Easter blessings to you all this beautiful April day.<\/p>\n
Not long after Pope Francis was selected by his fellow Cardinals, I saw a post from an acquaintance on Facebook. He posed the question, \u201cI wonder what this Pope\u2019s stance on abortion will be?\u201d I was taken aback by his supposed lack of respect. Knowing him, I knew his angle. I don\u2019t usually indulge in religious debates but felt compelled to respond. I simply typed, \u201cHe promotes the sanctity and sacredness of Life.\u201d The end. Well if that didn\u2019t explode a chain reaction of nasty, hateful retorts thrown at me about the Church, her neglect, how she is a cult, a lie, evil, etc. Wow. From there other people joined rebutting and refuting the attackers and a four-day conversation (or match I should say) about Catholicism and religious intolerance ensued. Keep in mind that this all stemmed from my ONE comment. I didn\u2019t feel compelled to participate in this debate (not to mention that I did not know anyone commenting except the original poster), but I was fascinated to keep reading.<\/p>\n
On one hand, the debate was challenging, but on the other, so terribly sad. The amount of hatred and disrespect displayed was alarming. I wondered why some people felt such bitterness about God, about religion, or about someone else\u2019s belief that is different from their own. I also thought about our campus here at Lynchburg College and how we embody an open and respectful presence. There exists an inclusivity that welcomes all beliefs without judgment. One simply needs to walk into the Spiritual Life Center to see this in action. All are welcome. From Protestant, to Jewish, to Catholic, to Muslim and beyond, all are welcome. We even have a group called \u201cSpiritual But Not Religious.\u201d Cool!<\/p>\n
I am not saying that our respective faiths are not meaningful or that we water them down by this openness; I am simply saying there is room for exploration, questions, participation, and respect for all faith traditions or lack thereof. I know Catholic students who participate with Baptists in Bible studies, Catholic students who meditate with the Buddhist group, Protestants who come to Mass, non-Jewish students who find a home with Hillel, etc. Rather than get upset that students explore other traditions, we should embrace their desire to explore and seek truth and wisdom. Isn\u2019t that what these college years are all about? This past Holy week was a wonderful example of this. We had a Tenebrae service offered by the Canterbury Club, and Ecumenical Holy Thursday Service, Stations of the Cross on Good Friday led by the Catholic Community, a Seder Supper sponsored by Hillel, and Easter Sunrise Service led by our Chaplain and a Catholic Easter Mass. Well done, Lynchburg College! Maybe I should send this article and post it on my friend\u2019s Facebook! Then again, I think I\u2019ll just pray this prayer below and hope for peace and understanding.<\/p>\n
By Kaky Bowden
\nCatholic Campus Minister<\/p>\n
Renew our lives we pray, for a life of peaceful coexistence in our belief variety; for a life of goodness, enriched with a widening sense of <\/em>community; of blessing, of sustenance, of health; marked by piety and fear of sin, as we recognize the image of God in each individual; free from shame and reproach, as we renew our efforts to guard our tongues and thoughts; of abundance with honor; filled with love of your word, in all its facets and reverence for You, in which the worthy desires of our hearts will be fulfilled for good.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Prayer from Clergy Beyond Borders<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Easter blessings to you all this beautiful April day. Not long after Pope Francis was selected by his fellow Cardinals, I saw a post from an acquaintance on Facebook. He posed the question, \u201cI wonder what this Pope\u2019s stance on …<\/p>\n