Opposition to Elizabeth Johnson advertisement

It was disturbing to see the ad in The Catholic Spirit [Sept. 22, page 7] promoting Elizabeth Johnson and her desire to “loosen the shackles of patriarchal structures … .” The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ, a man, and given the Holy Spirit to guide and protect Her from error. Why would The Catholic Spirit, our local Archdiocesan CATHOLIC newspaper, promote Ms. Johnson, who has been told repeatedly by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that the “language she uses does not adequately express the faith of the Church.” Is it asking too much that The Catholic Spirit reaffirm and support the Catholic Church?

• http://www.usccb.org/news/2011/11-205e.cfm
• http://www.usccb.org/about/doctrine/publications/upload/statement-quest-for-the-living-god-2011-03-24.pdf

Bridget Kluesner
Divine Mercy, Faribault

Dear Catholic Spirit editors: Are you serious? Running an ad in The Catholic Spirit promoting Elizabeth Johnson? Isn’t she a former nun who has huge problems with the traditional teachings of the Church? What could she possibly have to offer Catholics other than more division and dissension? Ms. Johnson (or is it Sister) has been told by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that the “language she uses does not adequately express the faith of the Church” (http://www.usccb.org/news/2011/11-205e.cfm). Why is The Catholic Spirit supporting this woman?

Rosie Huray
St. John the Baptist, New Brighton

I was reading the [Sept. 22] issue of The Catholic Spirit and noted the advertisement on page 7 to purchase tickets to hear Elizabeth Johnson speak. It is sponsored by St. Catherine University and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Both of these entities are not exactly known for their solid Catholic teachings or leanings, regardless of their ties to the name “Catholic.”

Elizabeth Johnson is a religious [sister] whose book, “The Quest for the Living God,” received a condemnation by the Committee on Doctrine of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This was in 2011. She is staunchly against the patriarchal hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church. She is a proponent of women priests and of feminizing the Bible.

It greatly saddens me that you would be featuring a large ad promoting her. The ad itself says, ‘Come hear women theologians who seek to loosen the shackles of patriarchal structures and liberate all persons and creation with fresh theological perspectives on Christology.”

I am not sure if this accidentally slipped by someone or if [was] purposely added to this paper.  Promoting this type of thing is against the Church, and I find it greatly offensive.

Deb Brunsberg
St. Lawrence/Newman Center in Minneapolis

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