Next, I would like to briefly discuss all those faithful practicing Catholics who have been advocating changes in the church for years -- changes such as allowing women priests, allowing married priests, dropping the requirement of celibacy for diocesan priests, dropping the official church position against masturbation, dropping the official church position against pre-marital sex, dropping the official church position against artificial contraception, dropping the official church opposition to legalized abortion in the first trimester, allowing remarriage after divorce without a formal church annulment, dropping the official church position against same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage. These changes are not likely to occur in the near future.
So I would advise practicing Catholics who have hoped to see one or more of these changes take place not to desire to see these changes take place so intensely that they make themselves unhappy. To be sure, they might prefer to see the church make these changes. But in the meantime, they should avoid making themselves unhappy because these changes are not likely to be made in the near future.
But the reign of God (also known as the kingdom of God) that the historical Jesus said has come, has come. That's the good news. The reign of God is still available today, regardless of what the Roman Catholic Church does or does not teach in its official doctrines. Moreover, all people in the world today have an equal opportunity to experience the reign of God in their lives.
In effect, the late Anthony de Mello, S.J. (1931-1987), a clinical psychologist and spiritual director in India, has outlined how to seek the reign of God (also known as the kingdom of God) today in his new posthumously published book REDISCOVERING LIFE: AWAKEN TO REALITY (2012). As a clinical psychologist, he was deeply influenced by Albert Ellis's approach to rational-emotive therapy, which permeates this new book. As a Jesuit priest, Fr. de Mello was deeply influenced by Ignatian spirituality, the approach to spirituality named after the founder of the Jesuit order, Ignatius Loyola. Ignatian spirituality emphasizes detachment. And so does Buddhism, another influence on Fr. de Mello's thought. Today there are probably more Buddhists around the world who have experienced the reign of God that the historical Jesus said has come than there are Christians.
In conclusion, people who are tired of hearing the views of Pope Benedict and the Catholic bishops should consider reading Margaret Farley's JUST LOVE and Anthony de Mello's REDISCOVERING LIFE.
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