About CSJPrayer.Net

Contributors

This site is created and maintained by Baya Clare, CSJ. While its purpose is to facilitate imaginative, participative Christian prayer and reflection in the Ignatian tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph, it is not an official CSSJ site, and nothing on it should be construed as an official position or policy of any congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph.

Other contributors are welcome. Read more about how to do that. If you are a CSSJ or CSSJ associate who is a writer or photographer and you would like to participate in this site, please contact Baya at baya@bayaclare.com.

Inclusive Language

While I believe it is important to use inclusive language whenever possible, it is more important not to lose sight of the message of scripture in doing so. If it is feasible to use inclusive language without bowdlerizing the text or taking the focus off the message, then I do so.

“The Lord is kind and merciful; his mercy endures forever.” That sentence could be rendered as “God is kind and merciful; God’s mercy endures forever.” It’s a little awkward, but ok. But the really important thing about the phrase is its message: that God is kind and merciful, because inclusivity is meaningless without mercy and kindness.