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Politics and Religion

2023-03-16T22:51:19-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Letter to Those Catholics Who Wish to “Purify” the Church and Broader Society

Last updated on: March 16, 2023 at 10:51 pm By Julie Nichols

Dear Catholics Who Wish to “Purify” the Church and Broader Society, (more…) Read more

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2023-03-13T09:59:18-05:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Harm Might Be Intentional; I Hope and Pray Not

Last updated on: March 13, 2023 at 9:59 am By Julie Nichols

In my part-time work of religious trauma recovery, listening to older LGBTQ+ Catholics, and speaking with some conservative clergy, laity, and non-religious conservatives, I have now concluded that some will never admit that human sexuality and gender are an intrinsic parts of the human identity, for heterosexual, homosexual people, gender conforming, and gender non-conforming people. I am starting to think that through the denial of reality and science denial, harm, marginalization, oppression, and even the extermination of LGBTQ+ people and... Read more

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2023-03-11T23:34:55-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Open Letter to Pope Francis #2–Alert–Catholic Republican Politician Michael Knowles Seeks to Eradicate Transgenderism (Eradicating Trans People)

Last updated on: March 11, 2023 at 11:34 pm By Julie Nichols

Dearest Pope Francis, On 2-16-2023, I wrote an open letter to you about Republican Catholic politicians Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis and what they are doing to transgender children and their families. In this second letter, I will change, add, and leave some essential points from the last letter I openly wrote to you. Essentially, not only are Catholic Republicans Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis trying to eradicate transgenderism (the people) and their families from their states no matter the... Read more

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2023-03-09T11:14:29-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Celebrating International Women’s Day for the First Time–Trump and His Unconditional Supporters Are to Blame

Last updated on: March 9, 2023 at 11:14 am By Julie Nichols

Most of you know that I spent many years in traditionalist religious environments with my family. Living in Texas all my life, for me to open my eyes to just how bad Church abuse is in collective conservative male groups, such as parts (not all) of the Church Patriarchy, I had to endure worst kind of spiritual, emotional, and psychological trauma possible for simply for not supporting Donald J. Trump. The day he mocked the disabled reporter, the theological and... Read more

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2023-03-07T04:57:00-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

When the Catholic Church is Safe Throughout for All Catholics, the World Will Also Be

Last updated on: March 7, 2023 at 4:57 am By Julie Nichols

Throughout my publications, I regularly speak of my political and theological shifts to the left starting the day that Trump mocked the disabled reporter in 2016. As a disability practitioner, a mother of an Autistic son, and a person with Parkinson’s Disease, Trump mocking the disabled reporter was a life-altering turning point for me. Since 2016, the last six years prepared me for what I am doing today which is advocating for and ministering to disabled, neurodiverse, and LGBTQIA+ youth... Read more

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2023-03-04T10:20:02-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Fighting for Inclusion is Fighting for Life

Last updated on: March 4, 2023 at 10:20 am By Julie Nichols

It’s a cold reality; parts of the Catholic Church are unsafe for families who have Neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ family members. Thankfully, parts of the Catholic Church are safe for these populations because these dioceses have made a real effort to align pastoral ministry with science, especially in blue states. As a practitioner, I define Neurodivergent as anyone who falls on a psychological spectrum which diverges from the general population. This definition includes but is not limited to those with Autism,... Read more

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2023-02-26T10:36:30-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

We Are There, the Early Stages of Fascism

Last updated on: February 26, 2023 at 10:36 am By Julie Nichols

I apologize that it has taken me too long to understand the magnitude of today’s title, especially with my background in educational therapy. Raising a son with Autism, developing Parkinson’s Disease in my late 20s, serving in the field of educational therapy, and then having other experiences gave me the ability to eventually see the whole truth, that a human’s worth and value are not based on anything except that they are all equally-created in God’s image, no exceptions. My... Read more

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2023-02-23T16:07:35-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

An Ash Wednesday of Reflection–Am I following Church Teaching?

Last updated on: February 23, 2023 at 4:07 pm By Julie Nichols

As I sat in on the Ash Wednesday service with my family last night, I did something many Catholic parents of LGBTQIA+ children do. We question and hyper-analyze if what we are doing is right and good in God’s eyes and in the eyes of the Church. A recent European Bishop named Archbishop Giraud praised Pope Francis for his growing awareness for justice for LGBGTIQ+ people and their families. Here is a quote from New Ways LGBTQ+ Catholic ministry. “For... Read more

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2023-02-21T10:48:22-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Racism Opened My Eyes, Then it All Unraveled

Last updated on: February 21, 2023 at 10:48 am By Julie Nichols

For many years, I was both a theological and religious moderate-leaning conservative until the day that Trump mocked the disabled reporter. I have always loved people and never did approve of racial and disability discrimination. But I never knew just how bad the demons of racism and bigotry were in America until Donald Trump and his base gave them permission to fully reveal themselves. It started when the first Robert E. Lee statue came down and even before that when... Read more

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2023-02-16T21:46:00-06:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Dear Pope Francis, Trans Kids Need Life Protection from a Few Catholic Politicians and Part of the Right-Wing

Last updated on: February 16, 2023 at 9:46 pm By Julie Nichols

Today’s Patheos piece serves two purposes. One, it’s an open letter to Pope Francis because I have written him several times in private now. He is a good and humble man who takes open praise and also open critique well. Two, I have reached a huge roadblock in my ability to advocate for Neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ lives within and even outside the Catholic Church. I believe it’s mostly due to our current political climate. At this point in time, I... Read more

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