Women Erased: Talking Truth about Women and the Sacraments
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
1 Hour 11 minutes - 68 MB - Dr. Susan Ross, Ph.D.

Women have always been at the heart of the sacraments and the sacramental life of the Catholic Church.  In the real world where Catholics participate in the Eucharist and the Eucharistic life of the parish/community, women are the backbone. But their ministry is, too often, erased -- unrecognized, and undervalued in that they do not receive the same official sanction as male ministers - yielding both sacramental grace and authority for their ministry. Dr. Susan A. Ross, argues that when it comes to the sacraments, the requirements of Catholic social justice have not applied, a disjuncture that severely limits the transformative power of the Eucharist and our common sacramental life.  Yet, she also calls attention to what is changing - mapping the opportunities for transformation and emerging realities that are currently redefining our common sacramental life.  

 

Women Erased: Restoring the Memory of Black Catholic Women in Our Tradition and History
Thursday, August 27, 2020
1 Hour 11 minutes - - Sr. Anita Baird, DHM

Black Catholic Women have been instrumental in shaping the life and faith of the Church, yet, our collective memory of their work, courage, challenge, generosity, and faith is too often made "invisible" in our Catholic education, Catholic liturgy, and Catholic art.  Sr. Anita Baird, a native of Chicago, IL,  and a member of the Religious Congregation of the Society of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary shares the stories of some of the Black Catholic Women who challenged the Church, challenged their communities, and brought enormous change to this country as they stood against racism and for a more just Catholic Church and world.

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Women Erased: In Search of a Majority
Thursday, July 16, 2020
1 Hour 7 minutes - 65 MB - Dr. Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ, Th.D.

Throughout the early (2nd-6th) Christian centuries, the lives of most women were lived in silence, while the few elite ascetic women got at least some attention. What about the rest? Dr. Carolyn Osiek, RSCJ, Catholic Professor of New Testament emerita at Brite Divinity School and past president of the Catholic Biblical Association, explores the lives of these early Christian women. 

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Women Erased: Reading the Bible against the Grain
Monday, June 22, 2020
1 Hour 28 Minutes - 85 MB - Carol Dempsey, OP, PhD

Carol Dempsey, OP, PhD explores new ways of reading the “Scripture” “against the grain” and offers us new understandings of many of the stories and poems can become uncanningly “prophetic” to move us forward in our work for global justice. Included in our discussion is the topic of the gendering of “God” as we explore hegemonic power.  Professor Carol J. Dempsey, OP is an internationally recognized and award-winning scholar who teaches courses in Biblical Studies, specifically in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. With particular expertise in the Prophets, Professor Dempsey’s interests lie in a feminist and liberation approach to biblical texts, gender studies, biblical theology, literary and rhetorical criticism, and environmental/ecological studies. 

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To Speak the Truth in Love: Session Three
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
1 Hour 25 Minutes - 85 MB - Christine Schenk, CSJ & Theresa Kane, RSM

In 2009, the Vatican announced dual wide -ranging investigations of US sisters, described at the time as “probably the largest investigation in church history.” Pope Francis ended both investigations favorably for the sisters. After nearly 50 years of opposition, the Vatican publicly affirmed contemporary expressions of religious life first inaugurated by Theresa and her contemporaries. What lessons does this 50-year saga hold for the People of God today?

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To Speak the Truth in Love: Session Two
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
1 Hour 40 Minutes - 96 MB - Christine Schenk, CSJ & Theresa Kane, RSM

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After Vatican II, Theresa and the Sisters of Mercy of the Union experienced immense changes in their ministries and lifestyle. Because Theresa would not desist from speaking her Sisters’ truth about the full equality and moral agency of women, the Vatican tried to remove her from office. But she persisted with a deep and persevering faith.

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To Speak the Truth in Love: Session One
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
1 Hour 32 Minutes - 87 MB - Sr. Christine Schenk, Sr. Theresa Kane

Sr. Theresa Kane’s historic 1979 encounter with Pope John Paul II requesting full inclusion of women in all the ministries of the church galvanized the women’s movement in the Catholic Church. What led up to this moment? What changed because of Theresa’s prophetic act? Sister Christine Schenk presents on the first chapters of her biography and Sister Theresa Kane offers additional insights and recollections. Finally, both Sr. Chris and Sr. Theresa take participant questions. 

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Women Erased: From the Lectionary
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
1 hour 15 minutes - 62 MB - Michael Peppard, Ph.D.

Michael Peppard, PhD, associate professor of New Testament Studies at Fordham University, discusses how Biblical women are disproportionately underrepresented in the assigned Scripture readings for the Church year: some women are omitted entirely, others are only read at weekday mass, and still others are made "optional." Providing examples from both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, Dr. Peppard covers just the tip of the iceberg in this presentation.  To go deeper, read Michael Peppard's Commonweal article, "Household Names: Junia, Phoebe, & Prisca in Early Christian Rome" by clicking here. Read Sr. Ruth Fox's article, "Women in the Bible and the Lectionary" by clicking here.

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Power to the People: The Role of the Laity
Monday, September 16, 2019
57 Minutes - 84 MB - Fr. Donald Cozzens

Donald Cozzens, priest, commentator and author of the award-winning book The Changing Face of the Priesthood discusses specific steps lay persons can take -- on a personal level -- to help dismantle a culture of clericalism in the church. Click here to register for future calls.   

Power to the People: Euphemization of Power
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
1 hour 4 minutes - 62 MB - Michele Dillon, Ph.D.

Michele Dillon, Ph.D.,  Professor of sociology at the University of New Hampshire and expert in autonomy and authority in the Catholic Church discusses the hiearchy's use of euphemization to both downplay the tragedy of the clergy abuse crisis and coverup and to maintain their own power and prohibit women from leadership and ministerial roles. Click here to register for future calls.   

Power to the People: Language and Accountability
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
1 hour 7 minutes - 64 MB - Katie Grimes, Ph.D.

Katie Grimes, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Theological Ethics at Villanova University expands upon her essay on Episcopal Accountability, which appeared in A Pope Francis Lexicon, presenting an overview of how the Church's language and tradition around priesthood, episcopacy, and servant leadership create a barrier to a culture of accountability. The following question and answer session explores some ways lay Catholics can help to overcome the obstacles . Click here to register for future calls. 

Power to the People: The Role of Canon Law
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
1 Hour 20 Minutes - 75 MB - Tom Doyle

Canon lawyer, Tom Doyle, offers invaluable insight from his 35 years of experience working for justice for victim-survivors and their families into how canon law upholds a clerical system and culture in the Church, which perpetuates a cycle of abuse and coverup. He discuss which canons in particular lay a foundation for clericalism and argues that the entire church structure -- including canon law -- must be radically reformed if the violence and abuse of people and power is to stop. Click here to register for future calls. 

Power to the People: The Development of Clericalism
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
1 hour 12 minutes - 70 MB - Francine Cardman, Ph.D.

Francine Cardman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry presents an overview of the development of hierarchy and clericalism in the Roman Church, addressing the Church's evolving understanding of charism, office, ordination, and authority; the influence of sacramental theology; as well as the role of secular political realities. She also takes participant questions. This teleconference was the second in the series "Power to the People: From Clericalism to Collaboration" throughout 2019. Click here to register for future calls. 

Power to the People: The Lay of the Land
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
1 hour 15 minutes - 69 MB - Rev. Thomas Reese, SJ

Author and journalist Thomas Reese, SJ provides an overview of the clergy sex abuse crisis, assessing the effectiveness of steps that have already been taken, reflecting on the latest developments, and outlining the challenges and opportunities ahead as we seek to move from a culture of clericalism to a culture of synodality in the Church. Fr. Reese also takes listener questions about the crisis and how lay people hold Church officials -- at every level -- accountable. This teleconference was the first in the series "Power to the People: From Clericalism to Collaboration" throughout 2019. Click here to register for future calls. 

A Rubicon Moment in the Catholic Church
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
53 Minutes 21 Seconds - 51MB - Professor Michael Higgins

Distinguished Professor of Catholic Thought at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, Dr. Higgins discusses the latest developments in clergy sex abuse and cover-up, including the Pennsylvania Grand Jury Report, Cardinal McCarrick’s resignation, and allegations made by Archbishop Vigano against Pope Francis . In our time together, Higgins argues that the "demolition" of the seminary system is the "kind of radical change the Catholic Church needs if it is to tackle the systemic evil that is clericalism," which is "the root cause of our institutional pathology." Take Action: Urge our bishops to overhaul seminaries. 

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