I really do believe in the Holy Catholic Church.

I believe that it is God’s intention that every barrier dividing humankind be destroyed and that no one ever consider that they are better or more prized by God than another.

Over and over again, Jesus described our God as loving parent. I trust that image. I’ll stake my spiritual life on that vision. As a parent, who often falters and stumbles, I cannot imagine anything my own children could ever do to stop my loving them. Anything. Surely, they might disappoint me. Yes, they may hurt me or sadden me but nothing they could do would stop my loving them.

How much greater is God’s love for God’s children!

How dare we ever compose an image of God that hinders that love to anyone in the family. And yet, that is precisely what we do when we claim anything less than full catholicity within the church.

And even this isn’t enough.

It is not just a question of different denominations making up the whole but, I am convinced, different religions as well. I simply cannot believe that this God of amazing grace would limit God’s family in any way, even by excluding those who reject that very image.

As I continue to try and walk with Jesus, a vision of the Holy Catholic Church is emerging that goes even beyond Christianity to encompass other time-honored and beautiful paths to our beautiful God. Discarding bigoted and distorted pictures of grace, I am beginning to see a church that includes Jews and Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists and countless other equally legitimate spiritual journeys.

I am well aware that such a theological attitude is a dangerous one and opens us up to accusations that we have ventured too far on our journey. But what else can we do but follow this God of grace wherever God leads, even when it means a whole new way of understanding the Holy Catholic Church.