About Ross Lonergan
Born and raised Catholic, and already a refugee from the seminary at age 13, Ross left the Church in his late teens, returning at the age of 55 with half a lifetime of experiences, attitudes, and beliefs as well as a sexual orientation that did not quite jive with the “teachings of the Church.” The journey back to Catholicism has become a full-time enterprise involving a rather monastic existence of reading books and articles on a wide range of Catholic topics, writing the (unproduced) pilot for a TV series about a Catholic parish, and as of December 2009, blogging on faith, the priesthood, and other “issues Catholic.” In his study, writing, and prayer Ross seeks a balance between being who he really is and finding a place in a Church and parish community that he deeply loves.
Ross has a Master’s degree in contemporary Chinese literature from UBC. He worked for many years in international education (including teaching ESL), taught in the Pacific Rim Program at Langara College, and has lived and traveled extensively in East Asia.
Ross blogs at Confessions of a Liturgy Queen (http://confessionsqueen.blogspot.com)
Wrestling With Faith: Embracing the Tension Between Head and Heart
Ross Lonergan reflects on the tension between faith and reason in the modern age.
Be My Valentine, or Not
“Two recent ‘events’ have stirred some romantic longings that I thought I had left behind as unnecessary baggage on my journey,” writes Ross Lonergan in his Valentine’s Day post.
“You’re Not So Ugly” – My Korean Homestay Students
As a “homestay father” Ross Lonergan has been hosting international students in his home since 1993. In this article he shares some memories of a special group of students who lived with him in the 1990s.
The Bible Tells Me So. Oh Really? Part 2
Last week we featured “The Bible Tells Me So. Oh Really? Part 1 This week, Ross Lonergan looks future at how the Church’s treatment of gay people can contribute to depression, family break-ups and even suicide.
The Bible Tells Me So. Oh, Really? Part 1
In light of the recent focus on the pain often suffered by gay teenagers as a result of bullying and harassment or lack of acceptance by family, church, or community, Ross Lonergan suggests taking a look at a 2007 documentary about Christian parents and their gay children.
Open the Doors and See All the People: Part Two
Criticism of the Catholic Church following recent scandals and controversies, while justified, has generally been directed at the whole Church. Ross Lonergan argues that the real Church is much more than — and surprisingly different from — the robes and Roman collars that have been attracting media attention.
Open the Doors and See All the People: Part I
Criticism of the Catholic Church following recent scandals and controversies, while justified, has generally been directed at the whole Church. Ross Lonergan argues that the real Church is much more than — and surprisingly different from — the robes and Roman collars that have been attracting media attention.
The Common Sense of Mercy
The recent case of a nun being excommunicated for approving an abortion that saved the life of a mother of four only serves to (sadly) underscore the distance from the common-sense virtues of mercy and charity the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has traveled.
Ritual as Myth Enacted: “You Have to Hear its Song”
With the unwitting help of a friend and of Joseph Campbell, Ross Lonergan hasgained insight into why he is attracted to and moved by Catholic ritual, especially the ritual of the Mass, despite his recent decision to terminate his active involvement in the Roman Catholic Church.
The Jesuit and the Homies: It’s All about Kinship
The ongoing sexual abuse crisis has cast a shadow over the Catholic priesthood and has many wondering what the clerical culture of the Church has to do with the life and mission of Jesus of Nazareth. Father Greg Boyle and his work with gang members in Los Angeles remind us of how the ministry of a priest can mirror that of the carpenter’s son.
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