Lizzie Berne DeGear, PhD is a chaplain, writer, Bible scholar and Catholic feminist. Her biblical scholarship combines depth psychology and theology and has appeared in Religious Education and the UTS Quarterly Review, as well as in her book For She Has Heard. She is a contributing author to Guidepost's Mornings with Jesus: Daily Encouragement for your Soul (2019 and 2020 editions), and is currently completing a book on the Gospel of Mark entitled Someone Called Jesus: An Intimate Introduction to Christ. Certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains since 2002, she enjoyed teaching Bible Studies at the Church of St. Francis Xavier from 2002-2019. In partnership with FutureChurch, Women's Ordination Conference and Call to Action, she co-founded the movement Feminism & Faith in Union in 2018. Here homily for Catholic Women Preach in honor of the Feast of Mary Magdalene can be seen here and for more about Lizzie and her work, you can visit her website here.
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
The story of Adam and Eve has been used for centuries to put women in their place ("Eve was made from Adam's rib as a helpmate for him") and to castigate the LGBTQ community ("It's Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve!"), but did you know that the Bible does not actually tell that story? FutureChurch hosted a screening of the delightful and eye-opening animated short film (m)adam: Adam's Rib Reframed and a no-holds-barred discussion with filmmaker, Catholic Chaplain Lizzie Berne DeGear, PhD. (m)adam just won Best Religious Film at the Viva International Film Festival.
Thursday, October 8, 2020
The sexual exploitation/abuse of women religious by Catholic priests was first reported by Sr. Maureen O'Donoghue in her 1994 report to the Vatican -- a report that remained largely overlooked until 2001. This practice of "erasing" the experience and reality of Catholic women remains today.
Professor Tara M. Tuttle probes the manner in which media outlets submerged the experiences and realities of Catholic women, both lay and consecrated, as they sought to affirm their own biases regarding the connection between clergy sexual abuse and homosexuality. That motif, along with inordinate deference for prelate and priest abusers, corrupted the truth and propped up the abuser's narrative where women's credibility was questioned and their efforts to access justice were routinely discounted or despised. Thus, women, accused of treachery against the Church for going public, suffered, too often, in silence.
Tuesday, September 22, 2020
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.
Thursday, August 27, 2020
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.
Thursday, July 16, 2020
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.
Monday, June 22, 2020
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.
Tuesday, June 2, 2020
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?
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
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.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
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.
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
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.
Download Women Erased From Lectionary.mp3 (69.21 MB)
Monday, September 16, 2019
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.
- Download Donald Cozzens Teleconference.mp3 (79.53 MB)
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
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.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
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.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
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.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
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.
