1. What compelled you to write this book?

John Heaps: The matters addressed in this book have been of concern to me for years. I have spoken about them both privately and in public many times. Very little has changed. When I retired from the more active ministry I had time to put my thoughts into writing. I believe that much has to change in the Church if the world is to hear the message of Jesus. It is necessary for change that ideas should be expressed and discussed by all members of the Church. I wrote because of the love I have for the Person and Message of Jesus and the longing I have that people will hear that message and live by it. When we say we are the Body of Christ people will listen if this is so believable that they long to have what we possess.

2. Is there some concern that bringing up these issues will only promote judgment and fear?

John Heaps: I did have some concern in this regard. However, if we are to seek the truth we must face the difficulties involved in this. The saying of Jesus "He who saves his life will lose it" applies not only to martyrdom for the faith, but to living in and for the truth. We are called to risk our security. When the book was published here I was ready for critical letters. As it turned out I have received many hundreds of messages, including 700 letters. All have messages of gratitude, affirmation, and solidarity. These letters were from every stratum of Church membership, including fellow bishops. There was only one negative response. A few archbishops issued a warning that, although there was nothing in the book against faith or moral teaching of the Church, they could not recommend it because it may confuse people. In fact it gave great encouragement to thousands of people. I wrote back to every one of those who wrote to me. They have shown me that faithful people have the sensus fidelium. They long for something better from the institutional church.

3. How can the Catholic Church better serve its clergy — particularly in response to the recent abuse crisis?

John Heaps: I believe that the best way to serve the clergy is to abolish the clerical state. We don't need a separate class of people to fulfill the mission of Jesus. We all should be full-time Christians and part-time ministers with different ministries, one of which is priesthood.

4. What is your view on women's ordination? On married priests? Do you think that the abuse crisis provides these movements with better chances for being heard or does it hinder them?

John Heaps: I don't believe that gender or marital state should have any significance in the matter of choice of or for any ministry in the Church. I have not yet heard a convincing argument against the ordination of women. The matters of women's ordination and married priests should be openly discussed in the light of what is right and best without reference to the abuse crisis. It is not a matter of expediency but of principle. If priests, men or women, were members of the Church, fulfilling a ministry and earning a living like everyone else, without special privileges of status or power, I believe we would not have this crisis. Priests do not have to respond to every need of the believing community. They preside at the Eucharist. Others can serve other needs.

5. How is religion turned to a force for evil? What can be done to bring it back?

John Heaps: When religion is identified with a particular culture or nation it can be used to reinforce differences and the spirit of rivalry. To bring it back to the intention of the founder, its members must be in intimate union with the founder. This is more likely to happen in small communities where the words and deeds of the founder are read, meditated, discussed, and applied to this time and place. Without the example of lived authentic beliefs, words will not be heard.

6. Can you describe spiritual claustrophobia and agoraphobia? Where do you see them in the Church?

John Heaps: I refer to spiritual claustrophobia as the fear people seem to have to sharing their faith with others. It is one of the things that would make it difficult to bring about the authentic small faith groups to which I have referred in my answer to the previous question. It is the fear of getting close. I see spiritual agoraphobia as the fear we have as a Church and in the faithful to bring troublesome issues into open discussion. The prohibition on the discussion of women priests is an example. The unwillingness of Christians to confront injustice in society is another. It is the fear of bringing beliefs into the open and to apply them to social issues.

7. How do Christians place religious beliefs over "liberating captives?"

John Heaps: True religious beliefs will always liberate captives. But when xenophobic attitudes are bolstered by religious customs, justice and compassion can become secondary.

8. What is your vision for the Church? What do you hope is learned from these discussions — seemingly more important now than ever before?

John Heaps: I would hope for an ecumenical council where open discussion would take place on the whole life and ministries of the Church, on its structures, mode of communicating the message by word and way of life. I hope we will learn that the Holy Spirit can be trusted and that the Holy Spirit lives in the whole body of the faithful. I would hope that we will be mature enough to face the changes necessary for enabling full life to come into the Body of Christ.

9. Are you currently working on any new writing projects or are you continuing to emphasize the vision in this book?

John Heaps: Since writing "A Love that Dares to Question" I have been invited to speak and write. I have tried to emphasize the need for loyal dissent, open dialogue and shared responsibility. These have been in the form of talks with interaction and of articles in local journals.

Other writings are a small booklet on Parish Pastoral Councils and three books: Sunday's Word Year A, B, and C: Short Reflections on Every Sunday Gospel of the Three Year Cycle. Harper Collins has what is left of these. These were all written prior to "A Love that Dares to Question."

Bishop John D. Heaps died on June 21, 2004.