Cleveland Commonweal Local Community Network

Meeting Place and Directions The Resurrection Room of Saint Noel Parish, 35200 Chardon Rd, Willoughby Hills, OH 44094. An overview of the Parish, and driving directions is provided by the following post: SAINT NOEL PARISH LOCATION Meeting Time and Format This meeting has been rescheduled to February because of the weather in January The meeting room will be open at 6pm. We hope to begin the meeting promptly at 6:30pm. Please let us know if you are coming so that we can begin promptly when all have arrived. We hope to have ninety minutes of discussion and adjourn the formal meeting around 8pm, Meeting Topic and Articles The recent Commonweal issue on Why I Came, Why I left, Why I stay is very timely.  The sexual abuse scandal has caused many Catholics to question their religion.  Even if one has not thought of leavening it is important to be able to be articulate about one's reasons for staying in order to dialog with tho...

In the sociology of religion, relationships are far more important than beliefs.   People who go to church regularly and have religious networks of family, friends or small groups are far more likely to be healthy, happy,   and do good for others.   Those who go to church without religious networks have none of these benefits.    Beliefs have no relationships to any of these benefits. Sociologists have studied the process of acquiring a new religion. Whether in cults or interfaith marriages, relationships develop before changes of beliefs.   My summaries focus upon relationships, including imaginary relationships, rather than beliefs  Why I Came (B.D. McClay) A relationship with a married man started this woman’s relationship to Catholicism.   In a little Catholic chapel she asks Mary to help her with this uncomfortable relationship. She perceives that Mary did help her, since the man asked her to let him go. When asked by her therapis...