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Articles by Margaret O'Connor

Browse published articles attributed to Margaret O'Connor, with full-archive search.

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By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The Footprints of Our Life’s Journey

Every footstep we take is in the shadow of a surrounding presence. The footprints of our life’s journey are awash in the worlds of physical or spiritual presence. Are you ready to exit from your Internet highway of presence and begin cruising up the entrance ramp onto your spiritual highway of presence? We obviously will need a certain key to unlock our journey. Our mode of transportation moves between both our physical and spiritual realms.

Primary topic: Christianity

1,199 views5/5 (1)

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The Shadow of Women Priests in the Catholic Church

The film “Duel” was directed by Steven Spielberg when he was a graduate student. Within the first ten minutes of this film there was a definite shadow of foreboding presence with every turn, every hill and bend on a highway. We, the viewers, could almost feel the dread of being in our own vehicle, followed by such a treacherous specter of some type, casting an ominous presence of sheer terror.

Primary topic: Christianity

991 views5/5 (1)

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The Priest Sexual Abuse Scandal

No matter where you look today, the Catholic Church is center stage either on News Media or on the Newspaper banner. Provocative Headlines abound, Will the Catholic Church still be standing after this Priest Scandal? Where amongst the cover-up, lies and deceit, can any truth be found? Will the Catholic Church, need either to close some of their Schools or Church’s to have the money for the victims of this abuse? Where can the victims find Jesus’ Ministry being mirrored by this troubled Church Hierarchy?

Primary topic: Christianity

888 views5/5 (1)

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Women Priests in the Catholic Church

The very term, Women Priests, seems like such an unbelievable term, something that conceivably never could or ever be. This still today, remains the sentiment of far too many Catholics. To them, this simply is an irrefutable fact coming from Rome, there never were women priests. What exactly will it take for fellow members of the Laity, of the Catholic Church, to recognize the fact of previous women priests in their Church’s history? Preconceived Ideas

Primary topic: Christianity

1,121 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Catholic Women in Leadership

Church history, to some, might seem rather dry. But I guess that depends on what skeletons are discovered in the closets of our Church’s history. The sad fact is that the hierarchy does not see the question of women’s equality in our Church as an issue at all. They have completely closed the door to any religious sister or lay woman who receives a call to the priesthood. As their complicity continues, I want fellow Catholics to learn the actual truth of this matter for themselves.

Primary topic: Christianity

1,114 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Women’s Inequality in the Catholic Church Today

The Call to Action Organization, brings up a very sober fact, “Did you know that the exit rate of young adult Catholic women from Catholicism is greater tha Catholic men their age? In fact, millennial Catholic women are more likely than their male counterparts to report that they never attend mass. They’re deeply spiritual, but they yearn for equality and authenticity.” Rome’s Disregard for Women’s Rights of Equality.

Primary topic: Christianity

970 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The Radical Truth Is

We have all heard that phrase, “the truth will set you free.’ On the one hand, truth can provide us with new insight. For any woman in our Church, learning about a past religious women’s heritage was shocking, to say the least. That truth as well was bitterly painful, when coming to the realization that you actually had been lied to by the hierarchy of your own Church. Yet, that same truth contained the grief of loss.

Primary topic: Christianity

926 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Presence of Change (Catholic Church)

The factor of Change is ever-present in our lives, whether it presents itself immediately or as a subtlety over centuries of time through a tradition of some type. Let Us Leave it, With The Thought, That This Would Be Your Final Shift

Primary topic: Christianity

925 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The Church Doctrine Divide

Is it really a surprise, when the term Woman Priest, is brought up, there is a myriad of responses to that? If your own Church Hierarchy for centuries never told you about it, then you certainly will be taken back by such a unique disclosure. This is where the literal divide exists, betwee Catholics who have read about actual research done on this topic, versus Catholics who know absolutely nothing about this other perspective on the issue of women being priests again in our Church. A Literal Cascade of Emotions are Verbally Targeted at Picketers

Primary topic: Christianity

919 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Apathy with the Catholic Church is Evident

Have you ever wondered what lies beneath buildings, parking lots and parks? When an original wall of the Erie Canal was discovered in Buffalo, a state agency came up with an ingenious idea for its display. The first part entailed making a parking lot out of the area. But wait, if that wasn’t preposterous enough, the second part was a dilly as well. Display signs on top of the pretty blacktop would explain the rich history under the lot. How unique, paving over actual Erie Canal history!

Primary topic: Christianity

883 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Women are NOT Created Equal in the Eyes of the Catholic Church

In the Catholic Church, for any woman, the term Created Equal certainly does not have the same meaning as it does for any man. Women are Baptized into the Church, with the same so-called equality as men, yet nothing, in reality, could be further from the truth. They themselves, have a call to serve God, this so-called equality literally vanishes from plain sight. Deception by Catholic Church Hierarchy

Primary topic: Christianity

880 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The Time Tunnel of Early Church History

Today the TV Show “Timeless,” takes its main characters back to a specific moment in History. Being present in a particular Historical time frame affords one with a unique opportunity to meet a famous person. What would your question to Jesus Be? If you were so fortunate to happen upon the person of Jesus Christ, what might you be thinking? Being limited to only one question to ask Jesus, what question might you want to ask? In lieu of both the current Priest Abuse Scandal, along with the century’s old Women Priest Scandal, one question would hardly suffice here.

Primary topic: Christianity

879 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Mary Mother of God Different Visages

Even in lieu of factual evidence, when uncovering another side to Mary Mother of God, so many Catholics are reticent to embrace this new reality about Mother Mary. Definitely, Change would be the main part of this equation. Some might be in Fear of taking away or removing in some way, the Mariann image of Mary. This simply is the only way they know, and the way they’re Mothers and Grandmothers before them knew of honoring Mary Mother of God. Contrasting Mary’s two Sides from the Words of Two Different Popes

Primary topic: Christianity

877 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

An Inconvenient Truth (in the Catholic Church)

In our world, today, lies and deceptions seem to be the new norm now. What is the truth? What is real anymore? Where is meaningful, life-affirming truth to be found? For centuries now, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has successively prevented any women’s baptismal rite to become a priest in our Church, by keeping the truth out of sight, along with blatant centuries-old lying to the laity whether man or woman or women religious. This is a hierarchy completely entrenched in keeping any part of the word truth from ever seeing the light of day. Omission of the Truth

Primary topic: Christianity

876 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Church hierarchy and Women Priests

There is nothing like being out on a picket line to gauge the real pulse of a particular issue. While I am picketing for Women Priests, I certainly experience a myriad of emotional responses being directed right at me. For the most part, their emotions mirror anger, outrage and even disbelief at what I am doing through my picketing. I have been told I must literally be crazy to do such a thing. I’ve been told to stop talking so that I don’t look more stupid tha I already am.

Primary topic: Christianity

866 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

A bit of Catholic Church History… a true journey

“The fact that women were ordained for the first twelve hundred years of Christianity will surprise many people. It surprised me when I first discovered it.” – “The Hidden History of Women’s Ordination: Female Clergy in the Medieval West” by Gary Macy 1 Church history, to some, might seem rather dry. But I guess that depends on what skeletons are discovered in the closets of our Church’s history. This book lets you in on the centuries-old scandal of our hierarchy’s selective memory on women’s priestly roles in our Church.

Primary topic: Christianity

856 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The Latest Scandal in the Catholic Church

A quick Google search shows a listing of ten examples of scandals in the Catholic Church. Yes, scandal’s presence from the past to the very present day is all-pervasive. Most of us would probably associate the word secrecy to the topic of scandal, though it’s very meaning includes the word omission. Missing from the above listing is one more form of present-day scandal, the scandal of omission about women’s past history in our church as priests. Oh my the hierarchy of our church, is in such an appalling state of scandal.

Primary topic: Christianity

853 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Is Fear Keeping You from Speaking out against the Catholic Church?

As a Catholic, what are our rights in our Church today? For many this might seem like a very strange question to pose indeed. Knowing that for centuries let alone over family generations, it was a given, that you would never question your Church at all. Yet today, it is a question whose resonance is sorely missing, considering the ever changing landscape of our Church. It is a question which definitely deserves an answer. Abuse and Scandal

Primary topic: Christianity

851 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

A Priest Called Mary

Speaking of Mary and the Priesthood is certainly something which most Catholics have never ever heard let alone thought about. You probably will be very surprised in reading this intriguing fact of past Church history. In John Wijngaards Book, “The Ordination of Women in the Catholic Church”, he states, “… in the run-up to its dogmatic definition in 1854, Mary’s Immaculate Conception was often justified on the grounds of her being a priest. Tradition frequently applied Hebrews 7: 26 to her.

Primary topic: Christianity

836 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Silence is Golden or Is It When it Comes to Catholic Church Scandals?

Whether it is the current Priest Abuse Scandal, or the other centuries old Scandal, of the Hierarchy of the Catholic Church in omitting the truth of Women Priests History, in our early Church, they literally used Silence as their own vehicle to continue to perpetrate both cover up and lies to the Laity. The hierarchy under this veil of silence had free rein to do whatever they wanted in the absence of absolutely no type of checks and balances, in lieu of not being confronted or questioned. Who knew, that same silence enabled their habitual moving of priests offenders to other parishes.

Primary topic: Christianity

829 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Mary, What Would You Say? (Catholic Church)

The Other Side of Mary. There is nothing wrong with extolling the virtues of Mary. The problem comes with the hierarchy keying in on just this one side of Mary. By doing this, they are totally dismissing another side of Mary, which they do not want the Laity to be aware of. From the article, “In His Thoughts And In His Words: Francis On Women,” by Miriam Duignan, she uncovers this other side of Mary for us to see. She states, “Mary was recognized as the model for all Priesthood in the Early Church”. The Huge Chasm of Inequality for Women in our Church

Primary topic: Christianity

818 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Mary Mother of God Different Visages

Even in lieu of factual evidence, when uncovering another side to Mary Mother of God, so many Catholics are reticent to embrace this new reality about Mother Mary. Definitely, Change would be the main part of this equation. Some might be in Fear of taking away or removing in some way, the Mariann image of Mary. This simply is the only way they know, and the way they’re Mothers and Grandmothers before them knew of honoring Mary Mother of God. Contrasting Mary’s two Sides from the Words of Two Different Popes

Primary topic: Christianity

815 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Cover up, Deception and Lies of The Catholic Church

In Gary Macy’s book, The Hidden History of Women’s Ordination, he has a chapter entitled, “Defining Women Out of Ordination.” Basically Canon Lawyers felt that women weren’t actually ordained. Their blind eyes, completely ignored otherwise evidence in a book, containing a collection of Laws, mentioning both Women Deacons, and Women Presbyterae, (Priest). Seeing the Truth Yet Completely Ignoring It.

Primary topic: Christianity

803 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The Catholic Church’s Selective Memory versus Factual Truth

A Roman Document equating Women’s Ordination with Pedophilia is indeed a deplorable avenue to travel down. The Catholic Church’s, so-called selective memory about this issue continues on, while the history of women within our Church, was not some fabrication, or elaborate lie, but remains a simple plain fact of truth. You can even now judge for yourself by visually watching a CD entitled, “Women Leaders in Early Christianity CD and Presenter’s Guide.” Included are 43 Mosaics of early Christian women leaders from the first to the ninth centuries.” From Future Church – www.futurechurch.org

Primary topic: Christianity

802 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The Dreaded C Word... Change in the Catholic Church

Cancer indeed is that dreaded C Word. Yet, another C word is accompanied by its own sense of anxiety or displeasure. If ever there was a time, when this other C-word, called Change, is so universally present, now is that time. Change now abounds in our Lives at a Speed Unfamiliar to Us

Primary topic: Christianity

797 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Our Early Church’s Roots of Prejudicial History

In order to begin to truly understand the current women priest issue in our Church, we have to travel back into the early centuries of our Church’s History. Most laws can be very dry or boring yet, with Church law, pertaining to women’s rights, they contained blatant bigotry and prejudice which sadly make them stand out. What were the dynamics which formulated such illogical and twisted thinking to begin with? Who would actually benefit from bringing new Canon law into the issue of Women Priests in the Catholic Church? Did Roman law play a part in the make-up of our church law?

Primary topic: Christianity

793 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The Threads of Women’s Past Presence in our Church

A good number of Catholics have never heard about Women’s past history in our Church, so many new and perplexing questions come to mind. Unfortunately, there are no forthcoming answers from the Church hierarchy. The Pink Elephant in the Catholic Church

Primary topic: Christianity

775 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

Pope Francis’ Thought: On Women Becoming Priests

Whether Women Religious or Women Laity, we are baptized and confirmed just as our male counterparts are. But their lies the ever-present division line to Women’s Priesthood, with our equality ending abruptly there. The predetermining factor of progression lies with your particular gender type. Because, we are women, we are told by men, that we are not made in the image of God, so Priesthood is simply not an option for us. It is this Man-Made Patriarchal view of one’s gender as the determining factor for Women’s Equality Rights in our Church today.

Primary topic: Christianity

772 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

An Altar of Division in the Catholic Church

Toward the late 1950s, my mom had purchased a cardboard replica of a Church altar for my brother Paul. While he played the role of priest, my twin-sister Pat, and I acted as two parishioners attending mass. Of course, we both also wanted to play the role of priest, but I still remember my brother, Paul, telling us, “you are girls, you can’t be priests.” After Paul finished playing priest, Pat and I would resume that role. A milk-bone pitcher was perfect, it even resembled a chalice, and inside of it was Necco Wafers, which closely resembled the size and shape of the Communion hosts. Wow!

Primary topic: Christianity

763 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

What Are Your Thoughts On Women Priests?

When I was out picketing for Women Priests, I discovered that among Catholics, there seem to be three different views on Catholic women becoming Priests. One view is of complete denial. This simply can’t be so, because the Church said so. Another group could not seem to find any grain of relevance with this issue of women priests being connected to their own Faith life, in other words, why bother to get involved. And then there is this last group of Catholics who are fully aboard with this notion of women being priests.

Primary topic: Christianity

751 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

What Would Jesus Say?

Life is the opportunity to speak one great truth in the face of one great lie. It may seem that no one hears it. It may seem that nothing changes. But not to speak – that is the real sin.” — Joan Chittister, journal, January 23 The Hierarchy of our Church continues to Dismiss Jesus’ own Words

Primary topic: Christianity

724 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

What resides within the Shadows of Church History?

“The fact that women were ordained for the first twelve hundred years of Christianity will surprise many people. It surprised me when I first discovered it”. The Hidden History of Women’s Ordination, by Gary Macy. The Truth is in Plain Sight

Primary topic: Christianity

719 views

By Margaret O'ConnorRecently published1 topic

The truth of the Catholic Church revealed

Little did I think I would be called, “The Modern Day David,” but here I am, sharing huge secrets kept by the Catholic Church. Not the type of secrets most people have come to expect, but the secret about women being priests. As my life has unfolded, I realize God had a plan that has revealed itself day by day, book by book. In my book, Your Radical Truth, you are taken on a journey of the truth. Some would call it a history lesson while others would prefer to keep it conveniently hidden. Dare you learn the truth? One of my interviews about the secrets of the church

Primary topic: Christianity

670 views

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