Letters: April 2019

A Powerful Profile

Thank you, Da’Shawn Mosley, for your profile of attorney Benjamin Crump (“The Advocate,” February 2019). You captured his passion and faith-oriented vision for combating the powers of racism and violence through the legal system. I wish you well in telling stories that will bring insight, anguish, hope, and resolve to people seeking to be Jesus followers in this world.

Greg Bowman
Salem, Ohio

Lived Faith

“The Advocate” is an example of how some Christians just chatter about their faith while others go out and live it.

Susan Gunn
Round Rock, Texas

Much-Needed Discussion

I appreciate Nadia Bolz-Weber’s perspective (“Honor Thy Sexual Pleasure?” February 2019) and find her comments in need of more explanation and discussion. As an older, single person, I hope the conversation continues.

Joanne Hansen
Richfield, Minnesota

Modeling Love

In addition to the financial security provided by the church model in Hillary Frances’ “Here Is the Church, Here Is No Steeple” (December 2018), the ability to focus on service and community with open arms for all resonates with a much larger pool of potential church members. This is obviously greatly needed today as membership with many religious organizations continues to shrink. I believe this model based on action, love, sharing, and caring for all our neighbors has the potential to unite and strengthen our communities as well as the church. A revitalization is on the way thanks to passionate and talented ministers such as Mandy McDow.

Denise Anderman
Manhattan Beach, California

An Accountable Church

Thank you to Rose Marie Berger for “No More Cover-Ups” in the December 2018 issue of Sojourners. I, too, am a Roman Catholic pained to see the mission and significance of my church become more eroded by reports of sexual abuse, the clericalism of priests and bishops, and the lack of will by the papacy to address these concerns. Much of what I see within my church concerns me. Yet my faith and belief in the meaning and relevance of the Eucharist brings me back weekly to worship with others, many of whom feel as I do.

Catholics who want to build a church that is open, transparent, accountable, vibrant, and willing to face the truth and accept responsibility for harm must speak out. Otherwise, there will be no accountability and no will to change. I want to work with others who are ready to pose difficult and challenging questions to our church’s patriarchal hierarchy. By remaining silent, I am continuing to sanction and support how my church is mired in all the pitfalls of clericalism identified by Jesus in Matthew 23.

Gerry Sobie
Castlegar, British Columbia