‘Ten Commandments for Church Reform. Memoirs of a Catholic Priest’ by John Wijngaards
Reviews
CHURCH ON FIRE – 6 February 2022
Dr Aaron Milavec
John Wijngaards has written his memoirs detailing how he was brought to the position where “in conscience” he could no longer function as a priest within Catholic ministry. His book is entitled, ‘Ten Commandments for Church Reform’ (Acadian House, 2021). This title is misleading. His subtitle, ‘Memoirs of a Catholic Priest’, gets closer to describing its content.
It is significant, for me, that Wijngaards founded a formation center for Religious Sisters precisely because these women were routinely sent out to do pastoral work without having any substantial theological training. Here I notice quite clearly that Wijngaards took measures to uplift the women in the Church of India who were prized for their unpaid labor, their humility, and their submissiveness. This was not an assignment given to him. John Wijngaards was clearly not a “yes” man waiting for someone to tell him what to do–when he saw something that was not quite right, he stepped up to the plate and began to do something by way of correcting it. He exhibited a “can-do attitude.” What I find significant is that, right from the very start, he exercised his talents in favor of women.
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PEARLS AND IRRITATIONS – 7 January 2022
The memoirs of trailblazing priest John Wijngaards contain a weight of wisdom on how the Church can free itself of antiquated beliefs and fulfil its true mission.
The challenge for all humans is not merely to live but to live life well. John Wijngaards’ autobiography – Ten Commandments for Church Reform (Acadian House Publishing, 2021) – is a reminder that such a high standard is to be achieved in the service of others. The task is not simply about coupling faith with imagination and understanding to resource the best for living. It also requires courage and tenacity for navigating the bureaucratic barriers that inevitably frustrate efforts to bring about a kinder, fairer and more just and equal world.
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HET NEDERLANDS DAGBLAD – 4 January 2022
Hoe John Wijngaards van binnenuit de kerk probeert te veranderen. De Rooms-Katholieke Kerk houdt ‘oude vooroordelen tegen vrouwen’ in stand, zegt John Wijngaards. Met zijn onderzoeksinstituut in Londen probeert hij verandering op gang te brengen, want dat is ‘onontkoombaar’.
Translation: How John Wijngaards tries to change the church from within. “Old prejudice against women”
The Roman Catholic Church perpetuates “ancient prejudices against women,” says John Wijngaards. He is trying to initiate change with his research institute in London, because reform is ‘inevitable’.
Read the Dutch text – Read the English translation
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INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC NEWS – 20 December 2021
“John Wijngaards has set himself a challenging task. He has lived a full and fascinating life. He tells his story with a luxury of detail. It is obvious he is telling it ‘like it is’, or was. For any Catholic who has lived the experience of post-Vatican II, his book is a significant contribution to the Church’s historical memory… He has given us a testimony of constant concern and struggle for a church at the service of the world, able to dialogue with all seekers after the truth… He has laboured tirelessly to convince the Church that women have tremendous gifts of ministry and leadership to give to the people of God. He has become an Apostle of Women’s Ministry in the Church. He continues doing that to this day.
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TONY FLANNERY’S BLOG – 20 December 2021
“The sub-title of John Wijngaards latest book, Memoirs of a Catholic Priest, sums up the contents of this book more accurately than the main title. In it, John tells the story of his life, from his childhood through to the present time, when his is now, in his eighties, actively involved with the Wijngaards Institute, and married to Jackie. It is a fascinating story about a long life lived to the full, a life characterised by an open mind and spirit, all the time learning and changing, leaving behind old ways and attitudes, and taking on new challenges with extraordinary energy.”
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ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC PRIESTS – 11 December 2021
“Wijngaards’ book does prompt all of us, who minister in the Church, towards deep reflection on the privileged and holy place we have, in so many lives. John emerged as happy; as fully alive; as a driven person, in the world of faith. He does inspire. In so many ways, his book is hearty. It is teeming in humanity and godliness. It is gracious. It is angry in parts but more hurting than angry. It contrasts with those who simply complain and are full of cold and dark criticism. John’s God is dancing, but is a demanding partner in the dance of life.”
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MILL HILL NEWS – 23 November 2021
Mill Hill Missionaries
“On hearing about John Wijngaards’ new book, ‘Ten Commandments for Church Reform’, I immediately ordered it and, on receiving it, I could hardly put it down. I was so grateful and delighted to read his personal memoirs from his early life to the present day and especially his own account of his amazing loving service as an active MHM evangelizer in so many creative ways, not to mention his years as professor of S. Scripture in St. John’s Major Seminary in Hyderabad, India, for which many seminarians who became priests were deeply grateful. But his expertise and services extended well beyond the walls of the seminary. His scholarly and very practical books have helped me in my pastoral and formation ministries.” Read more… Fr Dr John Taylor MHM
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Church Citizens’ Voice (India) – 3 November 2021
Dr James Kottoor
“John Wijngaards’s 272-page book reads like a detective thriller, but totally factual and historical about his MISSIONARY WORK starting in Andhra Pradesh India, with many photographs! You will be forced to read it till the end and get richly rewarded.”
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