God, AIDS, Africa & HOPE

Reflections / Gedanken

06/01/2012 • 7:15 pm Comments Off on Weekend in reach…

Weekend in reach…

What a week it was again – full of encounters and many of them very enriching for one’s own life. But also dull moments, moments that hurt and were you suddenly realise how different other people look at you and judge you.
The transformation process of HOPE Cape Town is still in full swing and my guess is, that end of the year we are sorted in a way that has prepared us for the next 10 years to come. Transformation time is often traumatic, because beloved habits or ideas have to be abounded and fresh, unknown wind is blowing. But I belive that there is that meaningful line in everybody’s life,  also in a life of an organisation, that makes sense and brings the best out of people.
I remain concerned about the state of the church – Vatican leak, the conservatism of church leaders, the anxiety to let the Spirit roam freely, the unification and streamlining instead of bringing out the best of diversity in the universal church, the fight against a relativism which might be none at all, empty churches in Europe, structural reforms which sometimes destroy more than it supports what is still left – I read that the US Catholic church is doing politics in going to court over the health reform – contraception – the most ignored teaching of the church as a catalyst to fight government. Not sure I do understand it in full. I just wonder…

Tomorrow I will say Mass in Milnerton – Holy Trinity Sunday – what a challenge for a priest.. – but at the end it is not about a theological construct but about the unconditional love of God. Not more and not less..

Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HOPE Cape Town Association & Trust, HOPE Cape Town Trust, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

05/30/2012 • 4:20 pm Comments Off on Bidding farewell to IAM

Bidding farewell to IAM

We all are learning to bid farewell at times, it is like a repeated rehearsal for the big farewell of dying.  Today I bid farewell to IAM where I was for 6 years on board as a trustees. IAM stands for Integrative Affirmative Ministry and deals with the question of inclusion of gay and lesbian and transgender people into the mainstream churches. It is an amazing bunch of people, straight, gay and lesbian, priests, reverends and bishops are taking seriously the situation of the gay and lesbians who are part of the churches, but most times are not welcomed. Take my church: Homosexuality is intrinsic evil, so I have read – but being a homosexual is ok – well, as long as you don’t live it out. Not even in a committed partnership. It’s one of the most contradictory teachings in the church: Your God-given sexuality is not allowed to be practised, you are sentenced to a life in chastity to be certain to go to heaven… So they think or so some think.. Not sure what God thinks.. But I am sure that his unconditional love allows more than the church’s teaching. Other churches are fine with homosexuality – as long as it is not the pastor. Some are fine with a homosexual pastor – but not that the boyfriend or partner is living in the parish house. And vividly I remember the fight in the Anglican church when the first openly gay living bishop was ordained. What kind of threats from African and US Anglicans wanna – know – it – better – what – is – God’s – will…

The churches teaching is based on the scripture – well, the scripture did not know about committed relationships, it did not know about sexuality as we do – but what St. Augustin and others thought to know some hundred years ago – nothing has changed for the official church. Or has it? The permission of a bishop in Vienna to allow for a gay parish council chair is a light at the end of a very long tunnel. But the fight continues about the issue – and we often forget that we talk about brothers and sisters in Christ – this is not an academic study or reflection. I personally believe that we should leave it to God and the people concerned what happens between two adults in a bedroom as long as it is consensual and committed.

But back to the farewell – after six years of serving on board of this fine organisation I retired today from service and it was a touching moment. I really learned a lot about the Afrikaans culture, about LGBTI, about church and Christian communities – it was a humble experience and an eye opener in many instances. Judith, Peter, Retha and all the rest: I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love, your friendship and the joined efforts. David, who also left today after 8 years of service: Have a great sabbathical, bishop and keep your friendly and welcoming attitude…  And yeah, we all keep in touch…

Filed under: General, Networking, Politics and Society, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

05/26/2012 • 8:56 am Comments Off on Being a priest…

Being a priest…

Since I picked up the topic “HIV and AIDS” in the context of being a priest, life became more difficult. Touching and questioning the moral teaching did not go well with the authorities and even being outspoken about it and publishing my concerns, experiences and questions lead in late nineties to the fact, that I could not be a chaplain to a German-speaking Catholic Community anymore. obedience hurrying ahead and being scared of the mighty Vatican – induced with some jealousy at times brought an end to it – and let me to pick up the pieces and – being lucky – brought me to the position I am now in. And I honestly cannot complain as it gives me all opportunities to work in my beloved South Africa and with and amongst those less fortune.

But I have the feeling that the atmosphere in my church is changing. The unfortunate attempt of Benedict XVI to get the Pius XII Society on board, the permission to more mass services of the old order as the exceptional rule brought warfare into the church – instead of achieving more peace and stability within the church, we are in a constant battle between Latin and mother tongue, between a salvation only within the RC church and a Holy Spirit who is able to work where he wants to work. The attempt of the Vatican to be inclusive – at least for those living in the past and refusing to come out and face modern life – is for a normal priest dealing with everyday’s sorrows and plights a situation not asked for and making the pastoral work more difficult. Reading the pamphlets and attacks of right wingers in the church on mainly European websites make me feel sick and tired. The church has come a long way in its tradition and in its way to comfort and proclaim the love of God to those living today. Tradition is a way, not a status quo. I am not sure what drives the Vatican, the pope and others to bring the church in turbulent waters without any need or necessity. But they should be aware that in doing so they make the life of priests not easier, they divide energy into directions without any need or positive outcome and they force us to focus on topics put to rest a long time ago.

The way of the church is forward, God calls us to a future, not back into the past and I hope and pray that this storm of arguments, attacks and unwarranted battle is over soon. And that we can concentrate again on a liturgy which has a meaning to most people of God, a way forward answering the questions of today’s faithful in a way understandable for them. Let those hanging on to old traditions be as they are – God does not mind diversity and if they think that salvation only happens within their church – so it be.. They are then happy and we can continue to serve the people without having an extra battle field within the church.

Filed under: General, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

05/18/2012 • 10:11 am Comments Off on Follow up…

Follow up…

The reader might remember the trip to Sterkspruit in the Eastern Cape before Easter and since then things are moving a bit at least: The water from the mountains is in Cape Town and awaits analysis about content and quality. Sam, our trustee have had a meeting with the representative of the SA-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is now going to Johannesburg with Fr Jo to investigate the possibilities of training with the Chamber’s head of training services. Just to give you an idea about the place we visited some pictures:

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Filed under: General, HIV and AIDS, HIV Prevention, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

05/11/2012 • 10:09 am Comments Off on No second “humanae vitae” effect please

No second “humanae vitae” effect please

Preface:
Please note that this entry is my personal opinion. As theology also is linked to the topic of HIV and AIDS I guess it is important to see it in this context too.
Like it or condemn it – whatever you do, first please read the whole text, reflect on it and then you are welcome to comment on it too. If you like it, share it – if you don’t like it, you most probably will not share it, but you still can pray for me and leave the last judgement to the Lord himself . 🙂
Don’t do it now
Following the discussions in my church about the integration of the Pius XII Society and reading their website and publications I can only plead with my church not to wipe over the fundamental differences but to keep an open door policy fur further discussions without taking them in yet. The time is not here yet. We might close formally a separation but I fear for another division amongst the faithful like we have seen and still is to be seen on the issue of “Humanae Vitae”.
Even if we formally do not acknowledge it as a church: This encyclica was the beginning of loosing ground as church being taken seriously by major part of the faithful and societies. We don’t need within one century a repeat of this effect which divides people again within the church.
Let’s acknowledge:
The world is not flat but round and traditions develops and God is calling us into a future – he is always ahead of us and he is not asking us to turn back to the good old times – if they ever been so good at all. And there is indeed salvation possible outside the church. We don’t need amongst us more in-fights (we have more than enough), no internal crusades, no creeping back under the modder of old plush vestments.
Please church I belong to: most of us, of our members are living in the 21st century – and we have to overcome poverty and hunger and other obstacles; we have to contribute towards justice and peace and a healthy environment. We have to catch up with all scientific developments and the related moral teaching instead of inviting people to discuss celebration styles, Latin wording or if God’s good spirit is allowed outside the church to go and do his work.
I wish for the church to be relevant in this world, in this time for those living and struggling now.
I wish a church spelling out the unconditional love of God understandable – it is so much needed and wanted.
Therefore: Keep the door open but don’t unite under these circumstances. God has time and he does not mind diversity at all. We should follow his example…

Filed under: General, Networking, Reflection, Society and living environment, Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

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