Pontifical Biblical Commission | The Open Tabernacle: Here Comes Everybody

Conscience Formation, Spiritual Formation, and The Holy Spirit

Posted on September 18, 2010 by Terence

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David Ludescher, a regular OT reader, has put to me some important questions on the formation of conscience. These arose in response to my post on empirical research findings on the current state of British Catholic belief, and some observations I made on the implications for our understanding of the sensus fidelium (on sexual ethics and priestly ministry in particular).

These questions were put in a comment box, which I have reproduced in an independent post for easy reference. Just follow the link to read the questions in full. This is my response: Continue reading →

Filed under: church teaching | Tagged: bible, Catholic Church, Conscience, ethics, magisterium, Pontifical Biblical Commission, Religion and Spirituality | 7 Comments »

Open Tabernacle Team
Blogroll
- Dot Commonweal
- Our Daily Thread A blog maintained by Catholics United, an organization dedicated to promoting the message of justice and the common good found at the heart of the Catholic Social Tradition.
- V2 Catholic An international forum to promote and defend the vision of Vatican II
Catholic News & e-zines
- America A national (U.S.) Catholic news weekly commenting on religious and political themes.
- Catholica Australian Catholic e-zine, with “an excitingly different way of looking at faith and spirituality.”
- Commonweal An independent journal of opinion edited and managed by lay Catholics in the U.S.
- National Catholic Reporter An independent American Catholic weekly that seeks to inform and inspire a just and peaceful world, serving as a platform for discussions of church, society and global community.
- New Catholic Times: sensus fidelium A Canadian bi-monthly forum for conversation about the Catholic principles of solidarity with the poor, the common good, the dignity of the human person and the presence of God in all creation.
- The Progressive Catholic Voice An independent and grassroots forum for reflection, dialogue, and the exchange of ideas within the Catholic community of Minnesota (U.S.) and beyond.
- U.S. Catholic A forum for lay Catholics reviewing the intersection of US cultural and political life and the Catholic faith.
Catholic Opinon & Personal blogsites
- A Seat at the Table Claire Bangasser’s blog, which re-imagines a Church engaged in dialogue with people at the margins, inviting everyone at the table, with a thirst for social justice and gender equality.
- Bilgrimage This blog is me on pilgrimage, sharing my journey with companions who want to walk along–towards truth that needs to be told but doesn’t get spoken, towards whatever and whoever draws us along to the horizon of hope.
- Blue Eyed Ennis A blog maintained by writer Phil Ewing of Cornwall, England, with a focus on spirituality, social justice, and poetry, among other matters
- Bridget Mary's Blog A womanpriest’s personal blog: “I was ordained a priest on July 31, 2006 and am interested in discussions on spirituality. We are interested in establishing a renewed model of priestly ministry.”
- Catholic Anarchy
- Clerical Whispers An Irish blog seeking to give the uncomfortable truth and news from the inside of the Irish Catholic church.
- Confessions of a Liturgy Queen Ross Lonergan’s blog, focusing on Catholic issues and writers, as well as the experience of being gay and Catholic.
- Enlightened Catholicism A place for Catholics who don’t find their Catholic identity in the standard definitions. “He drew a circle that shut me out. Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But Love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in.” Edwin Markham
- Father Geoff Farrow A blog of Fr. Geoff Farrow, suspended from active ministry for speaking against proposition 8 in California, and an advocate for the rights of LGBT persons.
- Following the Voice Within A blog by a gay believer seeking to hear the Voice within and share his spiritual journey with others.
- Gay Mystic A blog dedicated the future of a renewed, inclusive, fair and open Roman Catholic tradition, in the spirit of Pope John Paul I, and maintained by Jayden Cameron.
- J. S. O'Leary A personal blog, which features “Essays on literary and theological themes”.
- James Alison A website collecting the works of Rev. James Alison, a Catholic theologian whose work explores gay themes from a Catholic standpoint,
- John McNeill Website Website of the pioneering (and prolific) theologian John McNeill, exploring gay themes in light of Catholic theology.
- John McNeill's Spiritual Transformation Blog Drawing on spirituality, psychotherapy, and theology, as well as his lifelong experience as a spiritual director, John McNeill offers guidance for those seeking spiritual transformation.
- Nihil Obstat Examines public statements and letters of church officials and concerned Catholics in light of Christ’s ministry of justice and inclusion.
- Perspective Thoughts of a Catholic convert
- Queering the Church “Towards Reality Based Theology”: Faith from a queer perspective, but also progressive Catholicism, Queer history, and the progress towards equality
- Sacredfisher Regina Colleen Heater’s sacredfisher.com is blog site is born out of the desire to reach people in both their hearts and their heads as they consider their lives in faith. The idea comes from Jesus’ call to make the apostles “fishers of men.”
- The Catholic Story The website of Deacons Eric Stoltz and Vince Tomkovicz.
- The Common Good A blog exploring implications of the Christian belief in the common good for contemporary culture and political life.
- The Wild Reed Thoughts and reflections from a progressive, gay, Catholic perspective by blogger Michael Bayly.
- There Will Be Bread Reflections about religion, life, food, faith, culture, theology, sometimes politics and more by Fran Szpylczyn.
- Whispers in the Loggia Inside perspectives on matters Catholic (particularly institutional matters) by U.S. journalist Rocco Palmo.
Organizations & Resource Websites
- Association of Rights of Catholics in the Church An association whose aim is “To bring about substantive structural change in the Catholic Church”, and “to institutionalize a collegial understanding of Church.”
- Bishop Accountability A website documenting the abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.
- Call to Action Catholics working together for justice and action.
- Catholic Association for Lesbian and Gay Ministries The website of the National (U.S.) Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries (NACDLGM), fostering ministry to the LGBT community and providing educational resources.
- Catholics United Promoting the message of justice and the common good found at the heart of the Catholic Social Tradition.
- Center for Social Inclusion The Center for Social Inclusion identifies causes of racial inequity growing out of public policy.
- DignityUSA DignityUSA envisions and works for a time when Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality, and as beloved persons of God participate fully in all
- Future Church FutureChurch seeks changes that will provide all Roman Catholics the opportunity to participate fully in Church life and leadership.
- Institute for Progressive Christianity An ecumenical organization seeking to further awareness and understanding that the progressive tradition is rooted in core Christian gospel values, and to relate that tradition to personal faith, public policy, family, and the common good.
- Mount St. Agnes Theological Center for Women A theological center for women founded to commit its resources in solidarity with women seeking fullness of life and equality in church and society.
- New Ways Ministry A gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics and reconciliation within the larger Christian and civil communities.
- Roman Catholic Women Priests An international initiative within the Roman Catholic Church spiritually preparing, ordaining, and supporting women and men from all states of life, who are theologically qualified, committed to an inclusive model of Church, and called by the Holy Spirit
- Saint Mychal Judge A blog devoted to encouraging greater faith, hope, and love through discussion of Father Mychal Judge, OFM, the saint of 9/11.
- Soulforce Guided by principles of nonviolent resistance, Soulforce works to end the religious and political oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people.
- Stand up For Vatican II A campaign designed to involve the whole Church, Catholic organisations and individuals, who recognise the benefits the Second Vatican Council brought to the Church.
- Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests A support network for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others).
- Talk to Action “Reclaiming Citizenship, History and Faith”, Talk to Action aims to counter the religious right.
- Voice of the Faithful An organization seeking to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.
- WATER: Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual An international community of justice-seeking people who promote the use of feminist values to make religious and social change.
- We Are Church An international movement committed to the renewal of the Roman Catholic Church on the basis of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the theological spirit developed from it.
- Young Adult Catholics A blog dedicated to the progressive, faithful, Catholic voices of 20- and 30-year-olds and sponsored by Call to Action.
Other Christian Websites &Blogs
- Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists A website of churches, organizations, and individuals on record as welcoming and affirming all persons without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity, who have joined to advocate for full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender person
- Cross Left The online enagement organization of the Institute for Progressive Christianity and its strategy clearing-house and central hub for grassroots activism among progressive Christians.
- Ekklesia An ecumenical religion and society think-tank at the cutting edge of culture, spirituality and politics.
- Faith in America The mission of Faith In America is to educate the public about the harm caused to gay Americans when religion-based bigotry and prejudice is used to justify condemnation, discrimination and violence toward this minority population group.
- Göran Koch-Swahne Swedish personal blog
- Goodsoil Goodsoil is a collaboration of organizations working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families in the full ministerial and sacramental life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
- Jesus in Love Jesus in Love serves gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who have spiritual interests, and their allies, with a focus on spirituality, books and arts.
- Lutheran News A website providing Lutheran news of interest.
- Lutheran News Aggregates news and blog comments on Lutheran and other churches.
- Reconciling Ministries Network A movement of United Methodist individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and other groups working for the full participation of all people in the United Methodist Church.
- Religion Dispatches A daily online magazine dedicated to the analysis and understanding of religious forces in the world today, highlighting a diversity of progressive voices and aimed at broadening and advancing the public conversation.
- Street Prophets A blog about faith and politics sponsored by Daily Kos.
- The Liberal Spirit A blog of progressive religious themes.
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