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Winds of Change: Women Challenge the Church
Book by Chittister, Joan
156 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1986
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About the author
Joan D. Chittister
205 books294 followersJoan Daugherty Chittister, O.S.B., is an American Benedictine nun, theologian, author, and speaker. She has served as Benedictine prioress and Benedictine federation president, president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and co-chair of the Global Peace Initiative of Women.
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July 18, 2024
A SERIES OF ESSAYS ABOUT "CURRENT" ISSUES IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Sister Joan D. Chittister is a Benedictine nun, author, and speaker; she writes a column for the National Catholic Reporter, and is the founder of "Benetvision". She has written many books, such as 'Job's Daughters: Women and Power,' 'Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy,' 'Called to Question: A Spiritual Memoir,' 'Joan Chittister: In My Own Words,' etc.
This 1986 book is a series of essays on various issues: e.g., the Future Church; Hiroshima; Ordination of Women; Religious Life, etc.
Early in the book, she admits that "I started out committed to the 'Church' and found myself committed only to the Christ." (Pg. 5) Later, she suggests that the question is not, 'What is a Christian?' but "Does being a Christian make any difference for good in a world staggering under the weight of inequity?" (Pg. 37) She deplores the fact that we teach religion in a world where women are left out of even the language in their own church; "But what is worse... people say God wants it that way." (Pg. 46)
She defends Catholic sisters who were blamed for "abandoning" the Catholic school system, as they "were simply doing what had always been done in the best tradition of religious life and in the immediate history of their own communities: they were bringing the Gospel to bear on the issues of the time...intent on removing the obstacles to justice as they were to doing charity." (Pg. 127)
Interesting, in a concluding chapter on Contemplative Prayer, she suggests that "If there is a sin in the Christian life, if it probably action... We do and do and do... The contemplative questions for people of action in our day are: Who will be and also do? How can we do and also be?" (Pg. 141)
Chittister's book is still of interest to those concerned with contemporary Catholic spirituality.
Sister Joan D. Chittister is a Benedictine nun, author, and speaker; she writes a column for the National Catholic Reporter, and is the founder of "Benetvision". She has written many books, such as 'Job's Daughters: Women and Power,' 'Following the Path: The Search for a Life of Passion, Purpose, and Joy,' 'Called to Question: A Spiritual Memoir,' 'Joan Chittister: In My Own Words,' etc.
This 1986 book is a series of essays on various issues: e.g., the Future Church; Hiroshima; Ordination of Women; Religious Life, etc.
Early in the book, she admits that "I started out committed to the 'Church' and found myself committed only to the Christ." (Pg. 5) Later, she suggests that the question is not, 'What is a Christian?' but "Does being a Christian make any difference for good in a world staggering under the weight of inequity?" (Pg. 37) She deplores the fact that we teach religion in a world where women are left out of even the language in their own church; "But what is worse... people say God wants it that way." (Pg. 46)
She defends Catholic sisters who were blamed for "abandoning" the Catholic school system, as they "were simply doing what had always been done in the best tradition of religious life and in the immediate history of their own communities: they were bringing the Gospel to bear on the issues of the time...intent on removing the obstacles to justice as they were to doing charity." (Pg. 127)
Interesting, in a concluding chapter on Contemplative Prayer, she suggests that "If there is a sin in the Christian life, if it probably action... We do and do and do... The contemplative questions for people of action in our day are: Who will be and also do? How can we do and also be?" (Pg. 141)
Chittister's book is still of interest to those concerned with contemporary Catholic spirituality.
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