Quote du Jour (Pope Francis Department): "We must walk united in our differences."

I was away from my computer most of the day, so only late this afternoon did I notice my news feeds jamming with references to and quotes from "the exclusive interview with Pope Francis" featured in America magazine.

The interview, titled "A Big Heart Open to God," weighs in at 12,000 words. Most observers have focused on what Pope Francis says about (too many) Roman Catholics' obsession with "a disjointed multitude of doctrines imposed insistently" and grievous lack of compassion for those most deserving of it.

Great stuff, and what have I zoomed in on? First, this:

If a person says that he met God with total certainty and is not touched by a margin of uncertainty, then this is not good....If one has the answers to all the questions—that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. ─  Pope Francis



And given my commitment to faith beyond denominations, this:

“We must walk united with our differences: there is no other way to become one. This is the way of Jesus.”  ─  Pope Francis

Lost in Translation: Churchy Church Language

So everyone who reads my stuff knows I work ecumenically, right?

Yes, I spend lots of real & cyber-time hanging out with clergy and lay leadership from lots of church denominations, mainly (or is that mainline) these: ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church of America), Episcopal Church, USA, Presbyterian Church (USA), and United Methodist Church.

This also means I spend some percentage of time engaged in simultaneous translation because, gee, let's not all use the same terms for everything. One Body? Hell no! Not even one brain. Certainly not one voice with a language system to go with it.

For example, I recently learned that instead of using the term "Eucharistic Adoration" like Roman Catholics, Anglo-Catholic Episcopalians use the term "Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament."  I don't know why and, quite frankly at this point, I don't want to know why. I've developed zero tolerance for churchy church language that reifies divisions among Christians.

Yesterday I went on Twitter to ask if there was any agreement about using the term "Altar Guild" for the committee that fusses with flowers, altar linens, candles, menorot, pew kneelers, and all that.

Lo and behold, remarkable unanimity among "high church" Protestants: Altar Guild!

Catholics call it the Altar Society.

More clear? No, just different.

For the sake of Christian unity, I say we simply agree to call it the Prom Committee.