As I sat in church today, I found myself wondering, what
should the new Pope do? I grew up in a deeply Catholic
family. My parents remained committed to
the Catholic Church throughout their lives, even though they
strongly disagreed with certain church teachings, particularly
those on birth control and the role of women.
As I sat in church today, I found myself wondering what
should the new Pope do after returning from church?
I stepped into my office, closed the door, and recorded this
podcast without a script. Just speaking from the heart.
It may not be as polished as my usual episodes, but I wanted to
share with you. I fear this podcast has
something to offend almost everyone.
I nearly didn't post it. If you're LGBTQIA plus or a
woman, you might feel that these steps are too small, too slow,
and too late. And you'd be right.
If you're a conservative Catholic, you might wonder who
am I to speak on this? And there may be some truth to
that as well. But these thoughts came to me in
church. They felt spirit LED.
Let me know what you think in the podcast comments.
You might assume my first suggestion would be to ordain
women and sexual minorities, granting them full rights within
the church. And while I would dearly love to
see that happen, that is not what came to me.
There may be two reasons for this.
First, this Pope isn't going to do it, and 2nd, even if he were
willing, such rapid change would likely fracture the church.
So instead, here are some of the more gradual steps a Pope could
take, steps that would still honor the Gospel message.
Coincidentally, last week, shortly before the white smoke
arose from the Sistine Chapel, I attended an inspiring but
sobering presentation from Scott Austin Key, founder of Every
Shelter, an organization which empowers refugees to build
shelters. He described the tragic reality
inside African refugee camps where the majority of those
seeking safety are women and children fleeing war-torn
regions. Now, with US pulling back from
humanitarian aid, the situation is even more dire.
That may be why my first thought, the first thought that
came to me, was the new Pope should visit two of the world's
largest refugee camps and call on Catholics everywhere to stand
in support of these women and children fleeing violence.
It would send a powerful message about what it truly means to be
a Christian in today's world. As Jesus said, come you who are
blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the Kingdom
prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.
I was a stranger and you invited me in.
I needed clothes and you clothed me.
I was sick and you looked after me.
I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Similarly, I would follow the refugee camp initiative with
initiatives focusing on widows, orphans and prisons.
And it occurs to me that these are all Gospel messages.
Jesus spoke multiple times about prisons, orphans, widows.
The new Pope might wrap these in a decade of Gospel action.
As part of this decade of Gospel action, I would recommend the
Pope initiate a youth corps that Catholic youth be encouraged to
spend a summer at a minimum and up to two years in service to
their communities, some abroad but many locally in poor
schools, in prisons, working with orphans, etcetera.
Focusing on the same group, prisoners, orphans, single
parents, struggling widows and refugees.
One of the most unique things that churches in the West have
largely dropped but was core to Jesus ministry was healing.
So my next piece of advice to the new Pope, as part of this
decade of Gospel action, would be to encourage all bishops to
have at least one monthly healing ceremony and that the
ranks of Catholics be scoured for those who have the healing
touch. And at least once a month, but
in large areas and many areas, perhaps multiple times a week,
there be healing ceremonies where people can come forward
and hands would be laid upon them and prayers of healing.
Now, those of you who have tend healing ceremonies know that
sometimes nothing happens. Sometimes things don't happen
for quite a while, and sometimes there are immediate miracles,
but they're usually deeply spiritual experiences.
As I watched the white smoke rise above the Sistine Chapel, a
sadness filled me, knowing that women had been excluded from the
process. And I thought how easy it would
be for this Pope to ensure that women were included at the next
papal conclave selecting his successor.
I had a vision of female Cardinals, perhaps called
matriarchal Cardinals or cardinal mothers.
They might be women like Mother Teresa.
They might be heads of orders, they might be deaconesses, they
might even be lay people who had exhibited Christ in such a way
as they should have a vote at the table when the next Pope is
chosen. Controversial, yes, but I don't
think it would RIP the church apart.
Then my mind went to all the women and married men that are
excluded from church leadership. Such a tragedy, so much untapped
talent. And if allowing female priests
and married priests is too big a step for this Pope, he could do
it gradually. He could allow men who are
already married to become priests.
There is precedent for this. An earlier Pope did this for
married Anglican priests who wished to become Catholic
priests. Then the Pope could allow nuns
to say mass. Today nuns are prohibited from
consecrating the host. This is a non biblical rule.
Clearly women broke bread and hosted religious services in the
early church and the Pope could reinstigate this.
Then he could allow married women to be ordained and same as
there are women who later in life after they've had a family
and children that have a calling and they have to leave the
Catholic Church to fulfill it. It is so tragic.
Thus, the Pope could move in stages to include many who have
been excluded from full participation in its ministry.
And then I would recommend the Pope reverse the papal
encyclical on birth control. So for those of you that know
the checkered past of this, the Pope at the time that birth
control was banned stacked the committee with some of the most
conservative Catholics in the world and the committee voted to
allow birth control and the Pope overruled them.
The original advice of this papal committee that examined
birth control should be heeded by this Pope, even though it has
been ignored by so many popes. It's really a symbolic action.
Catholics use birth control with the same frequency that
Protestants use birth control, but this kind of insidious
corruption in theology just undermines the church,
particularly with young people and married couples.
Shortly after watching the white smoke rise above the Sistine
Chapel, a friend from church sent me a link to a sermon by
Pastor Zach Lambert. It was brilliant, and I've
included a link to it in the notes.
In that sermon, Pastor Lambert reminded me of Isaiah 56.
Five, where God promises sexual minorities.
A place and a name better than sons or daughters.
Wow. That may be the only passage in
Scripture where a group is so profoundly elevated.
The Catholic Church must confront the affirming,
inclusive passages in Scripture. It's not just Isaiah's promise
that sexual minorities will be blessed by God way beyond sons
and daughters, but also Matthew 1912 where Jesus acknowledges
that God created at least three types of sexual minorities, and
in Acts 826 through 40 where the Holy Spirit directs Philip to
baptize an Ethiopian sexual minority.
These are not obscure verses hidden in the depths of
Leviticus or Deuteronomy. These are scriptures highlighted
by Matthew, Luke, and Isaiah. They are foundational Christian
theology, and they should not be mistranslated, minimized, or
swept aside. The church must reckon with
these passages and fully embrace sexual minorities, welcoming
them as equal partners in faith. And if you're unfamiliar with
these powerful verses, I've covered them in previous
episodes. You can find them in this
podcasts archives and Pastor Lambert's sermon provides a
fantastic overview of them as well.
Again, I'll include link to a sermon in the notes.
So these were my reflections as I consider the immense
challenges facing the new Pope and how he might guide the
church back to Jesus inclusive gospel message.
This is Elton Sherwin, stay set, be brave and God blessed.