As Christmas Nears: Leonardo Boff on Christmas as Celebration of Inclusive Commensality

I've blogged a number of times here in the past (e.g., here, here, here, here, and here) about how scripture scholars are strongly convinced that the historical Jesus practiced open commensality, and that his practice of inclusive table fellowship with sinners, outcasts, women, those shoved from the table of the righteous, was integral to his proclamation of the coming reign of God. And was part of what got him crucified, since the practice of open table fellowship with . . . everyone . . . was considered a revolutionary attack on the very foundations of the society in which he was engaged in ministry . . . .

Quote for Day: Leonardo Boff on Link Between Christ and Krishna, Charisma and Caritas — Questions Worth Asking

Leonardo Boff, at his blog site several days ago:

More (and Final Installment) from Augustine Thompson's Biography of Francis of Assisi on Francis and Gender

As I've said previously, I'm intrigued by the number of times Augustine Thompson's new biography of Francis of Assisi shows Francis contravening what are now regarded as "traditional" gender lines inscribed in stone by natural law. I think it's worth noting these instances because the current pope also contravened longstanding tradition to choose the name Francis, a name that has, as theologians Matthew Fox and Leonardo Boff insist, a certain resonance for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Religion, Politics, Politics, Religion from Russia and Germany to Minnesota, Ohio, and Over to Rome

Rachel: "It may be the dying gasps of a group that calls itself 'national': that's the N- in NomNomNom. But lately, they have to go to Russia to try get any of their ideas put into law."

Leonardo Boff on the Latin American Context of Francis's Papal Style, and the Shift from Doctrine and Discipline to Human Search and Human Inquiry

Another essay by theologian Leonardo Boff, which, to my way of thinking, glosses the analysis of his reflection on Pope Francis's dialogue with Italian intellectual (and non-believer) Eugenio Scalfari, about which I blogged yesterday. Here, Boff talks about how the third world has come to the Vatican with Francis (the English translation of this Boff essay is by Melina Alfaro). Boff maintains that many of those perplexed by style that the new pope brings to the papacy have not given sufficient attention to the fact that Francis "comes from a different manner of being Church, which has matured in the Third World."

Leonardo Boff Comments on Pope Francis's Latest Interview: Believer and Non-Believer Walking the Path to Truth Together, Implications for the Future of the Church

I like very much liberation theologian Leonardo Boff's reflection on Pope Francis's recent interview with Italian thinker and non-believer Eugenio Scalfari. Bettina Gold-Hartnack has translated it into German at Boff's website. I don't trust my faltering German enough to provide an English translation for readers, though I can read the German text--sort of, with the aid of a dictionary to remind me of the meaning of words I once knew but have long since forgotten.

Another Liberation Theologian Critiques New Papal Encyclical on Faith: Juan Jose Tamayo on Disappointment of Lumen Fidei

Juan Jose Tamayo

I was so far behind with responding to comments to postings here, that I've spent my normal blogging time this morning doing just that. So I don't have a lot prepared to say today in the form of a new posting. I do, however, want to take note of Juan Jose Tamayo's response to Pope Francis's (and Benedict's) encyclical on faith, Lumen fidei. At her Iglesia Descalza site, Rebel Girl offers an English translation of the original Spanish text at Redes Cristianas.

Leonardo Boff on Lumen Fidei, Benedict (and Francis's) Encyclical on Faith: "Without Love, Truth Is Insufficient for Salvation"

Leonardo Boff

At his blog site, theologian Leonardo Boff recently offered a response to the encyclical of Popes Benedict and Francis on the virtue of faith, Lumen fidei. After I read Boff's valuable commentary, I also discovered that early in July, Rebel Girl had provided an outstanding translation of the Spanish version of Boff's response at her Iglesia Descalza site. In what follows, I'll excerpt some key passages of Boff's important commentary, with brief notes.

Colman McCarthy to Disaffected and Alienated Catholics: Should We Come Back Under Francis?

At National Catholic Reporter, Colman McCarthy asks whether Catholics blown out of the church in recent decades by "a strong tailwind of reasons" should return now that Francis is pope:

Friends of Pope Francis: The Poor Will "Convert Him Completely," the Church Will Have a Different Face

One of the unexpected gifts of the new pope to the church is this: after having been under a shadow during the last two papacies, after having been attacked and suppressed, the liberation theology movement is now front and center in Catholic conversations. I find this resurrection of a movement many Catholics (and powerful political and economic interest groups outside the church) had believed safely dead and buried something like a miracle.

Leonardo Boff and Robert McClory on Pope Francis as Franciscan Reformer and Critic of Clericalism

More from Leonardo Boff on the parallels between Pope Francis and Francis of Assisi, at Boff's blog site: Boff thinks that, to understand what Pope Francis is about, it's critically important to recall that Francis of Assisi experienced a calling to rebuild a church that was in shambles during his lifetime. And so,

Change Begins with the Feet and Not the Head: Theologians Responding to Pope Francis

Two complementary statements this morning from theologians reflecting on the significance of the new papal style:

Leonardo Boff on New Pope: "Francis Isn't a Name, It's a Plan for a Church"

At his website now, Leonardo Boff has an important theological statement about Pope Francis and his call to rebuild the church, which Rebel Girl has helpfully translated at her Iglesia Descalza site. Boff notes that he had predicted that the new pope would be called Francis, because the Catholic church today stands in imperative need of rebuilding, as it did when Francis of Assisi heard the Lord tell him, "Francis, go and rebuild my church." Boff thinks that the new pope deliberately chose the name Francis because he recognizes that the church is in ruins now due to scandals and demoralization that have eroded the church's most precious possession: its moral voice and moral credibility.

Papal Conclave and Transition in Papacy: A Collection of Statements and Resources

I think I heard somewhere that something is going on in Rome lately. Anybody else hear those rumors? I should probably look into them.

The Cardinals Close the Conclave Doors and the Holy Spirit Flits Away?

I love Ken Briggs's sharp, sly observation about the silliness of what most of the cardinals being interviewed lately about the papal conclave are saying: he notes that the Holy Spirit, who's supposedly in charge of the whole shindig, can't even get a press conference. And then he observes,

Leonardo Boff on Our Current Crisis: Theological Framework for Thinking about Benedict's Resignation

In light of the announcement of the pope's resignation, it's interesting to me to read Leonardo Boff's latest weekly theological reflection, as translated by Rebel Girl and offered on her wonderful website Iglesia Descalza. The essay is entitled "The Legacy of the Current Crisis: Reviewing and Reinventing Concepts."

Advent Hope, Dystopian Futures, Michigan Attack on Labor and the Supremes' Choice to Hear Prop 8 Case

Part of the message of Advent--a large part--is that the future is never a foregone conclusion.  It depends on divine initiative and invitation.

Leonardo Boff on Paths: Finding Them, Walking Together as "Solidarians in the Same Destiny"

An Advent reflection I find beautiful and challenging--Leonardo Boff on paths, on finding and putting our feet into them:

Megastorm Devastation and Climate Change: A Selection of Articles for Background Reading

It hasn't been easy the last two days to think about much of anything other than the megastorm threatening the inhabitants of the northeastern U.S. and Canada.  I wonder, in particular, about the effects of this storm on the least among us, the homeless above all.  I'm not seeing much news coverage of that topic.  And, of course, I'm intently concerned about the effects of Sandy on all the inhabitants of the densely populated areas affected.  I have a niece in Manhattan, and good friends who are regular readers of and contributors to this blog in the region devastated by the storm.

Remembering Vatican II, Remembering Jesus of Nazareth: James Carroll and Leonardo Boff

Former priest James Carroll commemorates the 50th anniversary of the last ecumenical council of the Catholic church, Vatican II, by concluding that the spiritual and ecclesial revolution mandated by the council is now "lost."  Pope John Paul II instituted a "counter-revolution" designed to reassert clerical power over the people of God and to ignore lay conscience, and the papacy of Benedict is "capping" that counter-revolution, Carroll proposes.