Ann J. Temkin is a very fine storyteller, weaving her autobiography into pieces gleaned from the New Testament. She puts flesh and bones on the Disciples and the Lord. Rarely is it possible to find books that allow for their humanness, but she does so beautifully in Sight in the Sandstorm.
Half Jewish/half Gentile, Temkin shares the story of her growing up, pressures her parents endured during the years during and following WWII, and the ways their family dealt with their differences. I acknowledge it wasn't easy and this reflects on how Temkin managed conflicts later in life.
One situation she writes about stood out to me. Her focus on social justice is strong when she writes about events that happened in a Catholic church she and her friends were allowed to use for an Evening Liturgy. Keep in mind she says the following: "Father Robert, the parish priest who allowed us to use the church, was never there. He was very progressive but had no intention of leaving the priesthood. Perhaps he thought it was better not to know to specifically what we were doing..."
So, Temkin and her group of friends, those who weren't involved in the traditional church, met in Father Robert's Catholic church in the evenings and held their own worship service---sometimes singing current ('70s) music, quoting Buddhist teachings or whatever was socially an important issue. They bonded, and they deeply loved their group. Understood. But, eventually, another priest was called to this particular parish, and he wasn't in favor of having strangers conduct lay-led services, especially offering Communion without a priest. So he shut them down, told them under no uncertain terms that they couldn't conduct their own liturgy anymore.
The first service the priests led after this announcement was attended by Temkin and her friends. Bulletins telling of what would be covered in the service---prayers, announcements, etc. were placed inside the church, but she and her attendees looked with suspicion at them, not picking them up. The three priests stood in front of the church, quoted a Scripture that was hard-hitting at what had been going on, and one person at the back of the church Booo-ed him. And the parishioners all walked out, en masse. Went to a local home, swore at the events which had occurred and lamented at what they would do.
I was offended at their response. While I'm not hard-line about priests/pastors having to be the official ones to conduct Communion, I do take issue at the response of Temkin and her friends. They were at odds with the Church, forgetting that rules and decorum have allowed the Church to exist for over 2,000 years. And considering her quote about Father Robert being better off not knowing what they were doing, is a clear indication that they realized when they were conducting their lay-led services, that they were going against what the Church would allow.
That's deceptive and wrong. Use the facilities, attack the leaders when you're clearly doing things you don't want to be found about, and whine afterward.
Social justice oftentimes seems to be about wanting to do whatever you want, and not willing to accept the consequences.
While I enjoyed Temkin's stories, I take issue with her liberal mindset.
(i received this book free to review from SpeakEasy)
