Category: Reflections

Tragedies and joys in the pursuit of happiness

In March 2016, a 35-year-old junior barrister appeared at the Old Bailey in March and admitted two counts of supplying controlled drugs to his boyfriend, 18-year-old Colombian waiter, Miguel. The barrister woke on a morning in January 2015 to find his partner dead beside him. The previous afternoon they had taken their dog to the…… Continue reading Tragedies and joys in the pursuit of happiness

“Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness”

  Do these words of Jesus offend our sense of justice and fairness? Jesus uses them in the parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:2-14). Those invited to the banquet not only refuse to come, they make light of the invitation and even kill the king’s servants who delivered the invitations. So, the king sends…… Continue reading “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness”

English Catholics “Building a Bridge”

The theme for this year’s conference (taken from Fr James Martin’s book “Building a Bridge”) was “A Time to Build”. Looking back on an extraordinarily successful, stimulating conference, what strikes me most is how much of this building Quest is already doing, and has done. The first and most obvious sign of this was staring…… Continue reading English Catholics “Building a Bridge”

“Everyone who saw this, grumbled” (Luke 19:7)

At the Quest annual conference “A Time to Build”, one of the most useful insights for me came at the end of Fr James Martin’s video presentation, in which he presented a short reflection on the familiar story of Zacchaeus, who had climbed into a sycamore tree to catch sight of Jesus passing through. The…… Continue reading “Everyone who saw this, grumbled” (Luke 19:7)

My Years With Quest: Looking Back, Letting Go – and Looking Ahead.

Terry Weldon writes:  I have now  attended seven consecutive Quest conferences, sometimes as a speaker or workshop facilitator, and except for the first time, always as a committee member. This year, after a lengthy period of reflection and introspection, I have not made myself available for re-election. At my personal blog, Queering the Church, I…… Continue reading My Years With Quest: Looking Back, Letting Go – and Looking Ahead.

“…for he was an old man, and heavy” (Quest Bulletin 80)

This line from the first book of Samuel (4:18) could well describe me now that I am into my seventh decade. To the consternation of my friends and family members I have been piling on the kilograms in recent years. One friend, a doctor, looked at me and simply said, “Exercise!” For a while I…… Continue reading “…for he was an old man, and heavy” (Quest Bulletin 80)

Why many Catholics vote ‘Yes’ for marriage equality

  About 66% of Catholics voted ‘yes’ in recent polling regarding a change in the civil Marriage Act to include all Australians as equals. This is a marked difference to the official Catholic party line as spoken by most bishops. Why has this happened? Rainbow Catholics InterAgency for Ministry produced a fact sheet noting that Catholics might consider making…… Continue reading Why many Catholics vote ‘Yes’ for marriage equality

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Categorised as Reflections

The Importance of LGBT Catholics’ Prophetic Role

Much has changed for LGBT Catholics since I first began this site, nearly nine years ago. In the institutional church under Pope Francis’ leadership, there’s been a marked shift to a more pastoral tone, to replace the harsh rhetoric under Pope Benedict XVI. At the Bishops’ Synod on Marriage and Family, even some conservative bishops…… Continue reading The Importance of LGBT Catholics’ Prophetic Role

Pentecost: the earthquake that shakes the human heart

On 22nd May 2015, people in Kent were woken at 2.52am to a sound like that of a bomb exploding, beds shaking, windows rattling and doors opening, the result of a 4.2 magnitude earthquake originating 13km off the coast, close to the town of Sandwich. The following day my sister, who lives in the county, told…… Continue reading Pentecost: the earthquake that shakes the human heart