| A Catholic Priest Tells the Story of His Jewish Conversion
In the Jewish religion there is the concept of a Jewish ethical will, a document--usually written by a parent to a child--which sets out the moral and spiritual guidelines that are the foundation of the writer's life. Armando Quiros was fascinated by the idea of an ethical will, and he considers his new book, Spiritual Homecoming--A Catholic Priest's Journey to Judaism just such a document. This book is a reflection on Armando Quiros's spiritual, personal, and professional growth, written to his readers as an expression of his beliefs and experience. This is an intensely personal book, but to read Spiritual Homecoming is to discover not only the man who wrote it--his journey, ideals, and morality--but to be enlightened and awakened a little more to ourselves.
Quiros was ordained a priest in the Franciscan Order when he was twenty-five-years old. His idealism and determination were noticed and rewarded by his Church superiors, and he rose in the Franciscan hierarchy. Through various experiences, both personal and professional, Quiros began to face his own demons and eventually the Church's as well. No longer could he align himself with the rigid judgmentalism of the Catholic Church from which he had shielded his awareness and conscience. Soon he could not restrain his desire to act on beliefs that were frowned upon by the Church: blessing unsanctioned unions, questioning authority, and "subverting" the seminarians with notions of freedom of conscience. Finally, he felt obliged to leave not only the community and the priesthood but the Catholic Church as well.
Later he met the woman who would become his life partner--Ruth Glater, a practicing Reform Jew--and began to attend her Synagogue. Only then did he comprehend Catholic anti-Semitism and he began a critical study of its roots. With his new exposure to the humanistic beliefs of Reform Judaism, Quiros became a Jew. At last he feels his life is one that unites, rather than separates, the three Abrahamic religions.
Spiritual Homecoming takes us through the different stages of Quiros's life: from childhood to adolescence; early ministries; stirrings of freedom; psychological awakening; his steps toward freedom; life after the church; and his seemingly sudden encounter with, and then conversion to, Judaism. We may find similarities and differences in Quiros and ourselves as we follow his ethical will, but he encourages us to be gentle and open in our examination. Quiros honest look at his life invites us to look into ourselves and our beliefs and, like him, to be open to the voices from within and without our world.
Armando Quiros, MA, JCL, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice and a Certified Clinical Supervisor overseeing interns at three different sites. He lives and writes in Santa Barbara.. |
