Megan Sweas

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Megan Sweas

Fr. John Dear, Dismissed from Jesuits

Published by Religion Dispatches, March 5, 2014

“This week, with a heavy heart, I am officially leaving the Jesuits after 32 years.” This was how Fr. John Dear announced his dismissal from the Jesuit order in his NCR column in January—a “divorce” (as Joshua McElwee put it that same week) that seemed to many to have been inevitable, if deeply regrettable. Dear, a widely respected peace activist, has been arrested over 75 times for civil disobedience, but it was his “obstinate disobedience” toward the directives of his Jesuit superiors that resulted in his dismissal.

He talks here with RD about his commitment to radical nonviolence, the future of the Church—and closes by offering some strong words to the spiritual-but-not-religious cohort.

MS: You recently published The Nonviolent Life, and you describe it as the culmination of your life’s work. What is a nonviolent life and why is it so important?

JD: Nonviolence is the center of Christianity and all world religions. It is the most needed thing in the world. Mahatma Gandhi insisted it is possible, and Martin Luther King, Jr. said that if we don’t do it, we will destroy ourselves. …

Caste off: The plight of Christian Dalits in India

Published by U.S. Catholic, March 2013

Franklin Caesar Thomas and R. L. Francis both attend Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi. Though the two lay activists with similar backgrounds may be polite on Sundays, they don’t like each other.

Like 70 percent of Catholics in India, Thomas and Francis are Dalits—untouchables. For thousands of years, Indian society has been structured by caste, divided into four main groups and thousands of sub-groups. A family’s caste still largely determines one’s social standing and opportunities, and Dalits fall at the bottom. Continue reading “Caste off: The plight of Christian Dalits in India” →

March 18, 2013 0

Are Priests Obsolete? PW Talks with Garry Wills

Q&A published by Publishers Weekly, March 12, 2013

Historian Garry Wills’ latest book, Why Priests? A Failed Tradition (Viking), came out with impeccable timing, on February 12—a day after Pope Benedict announced his resignation. Once a Jesuit seminarian, the prolific scholar now argues that “the priestly monopoly on grace is a distortion,” with little historical or scriptural basis.

Why take on the priesthood, and why now?

I’ve been studying St. Augustine all my life, but more intensely recently. His view of the Eucharist made me change my attitude toward the Mass, because he denied that the bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Jesus. The body of Jesus, he said, is the body of believers. …

For Hollywood couple, “The Bible” miniseries is a ‘labor of love’

Published by The Washington Post, Charlotte Observer, Religion News Service,

LOS ANGELES — Before actress Roma Downey met her husband, her “Touched by an Angel” co-star Della Reese had a bit of advice.

“Baby, you need to pray that God will choose a partner for you,” Downey recalled Reese telling her. “Maybe in the past you didn’t choose so well and you have to let God choose for you. And let your prayer be that you will know him when he gets here.”

So when Downey first spotted Emmy Award-winning producer Mark Burnett in a salon — he was getting a hair cut, she was getting a pedicure — it was a bit more than love at first sight.

“When I met Mark, I had an inner-knowing,” Downey said. “There have been times since then that I can’t help but wonder, if it were for such a time, as this, that we met.”

As they approach their sixth wedding anniversary, the Hollywood heavyweights are sharing their faith with the world in a 10-hour docudrama, “The Bible,” which will air on the History Channel on Sunday nights, starting March 3 through Easter. …

Los Angeles parishioners view documents’ release, Mahony suspension with anger, sadness

Published by National Catholic Reporter, February 4, 2012

Donald Kohles stood in protest outside the Los Angeles Cathedral Sunday. He said his nephew committed suicide after being abused by a priest in the 1980s.

LOS ANGELES — In parishes across the Los Angeles archdiocese Sunday, priests read a letter from Archbishop Jose Gomez about the court-ordered release of documents from clergy sex abuse cases and the relieving of his predecessor, Cardinal Roger Mahony, of public duties in the archdiocese for his role.

“Reading these files, reflecting on the wounds that were caused, has been the saddest experience I’ve had since becoming your archbishop in 2011,” Gomez said in the letter, made public last week.

Many Mass-goers declined to talk about the scandal, but their stoicism belied a mix of emotions among Los Angeles Catholics — anger, sadness, relief and vindication. …

National Catholic Reporter Endorses Women’s Ordination

Published by Religion Dispatches, December 6, 2012

With controversial issues, Catholic journalists must walk a fine line between not contradicting Church doctrine and raising issues that real people struggle with. But there is one issue that we cannot touch: women’s ordination. Continue reading “National Catholic Reporter Endorses Women’s Ordination” →

December 7, 2012 0

Episcopalians under fire for hosting Muslim convention

Published by The Washington Post, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Christian Century, Religion News Service, December 6, 2012

Salam Al-Marayati, president of MPAC, addresses the negative response to his organization's convention. — Salam Al-Marayati, president of MPAC, talks to the press about the negative response to his organization’s convention.

PASADENA, Calif. (RNS) Leaders of a flagship progressive Episcopal church are defending themselves against charges of sympathy for terrorists in their decision to host the annual Muslim Public Affairs Council convention.

All Saints Church has received dozens of emails accusing it of condoning terrorism for hosting MPAC’s 12th annual convention on Dec. 15, the first held in a Christian church. …

Read more at WashingtonPost.com

December 6, 2012 0

Alumna Brings Texas High Schoolers to USC – Photography

Photography published by USC Student Affairs, November 15, 2012

High school students tour the University of Southern California all the time, but for many of the San Antonio teens on campus last week, it was their first time out of Texas. Alex Rios, a USC alumna who was placed at Edison High School in San Antonio through Teach For America, brought 20 students to USC to help them see what their future could look like.

I accompanied them on a campus tour and for a presentation from former and current USC athletes, including ex-NFLer Thomas R. Williams. My photo accompanied USC Student Affairs’ story on the visit. Here’s a slideshow of the photos: