and 

expound the choices before the church, while inviting the Pope to 

meet with him and others who like him were silenced or expelled.   He 

will then travel to Wittenberg, where Martin Luther nailed his ninety-

five theses at the Cathedral in 1517, and nail his Proclamation on 

the same church doors.  From Wittenberg, he will travel to Rome where 

at the gates of St. Peter's Cathedral he will challenge Ratzinger to 

a debate about the future of Christianity at this moment of 

historical crisis and opportunity. 


Isn't this totally cool?


A related development all of you should know about is our launch of a 

new Center for the Study of Religious Fundamentalism. Check out our 

website at www.wisdomuniversity.org for further details.  The reason 

this is important is twofold:  first, Matt needs assistance urgently 

to research some aspects of what the fundamentalists are saying and 

doing for his "New Reformation" piece.  Secondly, we are looking for 

interns who would be willing to donate some time to do research I 

would like to begin immediately on the fundamentalists for a 

coalition of groups we are participating in as a result of a visit to 

Washington last week.  


If there is anyone interested in researching the money flows between 

groups identified with the Christina Right and also the relationships 

between American groups and other right wing fundamentalist groups in 

Europe and the Middle East, please contact me directly.  I would be 

happy to talk with your professors about having the work count for a 

paper or dissertation. 


That's all for now.  All very exciting, including the fact that 

seventeen of you have signed up for the Pilgrimage with Andrew and 

Apela in September.  We have room for a dozen more, so spread the 

word.


Always a pleasure,


Jim