Fr. Stravinskas Responds to a NCR Op Piece by Mary Hunt

CWR Dispatch: Confusion Twice Confounded by Peter M.J. Stravinskas
Feminist theologian Mary Hunt’s recent essay in the National Catholic Reporter is all at once hateful, blasphemous, and sacrilegious.

NCR: Catholic progress in extremis by Mary E. Hunt

One important change is that no male priest is in sight, and no one seems to miss them. Whether they will ever be called again is an open question. I think I know the answer in many cases. This is change, progress. If and when it becomes more widespread, the whole community can move beyond the gender of sacramental leaders to the focus on pastoral needs.

A wholesale rethinking of Eucharist is all that prevents these groups, and many other local faith communities, from engaging in the customary celebration of Communion. The fact of being in extremis makes this conversation urgent as no one should be denied the Eucharist, especially at Easter. Just as teachers have learned to instruct online in short order, so too, can Catholics speed up their theological learning curve. As my undergraduate theology professor Jesuit Fr. Tad Guzie emphasized 50 years ago, "A Eucharist without a priest is a Eucharist without a priest."

If they believe that ordained ministers of the Church are not necessary for the Eucharist, they are free to create their own communities and religion. Just don't pretend to be Catholic, and those who are orthodox will not recognize them as such.

A good dose of humility is required for many.

When is the bishop of Kansas City going to lay sanctions on those who promote or write heresy for NCR?