A Catechism of the Heart Quotes

“that is what the Episcopal Church offered, relationship not encounter”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

“rather than wine, the Jesuit priest consecrated champagne.”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

“When I am gone, release me, let me go, I have so many things to see and do. You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears. Be thankful for our beautiful years. I gave you my love, you can only guess How much you gave in happiness. I thank you for the love you each have shown, But now it’s time I traveled alone. So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must, Then let your grief be comforted by trust. It’s only for a time that we must part, So bless the memories within your heart. I won’t be far away, for life goes on, And if you need me, call and I will come. Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near, And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear All my love around you soft and clear, And then, when you must come this way alone, I’ll greet you with a smile and say “Welcome Home”— Absent from the body; present with the Lord.”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

“I was caught in the age-old, Augustinian trap of body versus soul.”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

“en todo amar y servir.”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

“while heterosexual Jesuits could make crass, sexist jokes about women, or deride ex-girlfriends or ex-fiancés, one was a Jesuit, but never a gay Jesuit.”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

“Later, when my mom, Loretta died in September 2019 the local parish priest at Saint Isadore’s in Riverhead, N.Y. refused to let me eulogize my mother because he knew of my sexuality and about some of my published writings. Rather than be empathic and allow me to honor our mother he rejected me, a gay man.”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

“Brother Right said, I could write about racism and white supremacy, dialogue and democracy, identity and recognition, but not to expect the same tolerance for homophobia and heterosexism”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

“Christ himself is not color-blind, gender-blind or sexuality-blind. When someone purports to be blind to color, gender or sexuality they are being counterproductive, thus ignoring discrimination and reproducing inequality.”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

“Would a gay man’s experience of life be different if the Roman Catholic Church, with her 1.2 billion members practiced the full incorporation of LGBTQ people into her communion?)”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

“How ironic it is, now that I remember my young self, that I retreated for safety reasons further into the Church and my religion, the very Church that rejected me as a gay person.”
― Benjamin James Brenkert, A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity