Written in Stone

I was raised a Catholic, but that's where it ends. I used to feel a little bit of reverence when talking about my past remembrance of church and God........that has been replaced by a deep shame. A church that would try to cover up molestation is unforgivable. Or is that the lesson? To me that is a corner stone of the Christian faith, forgiveness. Was it not Jesus who broke bread with the drunks? Was it not he who washed the feet of the untouchables? Forgiveness and charity were the defining actions of his ministry, is it too much to ask that we show these same qualities to the church? Forgive and forget......surly we were all taught that. Yet were does forgetting end and severing ties that is done out of self protection OK. Can some one who was abused still be friends with the abuser? Perhaps, yet common sense would advice against kissing the had that struck you.

What is even more disheartening is the Churches deft ear they turn to the followers. Its sad that they have forgotten that Jesus ministry was not stagnant, or set in stone. The power of his ministry were actions of compassion. In short he walked the walk and hardly talked the talk. Yet what I have observed is the Church is still stuck in the morals and values of the past.

One point that highlights my rage is view point on birth control. Did you know that the Church only puts its gold star of approval on was Natural Family Planning? As a nurse I wont even get into that..........granted it is a very natural method yet it does not take in count to the countless women who have irregular menstrual cycles and you must be married to participate it........unless of course you trust your boyfriend to not give you an STD. Also I think it is so limiting that the Church is against sex out side of marriage. Think about how much you have learned about yourself through your adult sexual relationships....I like to think of theme as "warm up's" for marriage. Yet that is why I am a heretic.

Another thing is the reverence that churches believers have in the leaders. I understand in looking up to those who have more education to you, or more experience than you -- however I don't know if you should hand over your relationship to God over to someone else. I know my relationship or understanding of God has been deeply enriched through studying and experiencing other religions out side of Christianity.

oh well....enough of this..........



Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.