Civil Discourse in an Era of Catholic Polarization John W. Greenleaf August 2012
In our Catholic tradition, there has long been a variety of theologies. From the earliest years of the church in fact, we had a Petrine theology, a Pauline theology, and the four theologies of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. |
Some things we have been reading |
The Second Vatican Council has already made us free Robert Blair Kaiser Aug.7 2012
Over the weekend, an editor on the Internet observed that many events this year commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council "seem to be wakes, lamenting and grieving over the lost opportunity." Rather than wring our hands over what the church has become under back-to-back popes who have acted in an arrogant and authoritarian manner, we should celebrate what Vatican II has already done for us.
It has given us a new view of ourselves. It's made us more free, more human and more at the service of a world that Jesus loved.
It has given us a new view of the church. It's our church, not the pope's church, or the bishops' church, or a priest's church.
It has given us a new view of our place in it. We can think, we can speak, we can act as followers of Jesus in a world that needs us.
American nuns showed us how. . . . . We can put the spirit of the Council into play in our own little part of the universe. We don't have to seize moral leadership from our bishops. They have already lost it with 90 percent of us by covering up for their wayward priests.
We can continue to seek justice with our brothers and sisters across the whole religion landscape (and break bread with them, too).
We can continue to applaud our scholars and theologians and when they give us a take on the Gospel in words that we, our children and grandchildren can understand.
When we find ourselves in backward-thinking parishes, we can start up our own small-faith Eucharistic communities. When enough of us start doing that, the bishops will begin to understand. They need us more than we need them. |
Leadership Conference of Women Religious: No Retreat, No Surrender Anthea Butler Aug.11, 2012
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) has offered a response to the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's April 18th scathing critique of the organization. In response to the CDF's censure, the LCWR says it will continue discussion but "will reconsider if forced to compromise the integrity of [their] mission." |
Statement By Archbishop J. Peter Sartain Regarding The LCWR Aug.10, 2012
The Holy See and the Bishops of the United States are deeply proud of the historic and continuing contribution of women religious to our country through social, pastoral and spiritual ministries; Catholic health care; Catholic education; and many other areas where they reach out to those on the margins of society.
As an association of women religious, the LCWR brings unique gifts to its members and to the Church at large. This uniqueness includes sensitivity to suffering, whether in Latin America or the inner-city; whether in the life of an unborn child or the victim of human trafficking. Religious women have made a lasting contribution to the wellbeing of our country and continue to do so today. For that they deserve our respect, our support, our thanks and our prayers.
Along with the members of the LCWR, I remain committed to working to address the issues raised by the Doctrinal Assessment in an atmosphere of prayer and respectful dialogue. We must also work toward clearing up any misunderstandings, and I remain truly hopeful that we will work together without compromising Church teaching or the important role of the LCWR. I look forward to our continued discussions as we collaborate in promoting consecrated life in the United States. |
These nuns are the real thing Thomas C. Fox Aug.10, 2012
On the last night of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious assembly, just prior to a dinner banquet honoring Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Sandra Schneiders, the 900 or more assembled Catholic sisters took time to thank the hotel staff. First they called more than 100 staff to the front of the large assembly hall to thank them personally. Then with many sisters waving their table napkins they sang the staff a blessing. It was a gesture unlike any I had witnessed before. Turns out it is part of the annual LCWR program, a genuine thank you to those who worked quietly behind the scenes to make the assembly carry on as planned. |
A Latina nun defends her sisters accused of straying from the Catholic Church Kristina Puga Aug.7, 2012
Sister Caridad Inda doesn't really have a full-time home.
Appropriately named "Charity" in Spanish, her life is one of service, and she goes to where those need her most. However, this week she is defending her fellow sisters.
She has just driven nearly five hours from one of her bases in Davenport, Iowa to St. Louis, Missouri to demonstrate her support of the 57,000 nuns in the U.S. accused of straying far from Roman Catholic doctrine.
Born in Mexico, Sr. Inda has faithfully taught Spanish to American clergy through her non-profit CIRIMEX, and she's also been a devout nun in the Catholic Church for 60 years.
"There are different points of view in terms of where you stand," says Sr. Inda. "A person in the hierarchy looks at things differently than the people in the pew. It's important to be more understanding of others." . . . . Sr. Inda says she knows about the differences among people, because she's traveled much throughout her life and says we all have lived through unique experiences.
"Some sisters have been brought up in a very traditional way, and some are still wearing habits," she says. "We have people who are more liberal and more conservative, but I think all the sisters are really trying to follow the Gospel and the direction that came from the Vatican too."
She says on the whole they want to continue to listen to the poor.
"That's what we've been doing all these years," says Sr. Inda. "We need to be concerned with those issues, and we need to be strongly in favor of change in that direction. We want the Church to change in its view, and that's really what we're here about." Ed. note: Sister Caridad Inda is a long-time ARCC Board member. |
Other sister news
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US bishops quietly adopt protocols for theological investigations Joshua J. McElwee Aug.17, 2012
The U.S. bishops' committee tasked with enforcing church doctrine quietly adopted new procedures for investigating theologians a year ago, apparently unbeknownst to the theologians whose teachings and writings would be subject to the protocols.
The procedures, which are dated Aug. 19, 2011, would have been formulated and approved at a time when the bishops and their committee were being questioned about their treatment of St. Joseph Sr. Elizabeth Johnson, a distinguished theologian whose work they sharply criticized in March 2011. . . . . The existence of new procedures came to light this summer in two academic journal articles by noted canon lawyer Fr. James Coriden. In the latest issue of the theological journal Concilium, Coriden writes that he had received a copy of the protocols from the U.S. bishops' doctrine committee, but their existence came as a surprise to several prominent theologians NCR called for comment. |
Are Catholics in the Pews Like Pew's 'Catholic Voters'? Carol DeChant Aug.14, 2012
Everyone agrees that the "Catholic vote" is important: it was 24 percent of votes cast in recent presidential elections and presumably determined the winners of key states. Candidates court it and pundits analyze it. But no one seems to know what (or who) it actually is.
Or even if it exists. MSNBC.com labelled the "Catholic vote" a myth after Gallup found 90 percent of Catholics split evenly between Obama and Romney. But other media, viewing a tilt toward Romney from Pew research, considered the "undecided" 10 percent, and predicted that one way or another Catholics will determine the 2012 presidency. . . . . Reactions to our global and diocesan leadership show that what separates us in the voting booth is also what divides us in the pews: whether we prioritize our church's sexuality/gender teachings or its social justice doctrines. Beyond this ideological divide, though, the shrinkage of Catholic families is silent testimony that a vast majority of Catholics in the pews use contraception . . . . Whether the Obamacare dispute will matter in November is another question. The weak economy might trump all concerns, at least for heavily blue-collar Catholics in key states. . . . . Meanwhile, here's what we do know about the "Catholic vote": that interpretations of polls (including this one) depend upon the segment of Catholicism analyzed, how sizable it is in key states. and what issues might be decisive in November. And that neither candidate should consider the "Catholic vote" a slam-dunk. Whatever it is. |
Earthly concerns The Economist Aug.18, 2012
Of all the organisations that serve America's poor, few do more good work than the Catholic church: its schools and hospitals provide a lifeline for millions. Yet even taking these virtues into account, the finances of the Catholic church in America are an unholy mess. The sins involved in its book-keeping are not as vivid or grotesque as those on display in the various sexual-abuse cases that have cost the American church more than $3 billion so far; but the financial mismanagement and questionable business practices would have seen widespread resignations at the top of any other public institution.
The picture that emerges is not flattering. The church's finances look poorly co-ordinated considering (or perhaps because of) their complexity. The management of money is often sloppy. And some parts of the church have indulged in ungainly financial contortions in some cases-it is alleged-both to divert funds away from uses intended by donors and to frustrate creditors with legitimate claims, including its own nuns and priests. The dioceses that have filed for bankruptcy may not be typical of the church as a whole. But given the overall lack of openness there is no way of knowing to what extent they are outliers. |
Cardinal's 2nd cancer diagnosis raises new questions over Catholic leader's future Manya Brachear Aug.18, 2012
When Cardinal Francis George offered his mandatory resignation letter in January, he gave every indication he intended to continue to lead the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and its more than 2 million faithful for years to come.
Friday's announcement that George is again battling cancer creates a degree of uncertainty for the archdiocese, but church experts say any decisions regarding the cardinal's future at the helm of the local church remain in his hands.
"Nothing is going to be done in terms of governance of the Archdiocese of Chicago that isn't Cardinal George's request and preference," said Rocco Palmo, an authority on the Catholic Church and writer of the blog "Whispers in the Loggia." "I don't think this will hasten anything unless the cardinal wishes otherwise." |
Vatican orders butler to stand trial, charges second man Philip Pullella and Naomi O'Leary Aug.13 2012
A Vatican magistrate on Monday ordered Pope Benedict's former butler to stand trial on charges of aggravated theft for leaking documents alleging corruption in the Vatican.
The layman, named as Claudio Sciarpelletti, was also ordered to stand trial, although on lesser charges of aiding and abetting a crime.
The Vatican said it was not clear when the trial would be held but it would not be before the end of September. |
Vatican openness in butler case not enough, critics say Ella Ide Aug.15, 2012
The Vatican has hailed its report on the decision to put the pope's butler on trial as proof of its transparency, but critics suspect the secretive state of diverting attention from its scandals. . . . . Despite Gabriele's insistence that he worked alone, many religious observers believe the operation was far too big to be orchestrated by one man and the media have speculated over whether he was a pawn in a wider plot to grab power.
"The Church wants only one sinner," the left-wing La Repubblica daily said when the news broke, accusing the Vatican of using Gabriele as a scapegoat.
There is also a sense that there may be an attempt to undermine the butler's testimony by discarding the original description of him as a model employee, in favour of citing mental health experts who say he has "paranoid tendencies." . . . . Whatever happens, the Vatican will have to work hard to convince sceptics that it really is ready to open itself up to external scrutiny. |
Religiosity slides worldwide, plummets in scandal-hit Ireland Tom Heneghan Aug.8, 2012
Traditionally Catholic Ireland has registered almost the steepest drop worldwide in people calling themselves religious in a new survey tracking international trends in faith and atheism in recent years.
Only 47 percent of Irish polled said they were religious people, a 22-point drop from the 69 percent recorded in the last similar poll in 2005, according to the WIN-Gallup International network of opinion pollsters. Average religiosity in the 57 countries included in the poll was 59 percent, a decline of 9 points since 2005, it said.
At the same time, the number of people declaring themselves to be convinced atheists rose from 4 percent worldwide in 2005 to 7 percent this year. The biggest growth was in France. . . . . Only 47 percent of Irish polled said they were religious people, a 22-point drop from the 69 percent recorded in the last similar poll in 2005, according to the WIN-Gallup International network of opinion pollsters.
Average religiosity in the 57 countries included in the poll was 59 percent, a decline of 9 points since 2005, it said. At the same time, the number of people declaring themselves to be convinced atheists rose from 4 percent worldwide in 2005 to 7 percent this year. The biggest growth was in France. |
Nuns Challenge Romney To Spend A Day With Them To Learn About Plight Of America's Poor Travis Waldron Aug.8, 2012
NETWORK, a national Catholic social justice lobby, is inviting (Mitt) Romney to "spend a day with Catholic Sisters who work every day to meet the needs of struggling families in their communities," according to a release. The group is specifically targeting Romney a day after his campaign released a misleading ad about welfare reform that Sister Simone Campbell, NETWORK's executive director, said "demonize[s] families in poverty" and shows Romney's "ignorance about the challenges" the poor face in America . . . . Romney has endorsed the House GOP budget plan authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). It was that plan, which includes deep cuts to food stamps and other safety net programsthat benefit the middle class, that NETWORK's Nuns On A Bus tour targeted, with Campbell and other sisters blasting it as "immoral" at the tour's conclusion in Washington D.C. Romney has also proposed massive tax cuts for the rich that would likely come at the expense of lower- and middle-class families, which would see higher taxes or significant cuts to the programs they depend on. . . . . The Romney campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Campbell said she "lives in hope" that he will accept, even if he spends only an hour with the group. "I'll take whatever I can get," Campbell said. "He should accept." |
No joke: Dolan-Colbert 'Catholic comedy slam' gets media blackout David Gibson Aug.10, 2012
News that Comedy Central star Stephen Colbert and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan would appear together on a panel on faith and humor next month was greeted with widespread anticipation: Both men are devout Catholics and pretty darned funny.
But now this tale has a surprising punch line that will surely make a lot of people unhappy: Organizers of the Catholic comedy slam, set for Sept. 14 at Jesuit-run Fordham University in New York, have announced a total media blackout of the event. . . . . That's an abrupt change from initial plans to broadcast the event as widely as possible, maybe even on cable television. It may also rob the Catholic Church of a valuable opportunity to show the faith in a positive light and to an audience - Colbert's, mainly - that might otherwise tune out churchmen like Dolan. |
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SNAP loses appeal to block release of internal documents Joshua J. McElwee Aug.14, 2012
Following denial Tuesday of an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests will have to decide whether to comply with a local judge's order to grant access to more than 23 years of internal documents to attorneys representing accused priests.
Several groups -- including 24 victims' advocacy and church reform groups and six former and current local, state and federal prosecutors -- filed amicus briefs with the court that supported SNAP's position, saying the order could lead to further victimization and ultimately "intimidate, harass, and silence victims of sexual abuse." |
Lawyers for bishop, KC diocese want some evidence kept out of trial Tony Rizzo Aug.20, 2012
Evidence that led to a Catholic priest's child pornography conviction should not be allowed in the trial of the diocese and the bishop who supervised him, defense attorneys argue in a pretrial motion.
Bishop Robert Finn and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph are scheduled for trial starting Sept. 24 in Jackson County on misdemeanor charges of failing to report suspected child abuse by the Rev. Shawn Ratigan. In their pre-trial motion, attorneys for Finn and the diocese ask a judge to exclude eight pieces of evidence they believe prosecutors intend to introduce at trial, including the contents of Ratigan's computer hard-drive that was turned over to the diocese in December 2010 and to police in May 2011.
The defense maintains that neither Finn nor another high diocesan official saw or reviewed the hard-drive's contents. They also seek the exclusion of images found in Ratigan's possession about the time of his arrest. Again, they maintain that those items were never seen by the bishop or other diocesan officials. |
In Vatican victory, judge rules priests are not employees in Oregon sex abuse case Nigel Duara & Nicole Winfield Aug.20, 2012
The Vatican won a major victory Monday in an Oregon federal courtroom, where a judge ruled that the Holy See is not the employer of molester priests.
The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Michael Mosman ends a six-year question in the decade-old case and could shield the Vatican from possible monetary damages. . . . . The case is the last major U.S. sex abuse lawsuit against the Holy See. Cases in Kentucky and Wisconsin have been dropped in recent years. |
Belgian bishop faces new abuse allegations Robert-Jan Bartunek Aug.13, 2012
A Belgian lawyer said on Monday he had launched an inquiry into a new case of alleged sexual abuse by the former bishop of Bruges, Roger Vangheluwe, who has already admitted to having abused his under-age nephews.
"The present case concerns sexual abuse in the 1990s," at a care home in Loker, in western Belgium near the French border, the lawyer, Walter Van Steenbrugge, said.
He said he had handed the allegations to a court in Brussels and lodged an inquiry with it. It was up to the court to decide whether the statute of limitations ruled out a prosecution, and if not, whether or not to prosecute the bishop, he added.
Vangheluwe, who was bishop of Bruges from 1984 to 2010, is the highest-ranking member of the Belgian Catholic Church to be involved in a child abuse scandal which resulted in 475 complaints of molestation by priests. |
Senior church officials in Australia under investigation NCR staff Aug.13, 2012
Three senior church officials in Australia are under investigation for ties to an alleged cover-up of a priest's sexual assault of young girls, an Australian newspaper has reported. |
Church heads warn on abuse inquiry Barney Zwartz Aug.21, 2012
State Catholic leaders have warned parishioners that they will hear disturbing reports about the church's past failure to respond to child sexual abuse by clergy during the parliamentary inquiry into the handling of abuse complaints. Read more |
Film to take on infamous Mexican pedophile priest AFP Aug.15, 2012
The story of an influential Mexican priest accused of rampant child sex abuse will be featured in a new movie -- secretly filmed in Mexico this summer.
Marcial Maciel founded the Legionaries of Christ over six decades ago. . . . . But starting in 1997, a number of students began to come forward to accuse the high-profile priest of molesting them. . . . . Soon his story will hit the big screen, in a Luis Urquizaproduction called "Perfect Obedience," which began filming in July under close wraps. . . . . But the movie tells a broader story than just Maciel's abuse.
"Others also profited from the mission" of the Legionaries to perpetrate abuse, Alberto Athie, a former priest who served as an adviser for the film, explained to AFP.
"It is also a question of institutional behavior to cover up the abuse, and that's what will be clear in the film," Athie added. |
'Rare, beautiful' work of Jesuit missionaries in China now available on new Boston College website Julie Asher Aug.17, 2012
Australian Jesuit Father Jeremy Clarke, assistant professor at Boston College,has launched a searchable website he calls 'Beyond Ricci' that gives scholars and researchers online access to newly digitized books containing historical narratives, maps, correspondence and musical compositions in five languages that depict life in China in early modern history and the East-West exchanges initiated by the early Jesuit missionaries. The site was launched in late July. |
Mitchell heir leaves millions, literary rights to Atlanta Archdiocese Gretchen Keiser Aug.17, 2012
The Archdiocese of Atlanta has received a substantial gift from the estate of Margaret Mitchell's nephew, Joseph, including a 50 percent share of the trademark and literary rights to "Gone With the Wind." |
New papal envoy to Israel hopes to foster peace Associated Press Aug.18, 2012
Pope Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarottoas a new envoy to Israel, who will also serve as apostolic delegate in Jerusalem andPalestine.
Lazzarotto, a 70-year-old Italian prelate, told Vatican Radio Saturday that he will do his best "in the cause of dialogue and peace" and said that there are "many men and women of good will who live in the Holy Land."
Vatican Radio noted that Lazzarotto is familiar with the region, because he first served as a papal envoy in Jordan and Iraq from 1994-2000. His most recent posting had been as papal envoy to Australia. |
Russian, Polish churches appeal for forgiveness Monica Scislowska Aug.17, 2012
The leaders of Russia's Orthodox church and Poland's Catholic church signed a document Friday that urges their nations to forgive each other for past wrongs.
The signing in Warsaw during the first visit to Poland by a Russia patriarch has been described by the churches as a historic act of reconciliation and the establishment of a bridge between the denominations. The two nations have feuded for centuries and their ties are still marked by distrust. Some have compared the document to a historic 1965 letter by Poland's bishops to the Catholic church leaders in Germany, offering and asking forgiveness for past wrongs between Poles and Germans, the most painful committed during World War II. . . . . Relations between the Orthodox church and the Catholic church also have been tense.
The Orthodox Church prevented Polish-born Pope John Paul II from making a trip to Russia. The Orthodox also have accused the Vatican of seeking Catholic converts in traditionally Orthodox areas - a charge Rome denies. Poland's official in charge of discussing the sticking points with Russia, Adam Daniel Rotfeld, said the document signed Friday also laid foundations for an improvement in relations between the two churches in general. |
Patriarch of the Ethiopian Tewahedo Orthodox Church Dies Fredrick Nzwili Aug.18, 2012
The Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Abune Paulos, died on 16 August at the age of 76, according to his private secretary.
The secretary told the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) that Paulos died following medical treatment. According to news reports, Paulos had been admitted to the hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia after suffering a heart attack on 15 August.
He was the fifth patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and served in that role since 1992. He was also president of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and was admired for his work on HIV/AIDS, interfaith dialogue and the protection of refugees, according to a WCC statement. |
New Translation of the Roman Missal
We recommend that you watch these sites during the transition to the new translation:
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The New Roman Missal among people surviving poverty Fr. Ronald Raab, CSC Aug.8, 2012
If you do not have much experience with people who suffer mental illness, understand that for so many people in our community change itself is very difficult. Many people need a safe and stable place to be in life. Liturgy here is not just about worship, but it is also about a home. The streets are really brutal. People expect the parish to be a safe island of continuity and peace. Even as I write that I know it is so unrealistic to live that out. However, stability, consistency, reverence and calm are important to people who live with a great deal of instability in life.
Our Masses draw people from all walks of life. Our conversations first started with much anger about the change itself. Many community members were really angry that like so much for people in poverty, they are always being told what to do and how to do it. They cannot sit on the sidewalks in Portland or sleep on the park benches and now the one place where they thought would provide a little more continuity in their lives was also changing. . . . .
People picked up immediately the thread of sinfulness in the text of the Roman Missal. So many of our people have been sexually abused as children. Many of them still blame themselves for their abuse. The constant thread of sin suggests that they will never be good enough for God no matter how many times they stand in a confessional line or come to Mass. They experience the authority of the Church restating their inadequacy with the constant language of not being worthy of God. In other words, some of the language of the new translation opens the past wounds of abuse. . . . . The stilted language of much of the Mass is a real problem for many people in recovery from addictions. They feel many of the words are very clerical and not healing for people. Many people in recovery for alcohol, heroin and other substances need the liturgy for healing. When they cannot understand the language, healing seldom happens.
One example is the word, "chalice". We serve our community beverages from donated mugs in our hospitality center every day. On Sunday we sometimes use Styrofoam. People in recovery feel alienated from the Blood of Christ in the first place. The word chalice reminds them of this separation. It drives home the fact that priests drink from gold or silver chalices and alcoholics will always sip from Styrofoam . . . . We also discussed the word, "roof." One more time before receiving communion we say we are unworthy. Then we invite God under our roof. This is a very difficult phrase for people who do not have a roof under which they live. They do not have the opportunity to be hospitable. They cannot invite people around a table or share a meal or stay dry or to pray under a roof. This phrase has really been a new moment for me and for many people to pray just before communion among people who live outside. This word is still being talked about in our community and evokes much prayer and thought. |
Upcoming Event
ARCC WORKSHOP
You are aware of injustice in the Church.
The Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church (ARCC) invites you to a time of reflection and empowerment - moving from identifying issues, to taking effective action in response.
October 26 & 27, 2012 (Friday 6-9 p.m, Saturday 9-5 p.m.) Collenbrook United Church, 5290 Township Line Rd., Drexel Hill PA 19026
Download a poster and/or a brochure. Registration information here. .
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Association for the Rights of Catholics in the Church 870-235-5200 |
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