This was a question recently posed to me a by a strong, young, spirited Burmese woman, whom I know and admire. I was quite taken aback, and not just because of the nature of the topic.
She was not talking to me lightly as she was talking about her country, her people, her family, all of whom she loves and for whom she has a deep and sincere concern. She hates seeing what is happening in her country. She was talking to me as Fr John, someone she knows and respects.
I reflected that in my over 34 years as a priest, I have never had a woman ask me about contraception and now I have a woman ask me about using a gun. Over the years, my experience has changed and deepened my understanding of the world, as it has changed and deepened my understanding of Church.
She was not asking me because I know about guns but because she trusts Fr John. Knowing her strength and goodness, her question may be from left field but, like asking about contraception, if that ever happens, it shows an equal level of trust in the Church through healthy relating with one of its ministers.
I must say that I was not expecting such a question ever coming directly to me. I have no expertise on the topic and seek none. Non-violence is the way to go. So my thinking took me somewhere else - to Church today and my role in it. I asked myself, is this a sign of the times? By being with people in their struggles and vulnerabilities, you are faced with not just the usual demands and questions, but cutting edge challenges and dilemmas faced by them, meeting them where they are. .
You may be wondering what was my response. Well, my response is not the issue. What this gave me was an insight into a rapidly changing world and how we as Church best stand as relevant in its midst. Is it not a tremendous human act for a human being to ask us as Church the difficult questions, no matter what that question may be?
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