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3.0 AVERAGE
3.0 AVERAGE
When I started reading this, I was expecting it to be about a white man who is in love with his own wisdom making a big deal of himself while his followers pander to it. I knew (from experience) that something good is happening at St Mary's in exile, but I thought it was a case of one of those charismatic but controlling guru-types managing to take most of the credit for what is really the labour of many.
Reading the book I came to the conclusion that the title is quite misleading, because although the book looked at and discussed the role of Kennedy within the parish (and gave him credit for being the priest/leader who allowed the collaboration to happen, it also painted a complex picture of the labour, critique and imagination of many coming together and the bureaucratic/patriarchal church (and I was pleased how many authors of both genders acknowledged how much patriarchy is implicated at the shutting down of this faith work (or attempt to shut it down).
Kennedy himself in the book is painted in contradictory ways as both humble and arrogant, wise and stubborn, visionary and naive. He is clearly dearly loved by his parish but just as clearly not always worshipped, many of the authors say he is "flawed" either to demonstrate that this is not a cult, or because they truly have experienced him this way. He seems to be in many ways what I think a priest ought to be.
The writers in the book have many perspectives and not all agree with each other. Some are catholics or ex-catholics others find catholic thinking strange and even alienating. Some remain faithful to the church (and more or less critical of Kennedy and of St Mary's) and many are faithful to a bigger vision of God and frustrated that their beloved church tries to enforce a narrowing which limits their vocations to radical Christian life. The "radicalism" however is peaceful, reasoned, forgiving, generous and so much more humble and practical than my angry rantings toward the church. I was made to rethink my own faith and to critique my lack of forgiveness by this book.
It asks hard questions and calls out "the church" strongly! It does this for the most part with love, compassion and a spirit of reconciliation. The quality of the writing is by many different authors and very variable, in patches it is not wasy or enjoyable. Some of it is beautifully put and all of it is relevant and deeply considered. It ought to be read!
Reading the book I came to the conclusion that the title is quite misleading, because although the book looked at and discussed the role of Kennedy within the parish (and gave him credit for being the priest/leader who allowed the collaboration to happen, it also painted a complex picture of the labour, critique and imagination of many coming together and the bureaucratic/patriarchal church (and I was pleased how many authors of both genders acknowledged how much patriarchy is implicated at the shutting down of this faith work (or attempt to shut it down).
Kennedy himself in the book is painted in contradictory ways as both humble and arrogant, wise and stubborn, visionary and naive. He is clearly dearly loved by his parish but just as clearly not always worshipped, many of the authors say he is "flawed" either to demonstrate that this is not a cult, or because they truly have experienced him this way. He seems to be in many ways what I think a priest ought to be.
The writers in the book have many perspectives and not all agree with each other. Some are catholics or ex-catholics others find catholic thinking strange and even alienating. Some remain faithful to the church (and more or less critical of Kennedy and of St Mary's) and many are faithful to a bigger vision of God and frustrated that their beloved church tries to enforce a narrowing which limits their vocations to radical Christian life. The "radicalism" however is peaceful, reasoned, forgiving, generous and so much more humble and practical than my angry rantings toward the church. I was made to rethink my own faith and to critique my lack of forgiveness by this book.
It asks hard questions and calls out "the church" strongly! It does this for the most part with love, compassion and a spirit of reconciliation. The quality of the writing is by many different authors and very variable, in patches it is not wasy or enjoyable. Some of it is beautifully put and all of it is relevant and deeply considered. It ought to be read!