Over the past two years I have participated in a stimulating online community of people interested in the current state of the Catholic Church. The participants, primarily religious or ex-religious who have given much of their lives to the Church, share a common concern that the hierarchical church is not meeting the needs and desires of its members. Most would attribute that failure to a reaction against the reforms of Vatican II and to an unwillingness to institute its decrees.
In the course of our discussions many pertinent questions have been and are being voiced. In response I have contributed my own answers. Mostly they are brief and to the point. They come, however, out of my own extensive experience in and with the Church as a member of the Jesuit Order for eighteen years. While living intimately the life of the Church, I attained advance academic degrees in Philosophy and in Theology. Finally, after completing doctoral studies in Psychology, I practiced as a religious psychologist for the twenty-eight years of my professional career. My reflections, therefore, come out of a lifetime of work and experience.
It seems appropriate to this blogsite to share some of these questions and answers. They will be listed on the right side of this blog page under the heading of “Q & A.” It is my hope that these listings will enlist you also in our conversation through your comments.
