For
more than forty years, John J. McNeill, an ordained priest and psychotherapist, has been devoting his life to spreading the good news of God's love for lesbian and gay Christians.
One year after the publication of The Church and the Homosexual, McNeill received an order from the "Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" under Cardinal Ratzinger in the Vatican, now Pope Benedict, ordering him to silence in the public media. He observed the silence for nine years while continuing a private ministry to gays and lesbians which included psychotherapy, workshops, lectures and retreats. In 1988, he received a further order from Cardinal Ratzinger directing him to give up all ministry to gay persons which he refused to do in conscience. As a result, he was expelled by the Vatican from the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) for challenging the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church on the issue of homosexuality, and for refusing to give up his ministry and psychotherapy practice to gay men and lesbians. McNeill had been a Jesuit for nearly 40 years.
In his latest book Sex As God Intended McNeill presents a simple and straightforward answer to the question: What did God invent sex for? The answer, derived from an incisive investigation of the Judeo-Christian Scriptures, is that God intended sex as a source of pleasure, joy and love. This book represents a concise summary of the wisdom culled over a lifetime. McNeill's ideas have enriched the faith of thousands, including fellow teachers, religious scholars, ministers and lay folk. This volume includes a Festschrift to John McNeill, celebrating his life and work in a series of essays by students, friends, and activists, honoring him for his lasting contribution and spelling out how he touched their lives and work.
"Blondel’s philosophy remains one of the most brilliant contributions to the philosophy of religion in the past century. It contains insights that have never been duplicated in any other philosophy and consequently still deserves careful study now more than ever.
"I will never forget the joy and excitement I felt the first time I began to read the philosophical and theological thought of Maurice Blondel. I was student of theology at Woodstock College, a Jesuit Theological Seminary in Maryland. The Rev. Father Sponga, the rector of the seminary, offered an optional course in Blondel’s thought, having just completed a doctoral study of Blondel at Fordham University. Upon reading Blondel’s words, I had what I call a “disciples of Emmaus experience” an experience of “my heart burning within me” and knew that I was dealing with a genius with an extraordinary and original insight into the problems and the needs of our times.
"I hungered for a philosophical framework which I could use to integrate my religious faith with the deep insights coming from the human sciences, especially psychology, insights based in the self-consciousness of the human subject. At the same time, I was intensely aware of the inadequacies of traditional Thomistic philosophy to provide that framework.
"So it is with great pleasure that I have compiled and created an archive of my studies of the thought of Maurice Blondel, philosopher.
"I invite you to go to the archive website, (click here =>) Maurice Blondel and explore his important contributions and insights."
For information about John McNeill's schedule of public appearances and speaking engagements, please click on the following button: 2010 Speaking Schedule
All of John McNeill's books are for sale at discounted prices at Amazon.com and at our store at The Owls Nest.
The Owls Nest is the only mail order store where you can purchase copies of McNeill's books autographed by the author and inscribed to whomever you wish at no extra charge.
If you wish to purchase autographed and inscribed copies of McNeill's books, please go to
For
more than forty years, John J. McNeill, an ordained priest and psychotherapist, has been devoting his life to spreading the good news of God's love for lesbian and gay Christians.
at Amazon.com and at our store at The Owls Nest.
The Owls Nest is the only mail order store where you can purchase copies of McNeill's books autographed by the author and inscribed to whomever you wish at no extra charge.
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