The thing I've always loved about Sister Wendy, having watched all her art documentaries over the years, is that she may be cloistered most of the time but that certainly hasn't made her viewpoint narrow. She never shies away from sexuality, and the realm of human desire and emotion. She brings a certain Big C and little c humanism to her Christian faith.
So when I found this quote on her thoughts on gay marriage on Towleroad it made me love her all that much more, but I can't say that I was frankly all that surprised:
Q: You've spoken out about gay marriage. How do you balance what you believe with what you have sworn to uphold?
Sister Wendy: I believe in loyalty. We should respect our church, but never believe that the church has the last word. The church is saying "this", but I believe that sooner or later "this" will change. "This" is not the mind of our Lord. God is all love. It's a delicate balancing thing. The Church has changed it's position over the years, and because the spirit is with the Church, in the end the Church will always get it right. But in the end. The spirit of the Church is the meaning of love, which hasn't yet, perhaps, been fully understood.
Well said Sister. Now, why does that seem so hard to understand for so many Christians? Not all, granted, but many. Too many.
11 comments:
What's not to love about Sister Wendy?!
Love her!
I would listen to her read the phone book.
God bless her.
That is a lovely quote. One of my best friends loves her too and does an amazing Sister Wendy impersonation. I'll have to forward it to him.
I still relish her enthusiasm for the "wonderfully fluffy" pubic hair in one of Stanley Spencer's paintings. In fact I mentioned that back in April, contrasting her views of art with those of the usual gaggle of American hatemongers working themselves into a fury over that chocolate sculpture of Jesus.
the problem is how few of the people who would describe themselves as christian share Wendy's intelligent understanding of the system or her grasp of the difference between god and the church. Thanks for passing along such a great quote.
Aside from her passion for porcelain figures (ick) I adore her and think she's a superb critic.
It's really the whole package, isn't it? The glasses, those teeth, an open heart with a mind to match.
And that traditional nun's habit; spank me/wank me.
Love her. Unfortunately, in the Catholic Church she's a voice drowned out by the close-minded chorus.
I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling the love. Oh, and Cecilia, I think I need to see this friend's imeprsonation some time!
I'm a huge Sister Wendy fan too - I want to be her when I grow up, not just as an art historian, but as a Christian too (yep, I'm both), and I agree with her wholeheartedly.
Sadly, my friend lives far away (in California). He knits too! I should escalate my campaign to get him to come visit.
Quatrefoil, I hear you! She almost makes me want to take the veil myself. (Perpetual Indulgence, naturally)
BTW-I got your email, I'll call you tonight.
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