As many have written before me, I too, am truly sorry for the cancellations and ugliness directed toward you for speaking truth — and truth to power. Very sadly, while my first reaction was shock, what followed quickly was that this is really not surprising. In Richard Rohr’s email today there is a quote from a talk he gave in 1980:

“The established and dominant culture does not have authentic promises because it seeks to maintain itself. The system has materialistic and self-protecting promises for more money and a better life; it encourages us to consume more and more. It cannot offer a promise which fills and expands the heart beyond itself to the larger world.”

Established religions (yes, even the Episcopal Church) mostly don’t like change, and many congregants don’t want to be messed with nor do they want to be challenged. I preached for 3 years in an Episcopal Church and the sermon for which I received the most pushback was when I mentioned the homeless who slept in the park directly outside the windows of our church and also mentioned the church’s own food pantry. I eventually left religion altogether in part because so many sitting in the pews every Sunday didn’t want to leave the pew. Too many have forgotten that church is supposed to comfort the afflicted AND afflict the comfortable.

I also want to acknowledge the brilliance and spot-on message following the scripture passages. You knocked that one out of the park and I wish it could be published for a wider audience. Thank you, Diana, for your courage and steadfastness. Blessings to you and always stay strong and true to yourself ~