Pope Benedict XVI subverts the Universalist message

Humanity's team gives a univeralist message at a time when Pope Benedict XVI claims exclusive path to God through the Roman Catholic Church. Video lasts 2:31.

All Saints Day, November 1, 2018

Today, November 1, is All Saints Day. It is a day celebrated in the Catholic church since the seventh century. It is one of those holy days which is celebrated here at UU A Way Of Life of Ministries where our mission is to santify the world by helping people become holy. There are many holy people who have gone before us and who are here  with us now.

People who have achieved holiness are people who have awakened and who have walked, or are walking, on the path of the spirit instead of the ego. These people radiate joy and peace and empathy for others.

Who are the holy people in your life you have learned from and benefited from knowing?

The holiest person I have known is Rev. Edward J. Lintz, the pastor at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church in Brockport, NY in the 60s and 70s.

People with holiness function with integrity. They are authentic, genuine, honest, fair, and nonjudgmental. These people give us love and hope and a sense of reassurance that there is goodness in the world.

The third principle of our Unitarian Univeralist covenant is the acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth which is something we aspire to do every day at UU A Way of Life ministries where our UU covenant based on our seven principles is not just pious words but a way of life. It is in daily living this life that we intend to become holy.

Responsibility for the formation of one's own conscience is a value that Roman Catholicism and Unitarian Universalism hold in common

From Commonweal Magazine, March 20, 2015, "Does Method Matter: Contraception and Catholic Identity" by Christopher C. Roberts, p.17

Catholics believe in the primacy of an “informed conscience,” but, in this case, I doubt the relevant information has been effectively conveyed

One normally has to seek out such information for oneself.

The ignorance of Catholics on this subject indicates a massive catechetical failure. 

As a Roman Catholic Unitarian Universalist I am gratified by the statements that Christoper Roberts makes in his article about the responsibility of Catholics to inform their own consciences. This teaching, so similar to the UU fourth principle, "the free and responsible search for truth and meaning," kept me in the RC fold much longer than I would have stayed had it not been for the Catholic support for the informed conscience. It is this respect for the responsible informing of one's own conscience that RC and UU have in common.

I, as damaged goods, being a former Roman Catholic, have found a home in Unitarian Universalism

Rev. Richard Trudeau in his book Universalism 101 describes how he dealt with this anger at his former church when he converted to Unitarian Universalism. He describes how he divided the psychological legacy of his former church into four piles:

1. The stuff that was toxic.
2. The stuff that was silly.
3. The stuff that made sense.
4. The stuff that didn't make sense but felt good.

As a former Roman Catholic, I was taught a lot of stuff that was toxic then and is toxic still. Pope Francis seems to be on the right track trying to fix some of this stuff, but I am sure he will not get it all done. The biggest things that are toxic is the church's stance on the sexual aspect of the human body especially reproductive health, and the church's patriarchial and misogynistic beliefs and practices.

Second there is a lot of stuff that is just silly like the virgin birth and Mary's bodily assumption into heaven.

Third, there is a lot that makes sense the foremost being that God is love and that the way to the kingdom is, as Jesus taught, "to love as I have loved."

Fourth, I do like the sacraments and liturgy. I miss that in Unitarian Universalism. Some of the ceremonies and  rituals are very moving, comforting, and uplifting. The Catholics know how to worship when they do it right. I miss communion at every service.

So, I want to thank Rev. Trudean. His four part sorting mechanism is helpful. It helps me separate the grain from the chaf. Rev. Trudeau writes, "...I have come to think that our congregations should be not so much 'decontamination chambers' where people wash away their former religions, but rather workshops where they confront them." p. 7

I think our UU congregations have to be far more than toxic waste dumps for people recovering from religious abuse;  they need to be a place to facilitate the process of recovery and spiritual growth. Our congregations need to be strength based and not focused on deficits and problems.

I call myself a Roman Catholic Unitarian Universalist and not a Unitarian Universalist Roman Catholic. The first works well because the UUs gladly welcome me, while the RCs would consider me a heretic and excommunicate me. I, as damaged goods, have found a loving and welcoming home as have many others. Praise be to God!