My life-long faith journey has shown me many truths.  The largest truth I’ve come to know is, Christianity is supposed to give life, not take it away–Dr. David Gushee.  Dr. David Gushee is a world-renowned Christian Ethicist who has written a number of books about the dangers of Christian Nationalism, or what he calls Authoritarian Reactionary Christianity. Gushee also came to an LGBTQ+ affirming position and wrote a book called Changing My Mind.  His reason is, our faith is not... Read more

As I woke up this morning to hear the latest on the news, Trump is now selling Bibles.  Yes, it is ridiculous.  The day in and day out drama and con artistry from this man are something to behold. Let’s take a little walk down memory lane to review Trump’s unholy mix of religion and politics convoluted with the Holy Word of God and how he cons Christians of a certain demographic. The first time Trump had a publicized encounter... Read more

Finally, I found a contemporary cross I can live with considering how it’s been used for political gain in recent years. This is the Sacred Heart of Jesus which is common in Latino Catholic culture just like Our Lady of Guadalupe. With the heart being bigger than the cross, it reminds me that God’s love is meant for everyone regardless of their skin color, their beliefs, their background, walk of life, sexual orientation, gender identity, or abilities. Since the cross... Read more

Yes, you read correctly; I am now a pro-choice Catholic.  I was against abortion for many years, identified as pro-life, and served very briefly outside of work in progressive pro-life circles until I discovered what the traditional, yet too-powerful pro-life movement was and is still doing. I’m sure many will agree with me when I say that the traditional “pro-life” movement in very recent years has turned into a cruel, racist, misogynistic, oppressive movement of political power, not a movement... Read more

I know I can’t force it, but I can certainly ask it.  I think pastors who harm LGBTQ+ people with their potentially-deadly rhetoric and bad treatment of LGBTQ+ people, while also unconditionally support Trump after everything that has happened, without question, should consider retiring. At this point, these ministers who refuse to listen to the dangers they impose on LGBTQ+ people by condemning them from the pulpit and in other ways should probably consider retirement.  These ministers refuse to care... Read more

Not long ago, I viewed a commencement speech from Jay Pritzker who is the Governor of Illinois.  His entire message was how we identify intelligent people and how we identify those who are not.  The central theme was kindness versus cruelty.  According to Pritzker, those who are the most kind are typically the most intelligent where the “idiots” are typically the cruel people. As a person who has spent her life in Christian ministry, service, and the Church, I can... Read more

Pay careful attention to the news these days. It can be both beneficial and harmful to thinking and mental health, so please take it in-stride.  As more news stories surface, I hope and think that many more can see the increasing threat of Donald Trump, his rhetoric, and the increasing danger of Christian Nationalism. Although Liz Cheney does not talk about Christian Nationalism in this video, she sternly warns how dangerous Donald Trump could be in a second term and... Read more

I think I’ve possibly figured out what we are facing when it comes to our constitutional democracy and liberty, justice, and freedom for all Americans without exception.  It’s not red versus blue, Christian versus non-Christian, rich versus poor, or any other group versus another group.  It’s those individuals who deliberately support American democracy versus those individuals who deliberately do not support American democracy; however, there is a range of misunderstanding and non-deliberation of gray in-between.  Minus the gray, those who... Read more

Sitting in Mass yesterday evening, I squirmed periodically throughout the service in fear over my next encounter of right-winged backlash.  For a while now, I’ve been avoiding Masses with high numbers of extreme Trump supporters, so my husband and I attend the San Fernando Cathedral where it is mostly Latino, or I also attend nearby masses totally in Spanish.  I can rest assure that the hard-right (not all conservatives) will not attend services in Spanish because many of them (not... Read more

OK, I know it’s Ash Wednesday, and it’s time for me to move into a penitent state of mind.  Bashing Trump is a regular practice of mine; no one can deny it.  I tried to “get my Trump-bashing sins out of my system” before Lent, but I don’t think I’m able to fast the entire Lenten season without at least a few punches against Trump.  So I’ve decided to commit to an intermittent fasting of  Trump-bashing schedule. On Ash Wednesday... Read more