Posted by Diana on May 22, 19100 at 05:20:53:
In Reply to: L'affair de Mello posted by Phil on October 28, 1998 at 08:27:07:
: What do you think?
Although it's been several years since anyone
has responded to this topic, I feel the need
to speak up in defense of Tony's work.
I don't think an accurate assessment of Tony or his work can be made simply by listening to his tapes or reading his books. I attended several
of his workshops and there was an entire gestalt
there that tends to defy traditional analysis.
I heard him laughingly refer to himself as a "wiley" Jesuit and go to great efforts to make sure that portions of his workshops were not audio or video taped. Doing either would have misrepresented the entire picture of what was happening.
I think Tony's work was and still remains vital
to breaking the conceptions we, as humans, have
built up. I've heard Edwina Gately say that
we put God's banquet in a box. I think Tony
was saying the same thing in a very different way.
God stretches us and our concepts. How else could we grow?
I loved Tony's workshops because he urged us to read philosophers like Krishnamurti and Bertrand Russell. He specifically pointed out books like
Russell's work, "Why I Am Not a Christian." If perfect love casts aside fear, then, Tony exhibited that perfect love. No one at Tony's
workshops had to guard their tongues in fear of being cast out or put aside in disfavor.
I can't give much credence to "spiritual"
persons who don't know how to laugh or make light of themselves or their belief systems. Tony's approach concentrated on things that bring us together, not things that divide us. Laughter,
joy, sharing, and inclusivity bring us together.
Tony was a master in these arenas.
I think Jesus would have loved being at a banquet
with Tony. He certainly wouldn't have been bored
and he probably would have enjoyed a lot of laughs. I also think he would have loved reading
his books.
As for the current Vatican response to Tony's work, I would say it falls in line with most
of the other things I've heard them say.
I don't think it's possible to really love people when we get so caught up in deciding issues of right/wrong about them. No one knows what is in another person's heart. That's for God alone to decide. I think the Vatican would do best by focusing its attention on things that bring us together, not distinctions that divide.
Tony was a breath of fresh air for the Church.
I feel graced by having participated in his workshops. I'm hoping that one day in the future
he will be cannonized a saint.....a saint of laughter, joy, and fun.
Sincerely,
Diana