The Rochester group [of VOTF], however, was met with some concern as they found it hard to believe my account as it unfolded before them. I feel that some people have a hard time with the truths around us, not only the sexual abuse by priests, but all bad things. I call it chosen ignorance. This modified form of ignorance is found in people who, if confronted with certain truths realize that they have to accept them and thereby acknowledge evil, and that scares them. Opening up and letting the truth in might knock them off their perceived center. It is too hard, period."(VOTF - Voice of the Faithful - a Catholic group that wants to change the Church, keep the faith.)
In addition to the transience of their members, churches themselves face a crisis of hypermobility. Many churches have put down only shallow roots in their neighborhood, or no roots at all. We__e all heard the question, __f our church suddenly moved to a new location fifteen miles away, would anyone in our neighborhood notice we were gone?_ But what if we asked ourselves this question: __f our church was magically lifted off the ground and moved to a location fifteen miles away, would we notice the difference?_ Western churches have become so disentangled from their own places that this question could be a cold, hard look in the mirror for many faith communities.
Slow Church: Cultivating Community in the Patient Way of Jesus
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In addition to the transience of their members, churches themselves face a crisis of hypermobility. Many churches have put down only shallow roots in their neighborhood, or no roots at all. We__e all heard the question, __f our church suddenly moved to a new location fifteen miles away, would anyone in our neighborhood notice we were gone?_ But what if we asked ourselves this question: __f our church was magically lifted off the ground and moved to a location fifteen miles away, would we notice the difference?_ Western churches have become so disentangled from their own places that this question could be a cold, hard look in the mirror for many faith communities.
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