Week of July 27, 2025

My Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,
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A few updates from the past week.  We released a video analyzing a work by Cardinal Avery Dulles over the weekend.  Cardinal Dulles was an American Roman Catholic Cardinal who sought to develop models holding diverse perspectives in tension with one another.  Dulles recognized how truth was not reducible to one theological perspective but diversity could illuminate the complexity of Christian belief.  This weekend is the first of three videos analyzing his “The Resilient Church” book.  This week, we also created three videos to be released at the end of the year on Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism as well as Theological Arrogance. 

Moreover, this week provided an opportunity to speak with Austin at Gospel Simplicity.  I came across his Youtube channel and highly recommend many of his videos.  While he comes from a different theological tradition, I see the love he has for God.  I think his videos can help Christians better understand a variety of perspectives in the theological tradition.  Sadly, we sometimes think that we need to create Christian resources from our own churches and theological traditions and engage in apologetics.  Austin shows us a way that we can collaborate with one another.  Part of our mission at Saint Oscar Romero is to provide resources for Christian discipleship and formation.  We do not have to do it alone but can partner with others.  I am proud that we can contribute towards Austin’s work at Gospel Simplicity.  Their videos are having a bit impact and our donation can help their work continue.

Sunday, July 27th is our first clergy gathering for The Old Catholic Ordinariate for Specialized Ministries - U.S.A.  Our newly formed jurisdiction is small with three active priests and Bishop Rob Lyons.  Despite our small size, we have big hopes and dreams for what God can do.  Please pray for the work of our meeting as we collaborate with one another.  We want to provide a jurisdiction that appeals to clergy in specialized ministries and to God’s people who might be underserved. 

I also run a website providing resources for those in or considering the Independent Sacramental Movement (ISM).   I wrote a blog article that illustrates what we in the moderate Old Catholic Movement can provide.  https://www.independentsacramental.org/post/exclusivity-and-the-ism-movement  My point is that while we seem to offer very little, perhaps what we do offer is needed in a world full of sectarian apologetics, ecclesial anxiety, indifference and theological arrogance. 
 
Please know that you are in my prayers.
Peace,
Rev. Ben