Welcome

This is the first entry to our blog.

I am Tom Abel, the Presiding Bishop of the Diocese of California American Catholic Church. Our cathedral parish is located in San Diego, CA. This is our first attempt to reach out to others using a blog. It is our hope we will be able to discuss how each of us can feel God's love in our life.

I would like to start our discussion with the topic near and dear to the hearts of our members; we are an Open and Affirming Community of Faith. What does this mean in the world? Well, first and foremost we embrace the wide diversity of humanity. We acknowledge each of us are at a unique point in our life having various encounters impacting us, for better and for worst. If we, as individuals, are able to respond to God's presence around us through our experiences and the talents and skills we have, then we start with acceptance. While one person may feel at peace in their life and their relationship with others and with God, another person may not feel the same way. I am going out on a limb here and say, God's love is so radical it is difficult for most of us to accept it. The fact is, if we allow God to be God and know we are loved, accepted, embraced for who we are and because of who we are, we can overlook how others treat us.

Some folks will use individual passages of Holy Scripture to point our faults, as if by just speaking the Words of Scripture they are justified in treating others sinfully; less good than they are without understanding the totality of the Scriptures, which is the example of how much God really loves us. What a sin this is! It denies the magnitude of the possibility of an ever-expanding, ever-embracing God. Christ called all of us to reach out to him and join him in the fullness of creation, God's creation. By far, this is the first sin we commit when we place ourselves in a position of superiority over another, we play God. This is truly unchristian at its core.

This is so evident when we reach into the realm of sexuality. One person always seems to have the RIGHT ANSWER of how another is to live their life. If there is one thing my 57 years of life has shown me is that, we truly are a diverse group. Maybe we just need to step back and be willing to hear what others have to say, when they approach life in a loving manner based first on acceptance. From that point, love will prevail.

Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts. I welcome your thoughts as well. Peace to all.

Bishop Tom