You'd think with a name like Sweeney that the associate publisher of Paraclete Press was a Roman Catholic. You'd be wrong: right now he's an Episcopalian even though his paternal grandparents came from Catholic families. Sweeney sees himself as a Catholic in the broadest sense of the term and regards this tradition as a treasure trove of spiritual riches: "Two millennia of saints and practices and teachings and mystery form a golden string that connects us to our beginnings."
Just to make his point, Sweeney lays down "Eleven Steps to Becoming a Truly Catholic Christian." He includes on this list statements about faith, catholicity, the kingdom of God, forgiveness, and spiritual practice.
In his memoir Born Again and Again, the author opened our eyes to some of the positive dimensions of evangelical Christianity. Here he sheds light on Catholicism and its bounties down through the ages. In this age of interspirituality, Sweeney models an open and gracious attitude toward different religious traditions. This is in contrast to the adversarial approach adopted by many Christians who can only build up their own faith by tearing down the faith of others.
Sweeney has great admiration for what he calls "the Catholic Imagination." Here God is seen as pervading all aspects of life, touching the ordinary with extraordinary grace. He loves the ritual of dipping the fingers in the water fonts in Catholic churches and making the sign of the cross. Or genuflecting as you enter the sanctuary as a way of expressing reverence for God's presence in the place. He honors the Catholic emphasis upon saints and sees this as a lifelong process for believers. He has high regard for the tradition of using one's senses to connect with Christ. We agree with Sweeney's observation that "The Protestant mind rebels against repetition in spirituality, whereas the Catholic imagination understands that repetition schools the heart." That is why he sees spiritual riches in confession, icons, novenas, and the sacred heart of Jesus.
Part of our love for Catholic devotion is due to the wonderful cloud of witnesses lifted up in this tradition. We agree with Sweeney's celebrations of Thomas Merton, Saint Francis of Assisi, Charles de Foucauld, G. K. Chesterton, and Flannery O'Connor. He also salutes the Catholic emphasis on sacraments, the contemplative life, and blessings.
